Superbook ministry reaches children and elderly residents in Japan

More than four decades after Dr. Pat Robertson first introduced the Bible to Japan through animated media, the Superbook ministry is continuing to reach new generations of children while introducing elderly residents to the Gospel for the first time.

Joy Joy Festival Brings Families to Tokyo Church

Every Sunday, Pastor Nozomi Nishimura preaches from the pulpit at Jesus Family Church in Tokyo. During the church’s annual Joy Joy Festival, however, he trades his suit for a Pikachu costume to attract children and families to the grounds.

“We wanted to find a way to share the Gospel with more people, especially children, so we came up with this yearly evangelistic festival,” Nishimura said. “The Joy Joy Festival is an entry point to the church. Today alone, we had 10 non-Christian families attend—and then they come to church.”

The event now ranks among Japan’s largest evangelistic festivals and welcomed the Superbook team for the third consecutive year. Children gathered to meet the robot character known as Robic in Japan and joined in singing and dancing to the “Salvation Poem” theme song.

Organizers noted that a growing number of children are familiar with the song compared to previous years. Their stated prayer is that the young participants will understand its central message—that salvation comes through Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross.

“If I believe in Jesus, then I will go to heaven,” young Superbook fan Isa Pun said.

Isa’s mother, Tae Pun, expressed support for the outreach, noting that introducing children to the love of God is particularly vital in a nation where the Christian population stands at less than one percent. She added that the animated series offers an accessible alternative to standard scripture for young minds.

“It’s very hard for kids to read the normal Bible. But Superbook is easy for them, with a lot of song and dance and pictures,” Pun said.

Expansion into Schools and Care Facilities Across Japan

John Tan, CBN regional director for Japan, explained that the program first aired nationally forty years ago as a direct initiative by Dr. Pat Robertson to introduce the Bible to the Japanese market.

“In the 80s, we continued to invest in Japan and show them God’s love and God’s purpose for their lives through Superbook and through CBN ministries,” Tan said.

Beyond the Tokyo festival, the Superbook team has visited Sunday Schools across the country, teaching children about Queen Esther and encouraging them to join what organizers term the “Kingdom Generation.” Horizon Church member Shota Shiozaki said the lessons reinforced his resolve to share his faith with classmates.

“My friends at school are not Christians yet, so I invite them to church. Sometimes they are not interested,” Shota said. “My biggest prayer is that my friends will get to know Jesus, be saved, and know the truth of the Bible.”

For CBN Asia producer and Superbook volunteer Shekinah Grama, conducting ministry in Japan involved learning the local language to build deeper personal connections.

“So I could really understand what they’re going through,” Grama said. “They would know the effort and the intentionality. They were shocked because they knew it was love when someone took the effort to get to know them. Little by little, they began opening up and sharing their lives. They told me that’s something they’ve never done before.”

The ministry has also moved outside traditional church walls. At a local school anti-bullying event, students watched an episode featuring the Good Samaritan to learn about kindness, courage, and compassion through a biblical lens.

Separately, a Christian owner of an elderly care home invited CBN to donate Superbook DVDs and Christian materials to residents across nine senior care facilities. For many elderly participants, the outreach marked their initial exposure to the Gospel.

“Thank you very much for the Superbook DVDs. The elderly residents also enjoyed the activities and brain exercises,” a facility staff member said. “These materials brought new joy and engagement to our daily programs.”

These grassroots efforts have culminated in the formal establishment of CBN Japan, expanding the organization’s scope from children’s media to broader adult outreach.

“As Christians, we believe the time of Jesus coming back is drawing nearer,” Tan said. “He wants to call His children back to Him. He loves the Japanese so much that He has opened opportunities for CBN to start an office here and do more ministry—not just for children but also for adults.”

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