Kikai in Japan

The Kikai have only been reported in Japan
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Kikai people are the traditional inhabitants of Japan’s Kikai Island, in the East China Sea in southern Japan. They have always had a connection with Japan’s main island, though they have their own language. This language is a dialect of the Ryukyuan language spoken in the Ryukyu Islands. They also speak standard Japanese.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Kikai people have preserved their traditional traditions and cultural practices while adapting to the modern world. Their culture is dominated by that of Japan, but they have also been influenced by the cultures of China and Southeast Asia.

Their livelihood is largely from agriculture, especially the growing sugar cane. Many of their traditions and cultural events are related to agriculture. Like other people groups, the Kikai have their own forms of music and dancing which is taught from one generation to the next


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though the Kikai are officially Buddhist, they also have their own traditional beliefs. This is common in Buddhism. That religion is flexible, and it allows for many outside beliefs.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kikai people need to put their trust and identity in the hands of the loving God of Creation who sent his son to make it possible for them to enter the Kingdom of God.


Prayer Points

Pray for a "Book of Acts" type of movement to Christ among the Kikai.

Pray God will have mercy on the Kikai, doing whatever it takes to place them in a position to receive him.

Ask God to open the hearts of the Kikai to the gospel.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Kikai in Japan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kikai
People Name in Country Kikai
Alternate Names
Population this Country 12,000
Population all Countries 12,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12678
ROP3 Code 104994
Country Japan
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Kagoshima Prefecture, northeast Okinawa, Kikai island.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Japan
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Kagoshima Prefecture, northeast Okinawa, Kikai island..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Kikai in Japan
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
97.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.72 %)
3.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kikai
Language Code kzg   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kikai
Language Code kzg   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kikai

Primary Language:  Kikai

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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