Why Japanese?

The Largest Unreached People Group (Joshua Project, 2005)

Only 0.04% Christians!

Annual Suicide Rate: >30,000

100-300 new religion registered each year (Operation World, 2000)

The battle is fierce, Time is SHORT! Please RESPONSE, Please PRAY!!!



Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Hiki Social Cafe Updates and Prayer Needs

The renovation was completed, and the total cost was 2.8 million yet. We thank God that the budget was met. 




Another good news is that, since Mar 25, we successfully registered the cafe under the wings of NPO (non profit organization, similar to NGO in the States), meaning that we formed a "company" for the hikikomori. The "company" is unique in a way that we don't make money, and we need social and financial support which is recognized by the government. 

Prayer 1: Please pray that the communication of the REAL NEEDS of the cafe and hikikomori people with the involved parties will be smooth and successful.

Prayer 2: a hikikomori young adult, Masanobu, who attended the cafe since Feb 2014 is growing out from his shyness, having more confidence, and leading some of the main activities in the cafe. Please pray for mental stability and boldness, so that he will not be scared by the burden than come along with these new challenges.

Prayer 3: I discovered that there is a habit of self-defeating in the young adults that I ministering to. When they finally gain motivation to move on, the negative comments will put more weight over the positive comments. This is probably deal to very low self-esteem, and tendency of self-defeating that mixed up with personal pride. Please pray for God's peace and love to remain and chase away all darkness in their brains and hearts.

Prayer 4: A neighborhood grant officer approached us to apply for a neighborhood grant. It looks like a good news to us, but as we start applying, the process is sickening, and we find that they are not interested in supplying what we really need, eg. the rental and appliances fees (cafe maintenance). The miscommunication brings a lot of confusion and disbelief between both parties. I don't feel like going ahead, but Masanobu is excited to lead the project. So, please pray for us that the organization of the neighborhood fund will have interest to know more about the practical needs of the hikikomori people and the cafe.

Prayer 5: I find my health gets worse when I am under too much pressure. The duties of the jobs that I involve in are getting heavier, and I have many deadlines to meet. Please pray that I will see His will and allow Him to lead in all duties and deadlines that I have to meet.

Prayer 6: Please pray that the city government will adopt the ministry very soon, hopefully in this year. Meanwhile, we are facing huge financial burden just trying to maintain the cafe. Now the burden is stretched over to the incomes form my jobs, and the hikikomori users themselves. In past 20 months, the hikikomori users were paying 0 ~ 100 yen every time when they visit the cafe. From May, the fees was increased to 500 yen (almost 4.5 dollars or RM15.50 or HKD33) per visit. I do feel that is a bit too much burden on them as they are all jobless without income. And personally, I don't think I can meet the end without committed supporters. We also need enough financial support from the supporters. Lay supporters and city governments support will need to back up each other in order to maintain the cafe. 


I keep having supporters who suggest that we should make money from the cafe, so that it can be self sustainable. Eventually yes, it will, but it will take years in order to have that fulfilled. We will need you to think that the purpose of the cafe is NOT making profit. Trying to make a profit with the hikikomori cafe in a town/city who has the least GDP, highest aging rate, and highest unemployed rate is like running a "feeding the poor" program, and demanding food fees from the one you are feeding the food to. Does it make sense? We will need to invest on this good work without expecting financial returns, but spiritual grow and the grow of opportunity to bridge between gospel and society. 


Prayer 7: Please pray for supporters who understand the purpose and will of this ministry. 

             We need your prayers to move the mountains!

Bless you.
Please contact me personally if you wish to commit yourself for financial giving. 
Or, if you like to be an anonymous giver, this is the ministry bank account. 

Bank Name: THE AKITA BANK, LTD. Beneficiary name: Hikiya Account number: 1053712 Branch code: 311 Branch: Omagari Swift Code: AKITJPJT
Address: Japan, Akita Prefecture, Daisen City, Omagari, Suwacho 1-6-46.



Monday, February 16, 2015

Renovation started, GIVERS needed!

Dear friends, the renovation has started! Please continue to pray for the cafe! :-)
We are still behind 0.5 million yen. We need more willing and cheerful givers.  Let's pray for everyone who involves in this project, and everyone that He has chosen to give and receive through this cafe. Amen.



Please contact us to give!
1. you can give your prayers,
2. you can give your money,
3. you can give goods, e.g. coffee beans, kitchen items etc.

Send us an email, 1coin.furatto@gmail.com, and you will get the prayer request update and account details. Join us in the field! www.h4j-hikikomori.blogspot.com


Saturday, January 10, 2015

Hiki Cafe Ministry Updates

Update on the Hiki Cafe Ministry. 

the Hikikomori Cafe Ministry is a ministry to serve people who isolated themselves from the societies and have a tendency to shut down communication with others.  The ministry operates 5 days a week, equipped with training and study programs for the most unreached people in the most unreached nation. The phenomenon has been pronounced for 20 years now in Japan, where these teenagers and young adults had grown into their 30's and 40's.  Many have no source of incomes, and the social structure system, traditions and health issues are preventing them from remerging with the society. Economic downturn accelerated the issue, especially in rural Japan with almost no job opportunities for the unskilled. The Hikikomori Cafe ministry is planted in Omagari, a downtown of Daisen-shi in Akita Prefecture, located in Tohoku area of Japan, 424km away from Tokyo, 3 and a half hours by bullet train.  Daisenshi, the second largest city after Akita city in Akita prefecture, with a population of 84,000 people, Geographical coordinates in degrees minutes seconds (WGS84) Latitude : 39 27' 00'' Longitude : 140 29' 00''. On a whole, Akita prefecture has the fastest aging rate, lowest birth rate, highest suicide rate, highest cancer mortality rate, lowest GDP, yet the highest university entrance rate and owns rich natural resources including the best hotspring and preserved nature woods.

The Lord had stirred the heart of the locals to rise in aid for the needs of the ministry. Please continue to uphold the ministry in your prayers, and please pray for each and everyone who gives beyond their limits to meet the cafe needs. Please pray that they will find peace and hope when they remember the ministry. Please pray that the Lord will fill each of them with His great love and I believe salvation is beginning in this town! :-) Praise the Lord!

The support from Japan is expected to cover 2/3 of the renovation fund that I would like to raise. I am hoping another 1/3 will come from the people outside Japan whom the Lord had stirred  to serve His ministry in an unique way. This will give you an great opportunity to be involve in the ministry directly with your givings and prayers. 

Renovation is expected to start in the second week of Feb. The money now is enough for the kitchen, and we still need money to build the entrance. 

Besides the renovation cost, 
I still need to raise more fund and support,
 to cover the appliances that we need for the cafe, the ministry expenses etc.

The Malaysians have been amazingly great missions partners and prayer warriors, their generosities cover almost in between half to three quarters of the ministry expenses. As the ministry is growing fast, there are more needs. 

Don Wright and Dennis Peters had put up an article for Heart4Japan in RJC newsletter last and this month, I am really grateful for that. I believe that many have read, and the prayer chain has began. 

Paul Nethercott is putting up an article for the Hiki Cafe ministry in Asian Access, hope that will bring in more prayers and practical support. 

I'll be touring around Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur in between these dates, Jan 11 ~ Feb 2. I'll be sharing the needs of the cafe with some businessmen, health workers, churches and pastoral teams. Please pray for me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and may He shines in every conversation. There will be a great change of temperature from Akita to Tokyo, and from Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur. I will need your extensive prayers in many ways. 


Present Itinerary
Jan 11  Utsunomiya
Jan 18  Mega Chinese Methodist Church
Jan 25  Full Gospel Assembly Kota Damansara
Jan 30- Feb 1 Tokyo Pfizer Health Conference

Please feel free to catch me in between dates. I will love to share with you with what God is doing in Japan.