Resources

Japanese Resources

The Heidelberg Catechism in Japanese
(Haideruberugu Shinkoumondou)

A new Japanese translation of the catechism made by Calvin Seminary alumnus Rev. Takashi Yoshida of the Reformed Church in Japan. This revised edition uses the indentation characterized by the CRCNA translation which makes the catechism considerably easier to understand as well as to use liturgically.

Volume I and II of the Traditional Japanese Hymn Book

This is the "Sanbika" published by the United Church of Japan, volumes I and II and also including a children's hymnal, "Tomo ni Utaou" (Let's sing together). The first volume is a collection of hymns mostly in classical Japanese. This is the hymnal commonly used in the Reformed Church in Japan congregations. Some congregations also use volume II. Volume II uses slightly more contemporary language and contains some helpful footnotes giving the meaning of some Archaic expressions. There are many indexes, including the original sources and titles of the hymns in their original language. There are a limited number of original Japanese hymns, a couple of which are used in Sing! A New Creation.

The New Hymn Book (a reexamination of the one in archaic language)

"Sanbika 21" (as in "21st Century") is a complete revision of the old “Sanbika” I and II in contemporary Japanese and containing many newer hymns as well as liturgical resources. Published again by the United Church, this hymnal has found its way into a small number of RCJ congregations. Its popularity seems to be limited mainly by resistance to change, lack of leadership in introducing new music and the cost of acquiring a new set of hymnals.

Psalm book designed for Public Responsive Reading

This Psalter is published in an extremely useful format for responsive reading. It is used in many Reformed congregations desiring to make more use of the Psalms in worship but unable for one reason or another to use musical settings of the Psalms.

Psalms from the Genevan Psalter

This book is the first published collection of Psalms from the Genevan Psalter, produced by the Reformed Church in Japan's #3 Constitution Committee (concerned with liturgy, hymnody and church order). This committee has been working to publish a complete Psalter in Japanese with revised versifications and all set to the tunes of the Genevan Psalter. This project should be completed by 2006 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the RCJ. A separate book of the music (usually containing four-part settings for the piano or organ) is being produced as well, one having been published already which contains the tunes corresponding to this collection. Professor Masaaki Suzuki, member of the RCJ committee and an accomplished conductor who leads the Bach Collegium Japan, has produced a fine CD containing recordings of some of these Psalms using period instruments.

Sunday School Songs

The second CD is a joint project by Rev. Yutaka Maeda (lyrics) and Professor (music and accompaniment) and Mrs. (soloist) Shimatsuka, all of the Reformed Church in Japan. It is a collection of children's songs for use mostly in the Sunday school. The Shimatsukas also have published a collection of Japanese folk songs and a collection of hymns.