Malay in Japan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

While the Malay are spread throughout southeastern Asia, the majority are located in the country of Malaysia. There, they make up about 1/3 of the population, sharing the country with Chinese and Indian minorities. In addition to sea trade, some Malay may have been transported as slaves in the 1700s; others were political exiles. The dispersal of the Malay was in progress by the fifth century A. D. when the Malay began to dominate local trade in Southeast Asia and long-distance trade between northwestern India and southern China.


Where Are they Located?

Their domination of sea trade continued until the 1500s and even into the European colonial period. The most numerous Malay minorities live in Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, and Thailand. There are smaller communities in Madagascar, Taiwan, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, the southern Philippines, and Japan, where they have a small population.


What Are Their Lives Like?

There is a strong sense of community among the Malay Muslim Diaspora. The majority of Malays overseas are international students. Malay Muslim students have often been criticized for the way they tend to cluster, which is a characteristic of how they live. They do this for several reasons. It helps to maintain their sense of identity, it offers a sense of security and it makes it easier for the student leaders to keep an eye on their fellow students. Malay students on government scholarships are monitored very closely which makes it more difficult for individual students to be drawn away into other activities such as Christian meetings. It is a challenge for any outsider to penetrate such a community. Malaysia's government education officers have encouraged students to take opportunities to become involved in local cultural activities as part of their total learning experience overseas, but in practice students have tended to cluster. There are also Malays overseas serving in government posts working in embassies, consulates, tourism and airline offices. They usually have their families with them, have more liberty to live in neighborhoods of their choice, and more freedom to make friends with local people. It is much easier to build relationships with families such as these. Such Malay families can help those seeking to build relationships with Malays and get into Malaysian cultural events and festivals such as visiting their homes during Hari Raya celebrations at the end of Ramadan. The majority of Malays overseas are required to return to Malaysia. This includes students and scholars on government scholarships and those in government service. Some exceptions would be where a Malay student has made a decision to become a Christ-follower or where they have entered into a boy-girl-relationship with a local. Such people will seek a way to remain in the overseas country. There are scattered Malay believers in Jesus around the world, but they are very few. The Malay Muslims need consistent prayer for their spiritual eyes to be open to the blessings of Jesus Christ.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Islam was brought to Malaysia by Arabic and Indian traders many centuries ago, and the Malay people have come to embrace and ardently follow the Islamic faith. This is being reinforced in today's world as the governments of Malaysia and Saudi Arabia are strengthening cultural and religious ties. Some are leaning towards Saudi Arabia's fundamentalist Wahhabi form of Islam. The Malay have early roots in Hinduism and traces of this can still be seen in certain aspects of their culture such as weddings. For instance, the bride and groom sit upon a platform for hours for the guests to admire like they do in Hindu weddings.


What Are Their Needs?

Although tools such as the Bible, evangelistic literature, the JESUS Film, and Christian broadcasts are available in the Malay language, few have accepted Jesus as Savior. There is a need for increased intercession and missionary efforts to see the Malay reached with the gospel.


Prayer Points

Pray for spiritual hunger among Malay Muslims in Japan that will lead them to seek and find the eternal blessings of Jesus Christ. Pray for believers who are filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit to go to them and share Christ until He is exalted among Malay Muslim families. Pray for a movement to Christ among Malay Muslims this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Malay in Japan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Malay
People Name in Country Malay
Pronunciation muh-LAY
Alternate Names Javar; Malao-Polynesian; Melaju; Melayu; माले
Population this Country 9,600
Population all Countries 18,383,000
Total Countries 24
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 13437
ROP3 Code 106144
ROP25 Code 305027
ROP25 Name Malay
Country Japan
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Japan
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
6.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.20 %)
0.60 %
Ethnic Religions
14.00 %
Hinduism
6.00 %
Islam
70.40 %
Non-Religious
3.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Malay (9,600 speakers)
Language Code zlm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Malay (9,600 speakers)
Language Code zlm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Malay

Primary Language:  Malay

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1629-1932)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1668-1974)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2015)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Malay Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Malay Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Faiz Zaki - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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