Classic Children’s Show “Superbook” Overtakes Japan
The classic Christian children’s show “Superbook” is alive and well in Japan. Pastor Nozomi Nishimura of Jesus Family Church in Tokyo sometimes dresses as the cartoon character Pikachu to draw attention as he shares the gospel.
“We wanted to find a way on how to share the gospel to more people, especially the children, and so we came up with this yearly evangelistic festival, which is called The Joy Joy Festival,” he told CBN News. “It is an entry point of the church, like today we have 10 non-Christian families who came; and then they come to church.”
This festival is Japan’s largest evangelistic event. For the third time, Superbook participated, featuring Gizmo, known as Robic in Japan. He danced with the Superbook team to the theme song, the “Salvation Poem.” Compared to previous years, more children now are familiar with the song. The team hopes they also understand its message of salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross.
Superbook first aired nationally in Japan 40 years ago, according to John Tan, CBN’s regional director.
“It was originally created for the Japanese market,” he said. “It was a way for Dr. Pat Robertson to enter Japan and introduce the Bible. 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.”
The Superbook team has visited various Sunday Schools, teaching children about Queen Esther. They encourage the kids to become part of the “Kingdom Generation,” one that cannot be defeated or destroyed, because they serve a victorious God.
What began as a simple media outreach through Superbook has now grown to a much bigger vision, the establishment of CBN Japan. “In the very near future, we plan to open CBN Japan especially for kids,” Tan said, “but there will also be a 700 Club-type program for the adults here in Japan.”
–Alan Goforth
