Vineyard Missions

The Vineyard in Japan

There are 4 Vineyard churches in Japan located in Tokorozawa, Yaita, Yokohama, and Kani (Gifa).

A handful of Northwest-region Vineyard churches are currently in the process of forming a partnership with the Vineyard churches in Japan and Korea . The partnership is still in its infancy, and does not currently have the administrative or leadership structures in place to handle requests for field placement – whether short-term trips, internships or long-term missions involvement. We will, however, keep your name, contact information and any related details on file. Thank you.

If you have an interest in Japan, please e-mail the country contact.

Country Information

In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Following the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854, Japan opened its ports and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth, but Japan still remains a major economic power, both in Asia and globally.

Further Country Information

The International Religious Freedom Report is submitted to Congress annually by the US Department of State in compliance with Section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. This report supplements the most recent Human Rights Reports by providing additional detailed information with respect to matters involving international religious freedom It includes individual country chapters on the status of religious freedom worldwide.

Visit BBC News for up-to-the-minute news, breaking news, video, audio and feature stories. BBC News provides trusted World and UK news as well as local and regional perspectives. Also entertainment, business, science, technology and health news.is an annual publication with almanac-style information about the countries of the world.

The U.S. Department of State International Travel Website contains Consular Information Sheets, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings.