Japan: The Real Reason The Church Grew When Nobody Expected It - Osamu Sekiguchi

Osamu Sekiguchi is a devoted member and leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan. Having served in numerous capacities—including as the Mission President of the Japan Sendai Mission and currently as the Asia North Area Family Search Manager—Osamu has a profound perspective on the spiritual and cultural evolution of the Church in the land of the rising sun. I sat down with Osamu in a Tokyo recording studio to explore the rich, and at times challenging, history of the Church in Japan. From the early 1901 mission led by Heber J. Grant to the modern era of five temples, we discuss the unique cultural hurdles Japanese saints have overcome, the incredible sacrifices made to attend the temple, and Osamu’s own personal "pioneer trek" across the United States and Europe. Some highlights from this episode include: The Early Struggles and Triumphs: Osamu recounts the history of the first Japanese mission and the "disappointment" of the early years due to language barriers and cultural differences, followed by the post-WWII resurgence of the faith. The Sacrifice for the Temple: Moving stories of early Japanese members who sold their belongings and quit their jobs just to travel to Hawaii for temple ordinances before a temple existed in Asia. A Modern Pioneer Trek: Osamu shares the gruelling yet spiritual journey of taking his family on a 110-day handcart trek from Nebraska to Salt Lake City, followed by an epic bicycle journey from New York to San Francisco. Cultural "Harmony" vs. Conversion: An insight into why conversion can be difficult in Japan, where maintaining social harmony and honouring Shinto or Buddhist traditions often takes precedence over individual religious changes. Elder Stevenson's Call to Serve: When Osamu received his mission call he did not expect to be serving during a global pandemic. His bold leadership proved to be a powerful example of inspired leadership. The Future of the Global Church: Osamu explains his vision of the Church shifting from "International" to "Global"—where the core doctrine remains the same, but local cultures (like Japanese humility and aesthetics) are embraced and celebrated. FamilySearch in Asia: A look at how technology is bridging the gap for members in countries like Korea and Mongolia to find their ancestors and preserve their heritage. Connect with the Church in Japan: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Japan Official Site. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/l... FamilySearch - Japan Genealogy. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/... Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content: www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspod   / forallthesaintspod   For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:    • Why Latter-Day Saints Love General Conference   https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm... https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast... If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via [email protected] or DM on Instagram Conversations to Refresh Your Faith. For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration. 00:00 Osamu Sekiguchi 00:51 How the church began in Japan 04:17 Missionary work 05:23 Japanese culture and religion 08:29 Key milestones in church history 10:37 Church membership 12:47 Faithful members 15:51 Osamu's faith journey 20:37 A keen interest in the bible 22:52 110 day pioneer trek 28:18 The biggest lesson learned 30:16 The Church in Japan today 35:42 Experiences of young members 40:52 A man of many travels 43:34 Unique church culture 50:36 Becoming a mission president 54:47 The mission during covid 57:45 Working as Family Search area manager 1:03:47 Hopes for the future in Japan