Wu Chinese in Japan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Wu Chinese language is more commonly referred to as the Shanghai dialect, but in fact Wu is spoken in a far greater area than just Shanghai. The Wu are counted as part of the Han nationality. Many of them moved to Japan to escape China’s extreme measures to combat Covid in 2020-23.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In China, the Wu speakers often face poverty. That is probably not the case in Japan. Many of China’s most affluent people now live in Japan.

There is a large Japanese community in Shanghai. They probably interface with the Wu speakers in Japan.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Wu Chinese do not practice any religion, although there has been a recent surge in interest in the spiritual practice of Qi Gong.

There were Nestorian churches in the region between Nanjing and Shanghai as early as AD 1279. At one time the Nestorians had seven monasteries in and around the city of Zhenjiang, now in Jiangsu Province. In the 1800s almost all missionaries to China commenced their work in Shanghai, which was the first port of entry for foreigners. This has resulted in the region having the highest concentration of Christians in all of China.


What Are Their Needs?

The Wu Chinese church needs to produce lasting fruit.


Prayer Items

Pray for the Lord to do a new work among men, drawing them to the King of kings.
Pray for the Lord to guide and protect their families.
Pray for the Lord to use Chinese Christians as salt and light to the Japanese.


Scripture Prayers for the Han Chinese, Wu in Japan.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission.
https://www.npr.org/2024/01/17/1221849861/china-japan-immigration
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-01/chinese-people-migrating-japan-escape-china-better-life/104842168


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Han Chinese, Wu
People Name in Country Han Chinese, Wu
Natural Name Wu Chinese
Pronunciation Woo
Alternate Names Han Chinese; Haw; Ho Yunannese; Hor; Khach; Shanghai; Shanghai Chinese; Shanghainese; Tau; Wenchow; Wu
Population this Country 6,800
Population all Countries 81,175,000
Total Countries 10
Indigenous No
Progress Scale Progress Gauge
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 11345
ROP3 Code 102143
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: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 5.00 %)
10.00 %
Ethnic Religions
85.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
5.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Chinese, Wu (6,800 speakers)
Language Code wuu   Ethnologue Listing
Written / Published Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Chinese, Wu (6,800 speakers)
Language Code wuu   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Chinese, Wu

Primary Language:  Chinese, Wu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1847-1908)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1868-1908)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1908-1914)
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
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Chinese, Wu Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2025  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.