[3] During the occupation of Japan by the Allied forces after the Second World War, several US Army chaplains affiliated with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) were serving the local population.

With the information gathered, the LCMS came to the conclusion that they should send missionaries to northern Japan where the Lutheran presence was scarce in order to avoid redundancies among the various Lutheran churches and missions operating in Japan and a resolution was adopted accordingly.

This opened the door for the NRK's participation in activities organised by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

Prior to that, the NRK had already been a full member of the confessional International Lutheran Council that was constituted in 1993.

As a result of that and other differences in doctrinal issues, the LCMS, at its 2023 convention, declared that it was no longer in fellowship with the NRK.

Cooperation among the various Lutheran churches in Japan is common, particularly with respect to outreach ministries.

Church planting plans are mutually shared in order to avoid duplications.