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Meet Satoru Yanagitani, Director-Japan
Yanagitani means "willow tree" (yanagi) "valley" (tani). Satoru means "to perceive, to understand." I'm told that I picked my own name by drawing straws!
Satoru Yanagitani is the director of BJapan, Back to the Bible's Japanese ministry. Yanagitani (they go by only their last names in Japan) lives in Tokyo, Japan, with his wife, Emiko, and son, Yuu.
Full name and meaning:
Satoru Yanagitani
Yanagitani means "willow tree" (yanagi) "valley" (tani). Satoru means "to perceive, to understand." I'm told that I picked my own name by drawing straws!
Family information:
My wife is Emiko, and she is also my good partner in work. She was led into faith by an OMF missionary. My son, Yuu, is a teenager who loves music and karate.
How you came to know the Lord:
When I was a student, I was wandering and just weary with life. I had a Bible, so I read it all the way through, and while doing that began to seek God.
Ministry background:
Originally I was employed in a broadcasting company but then spent 20 years doing broadcast evangelism under TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission).
When did you start with Back to the Bible and how have your responsibilities changed?
I came over from TEAM to work with BJapan when it was first started here in 2004. My responsibilities changed greatly in that now I shoulder the full responsibility of the ministry--all the broadcast production and management. I've also changed in that my burden for the Japanese church and to evangelize Japanese has gotten even stronger.
How the Bible has changed your life:
The Bible taught me to ask God, "what is the right thing to do?" and "what is the right way to live?"
Favorite Bible passage:
Jeremiah 32:27
Favorite Bible story:
The story of Joseph, because it taught him the importance of living honestly, with faithfulness and hard work.
About the people of Japan:
In Japan, tradition and culture co-exist well together. It's old. It's new. It's a great country. Please come and visit us some time! In the area of religion, most people do not have a dogmatic belief in a particular religion. But they are tied to Shintoism and Buddhism through events and rituals related to the changing seasons, family and where they live. This is especially seen regarding ancestors, family graves and local religious festivals. The number of Christians, even if you add in all the Catholics and the cults, doesn't even reach 1% of the population. Right now Japan is undergoing big changes in its values and social structures. There are over 30,000 suicides a year (population of about 127 million). The number of people with mental and emotional illnesses is increasing. So in that sense, in Japan you can see hearts searching for salvation and the value of unchangeable truth. So how can today's Japanese and this society be led to adhere to the gospel and God's Word? That's the task before us.
The one place in Japan you take a visitor:
No matter where you go in Japan, I think you'd be surprised at just how few churches there are. If the visitor was a believer, then I would like to take them to one of our small churches in the countryside. And then let them compare that to the number and size of the Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.
What makes you the most proud of Japan:
Japan and the Japanese people are very industrious and very kind.
Fun Facts
Interesting or funny fact about you:
Well, I feel that it's kind of miraculous that I have been used in a ministry like this despite not being a pastor or missionary.
Other places you have lived besides Japan:
Only Japan...
Hobbies:
I like playing music and sometimes write music too. Also, taking a drive with my wife.
If you had a random day off, what would you do for the day?
I'd like to spend a day at a nice, quiet hot spring inn!
Do you have a nickname?
In Japan, everyone goes by their last name only, even among friends. Since Yanagitani is long, my friends often shortened it to just 'Yana'!
Favorite food:
Sushi, of course! And all kinds of Japanese food.
Least favorite food:
I don't like sweets. I also detest cold pizza.
Favorite book (besides the Bible):
Essays and historical books by Ryoutarou Shiba
Read current e-mail updates from Japan