Incredible! Slammed through it so fast. When Jonathan said this was a labor of love, he meant it and it shows.
The book covers three main topics: Gather, Equip, and Create. The first two focus on Christians around Japan applying their faith to their businesses and crafts. Primarily in the form of interviews, we get to know the faith journeys of Christians surrounded by a society filled with unbelief, and how they are able to find their artistic niche. They share the same heart for Japan that many of us have and use their crafts as outreach to the many lost people in Japan.
The third part focuses on the artists behind Magnify Tokyo and the process for creating the album. They share their heart behind each song and their stories that inspired them. They also lay out the lyrics in both English and Japanese. (The book is meant to hand in hand with the Magnify Tokyo album).
The book is a perfect fit for Christians with a heart for Japan, Christians in Japan, and missionaries to Japan. I personally feel called to missions in Japan and will be going soon, and this book was extremely helpful. It also shares some cultural overviews of Japan that are helpful.
The book was well designed and the colors were very "comfy". It's got those Christian coffeeshop vibes if you know what I mean. I feel like Japanese design was also incorporated into the layout as well.
Personally, it is my aching desire to see Christians in Japan flourish not only in their faith in Christ, but also to see them apply their faith in the arts and in business, along with every aspect of life. This book showed me exactly that. I hope to see the team come together again and make more art and music! They have a lot of potential!
Praise Jesus King.