PMI Missionaries

Koji & Marcia Esaki

Ministry Area: Osaka, Japan
Responsibilities: CitytoCity Japan, Director of Coaching; Bible Study Outreach
E-mail Address: marciaesaki@gmail.com
Latest Newsletter (PDF): August 2026

In 1993 Koji and Marcia moved to Japan after graduation from Covenant Seminary, bringing with them their daughters Hana (age 6) and Mae (age 3). Koji was ordained in the Presbyterian Church of Japan. Over the next 22 years he pastored the Nagakute Presbyterian Church in Nagoya, planted Amazing Grace Church in Gifu City, and aided the MTW Nagoya church planting team. While pastoring in Gifu City, Koji served the Gifu Prefectural Prison as the only Christian chaplain to 800 inmates. Meanwhile, Marcia was a teacher at Nagoya International School for ten years.

Koji and Marcia moved to downtown Osaka in April 2015. The Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area has 17 million people and is one of the least churched metropolitan centers in the world. In 2014, they attended a CitytoCity Asia Pacific church planter training, which was started by the ministry of Tim Keller's Redeemer Church. Afterward, Koji managed 10 translators, who made these materials accessible in Japanese. Marcia was part of Genesis Cafe, which was an English language outreach to young people in Osaka. They also led Bible studies in their apartment, and regularly preached in Japanese with English translation at a bi-lingual church they still attend.

Today, all of Koji's experiences as church planter, pastor, chaplain and translator have come full circle. In late 2019, Koji became the CitytoCity Japan, Director of Coaching. By the end of 2026, there will be 13 gospel coaches serving about 34 church planters in the CitytoCity Japan network. These coaches will engage in monthly gospel-infused conversations to increase the likelihood of the health and success of both pastor and church. Outside of Japan, Koji, assisted by Marcia, led seminars in 2025 and 2026 for Christ-Centered Preaching. These were designed to encourage Presbyterian Church of Japan pastors and their networks, who serve Japanese diaspora congregations in Australia and England. Marcia and Koji have three grandchildren: Eisuke (Ace), Eve and Kai.

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