A2 Community

- by Sue Takamoto -

Our family is preparing to come back to Sanda, Japan in a few days with many mixed emotions—how can it be otherwise? Tonight our oldest son Owen was listing all the places we could go upon our return; the friends we will be able to meet again; the Japanese food we can once again enjoy.

But there are always tears, as it means once again parting from loved ones. Those who know me or have read my blog (The Takameter) consistently know that this is the most difficult challenge for me in being a missionary…

We have truly loved the care, hospitality, and encouragement that we have received through our visits with friends and family. And the interest in our ministry in Japan!

Now that we have had a chance to show our 2010 Takamoto DVD to various churches and friends this summer, we wanted to make it available for any of you who would like to watch it. It is just under five minutes, and shares some of the things we are excited about even in returning to Sanda (our city) in a few days. Please pray as we prepare to return—for all six of us as we adjust back and help the older three children, especially, prepare again for Japanese school which will begin shortly.  Thanks.

For sure, for sure, we are confident that the God of Sanda is waiting to continue His wonderful work there. And we are so thankful that he is willing to use us to help accomplish that.

If you cannot see a video player, click here...

 Japan's Yen rate continues to climb, pressure missionaries

- by Jeff Johnston -

The Japanese Yen (¥) rate is approaching the strongest level in 15 years recently — hitting ¥85.33 to US$1 earlier this month.

According to Bloomberg's Alex Kowalski, the Yen rate has climbed 3% against all 16 major currencies this year. He writes:

"The yen typically strengthens in times of financial turmoil as Japan's trade surplus makes the currency attractive as it means the nation does not have to rely on overseas lenders."

Though many experts view the 85-Yen mark as the time for the government to take steps to weaken the currency, Kowalski says it's doubtful that it will do so.

Combined with a bad economy and soaring health care costs, it's a tough recipe to swallow. It's a struggle for missionaries to stay on the field. You cut where you can and then pray you can survive the onslaught.

We're not alone, as missionaries are feeling the pinch in many places, not just Japan. Churches in North America have had to cut back their support to missionaries due to a difficult economy. We know of a dozen or so families across the globe have reluctantly had to leave the field because they can no longer sustain the level of support needed.

What can we do? Do we just fold up our tent and call it a day?

Actually, I think there are several things we should be doing to address some of these core challenges. Here are a few:

1) Pray for God to send laborers and to provide the funds for the laborers He has sent.

Matthew 9:37-38 "Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.' "

Pray also that the U.S. Dollar would strenghten against the Japanese Yen.

2) Give to missions where God burdens you. Praise God for many who are giving sacrificially to advance His work in the world.

3) Stewardship - Mission organizations need to continue to look for creative ways to achieve a greater degree of stewardship. J. Hudson Taylor said: "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies." If He's not providing, then maybe we need to look hard at what we're doing and make some changes.

4) Partnership in the Base Camp - That said, I think there are good missions doing good things, but they just don't have a good economy of scale. Organizations will need to consider whether they can achieve more together than separately. Leveraging resources and administrative support is one way to achieve a better economy of scale. These difficult economic times could be God's way of bringing together more partnerships in the base camp.

This is what Asian Access is now seeking to do. (See "Asian Access seeks sizable ministry expansion".) We have a great mandate in Japan, but think it's time to join together with others to accomplish something bigger for God than we could do separately. The risk for losing some control is there, but the potential upside to foster a movement could be huge!

5) Partnerships on the Front Lines - Missions is undergoing some real changes. A documentary I helped to produce, Missions: Redefined raised some of these issues. It was an eye-opener to see how Western missions have been perceived.  As the landscape changes, our partnerships with national-led movements might be a key to achieving something greater together.

Sharing our kingdom resources for the greater good seems like a God-thing.

I certainly don't have all the answers. There's much more that we can do to address the current economic challenges.

What do you think?  Please give me your ¥2 . . . because it's now worth more than 2¢!

Tokyo makes anime-style guide to boost tourism

By: Jeff Johnston (sources: AP & Kyodo)

Tokyo's metropolitan government has produced an anime short to highlight sightseeing spots around the city. The aim is to lure more tourists to the capital city of Japan.

The short entitled "Welcome to Tokyo" runs about 11 minutes and cost the city about ¥49 million (about US$ 575,000) to create. To make it more accessible to foreign tourists, they offer subtitled versions in English and six other languages. It has been posted Tokyo's English website (under the Tourism, Culture and Sports):

http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/welcome/index.html

Here's the direct link to the full English flash movie is here:

http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/welcome/swf_hq/honey_en_hq.swf

In his upcoming Time article entitled "A Clouded Outlook," (August 2, 2010) Michael Schuman writes a sobering view of Japan's malaise and dismal economic outlook for the future. The 4-page article helps to see the big picture of the economic reality, which has been stagnant since the bubble burst in the early 1990s.

If you want a better understanding of Japan and the dynamics of turning this big ship around, read Shuman's article.

Here are a few excerpts to give you a sense of the problem:

• "Today, Japan is an island of inertia in an Asia in constant flux. Japan's political leadership is paralyzed, its corporate elite befuddled, its people agonized about the future. While Asia lurches forward, Japan inches backward. And yet no one in Japan is doing very much about it."
• "Growth has been practically nonexistent, the welfare of the Japanese people has suffered and the old industrial titans of Japan Inc. are retreating on the world stage. Japan will likely lose its cherished status as the world's No.2 economy this year, to a more energetic China. Though that was inevitable, the fact that China is so quickly closing the gap in economic power doesn't bode well for Japan's standing in the world."
• "Every few months, Tokyo's political revolving door spits out a new Prime Minister (Japan's had six PMs in the past four years) who inevitably vows that the time has come, finally, truly, to reform. But the proposals announced with expectant fanfare usually get swallowed up in Japan's dysfunctional political system."
• " 'There is an awareness that things can't stay the same,' says Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University's Japan campus. 'The problem is, people really don't know what is next. Japan's huge problems are just festering and Japan remains rudderless.' "
• What makes Japan's story so much more frustrating is that not so long ago, the nation was at the forefront of change. Long before Apple's iPad, it was Japan's Sony that invented the must-have gadgets that changed global lifestyles (remember the Walkman?). Japan didn't need answers; Japan was the answer. Yet those same policies and practices that sparked Japan's miracle have come to strangle it.

There is much more detail in the article, including what current PM Naoto Kan is trying to do, the downside of consensus-based decision-making, the economic effect on the younger people, potential implications on taxes and immigration policy, and much more.

What needs to be done to change this dilemma? Schuman with the help of fellow reporter Terrence Terashima offer recommendations. I'll let you read them, if you're interested, but Schuman closes with this pessimistic summation:

• "Such a sweeping vision for the nation's future and its role in the world is regrettably absent. Katsuji Konno, president of Igeta Tea Manufacturing, a Sendai-based chain of specialty tea shops, complains that the country's leaders are too focused on short-term fixes rather than long-term solutions. 'You have to think of more drastic measures,' he says. 'You need to think 10, 30, 40 years ahead.' Until Japan stops living in the past, it may not have a future."

Allow me to make a personal comment here after tracking the news and talking with my Japanese friends. . .

What is painfully obvious in Japan is that things are going to get worse—not better—at least for the foreseeable future. Japanese will need to adjust their lifestyle accordingly. No more can the people of Japan put their faith in their government to do what is best in their long-term future.

As a missionary here, who has seen countless Japanese shy away from following Christ, I can only hope—and pray—that this growing economic challenge swings wide open the door in people's lives for the Gospel. Up until now, they've simply been too comfortable.

While I'd like to see Japan flourish, its own affluence has become a huge stumbling block for the Gospel. And God loves the Japanese too much. I trust He will use this difficulty to compel many to follow Him.

They say that every cloud has a silver lining. Maybe the spiritual outlook is not so clouded after all.

What do you think?

Bible Club
On May 17, we held a Bible Club at our house. Along with seven other believers, we had nine friends come to explore what the Bible is about. A month before, we had received two large boxes of Japanese manga (comic) Bibles from the publisher to pass out to “seeking” friends. And we did just that at the Bible Club!

For the past few years, one way we have reached out to families is through these monthly meetings. Rather than pull kids out from their families to share the gospel with them, we seek to share with the entire family unit.

We began the club with some fun games to explore the concepts of listening, including the classic “Telephone Game”, where a message is whispered from one person to the next. Whether in Japanese or English, the message got butchered! Then we talked about the Bible being God’s love letter to us, which includes instructions on how to live our lives.

Next we broke into family units, read the section on the Sermon on the Mount and shared anything that impacted us. It was awesome to see everyone dive into the Word. We almost couldn’t get them to stop reading. Finally, we shared our discoveries as a large group. It was beautiful to see that God’s Word, in whatever form, penetrates the hearts of young and old alike. Since the Bible Club, we were able to follow up on one friend’s important question, “Why did Jesus say to love our enemies?” Please keep praying for our family as we live out the gospel in Sanda. Pray that our words and lifestyle speak boldly of Christ.

Quarantine
After the Bible Club finished and everyone went home, we were reflecting on what a great day it had been. What could be better? Partnering with fellow believers to explore the Lordship of Christ in community with those God is seeking. We put the kids down to bed and the phone rang. It was the neighborhood phone chain calling to inform us that all the schools in our city would be closed for a week. Kobe had had an outbreak of swine flu and everyone was quarantined. This sounded great to our kids at first, but living out the reality of quarantine was a bit tougher than expected: no leaving the house, no parks, no friends, no extra-curricular activities. However, their teachers came by a few times to give them their homework (unbelievable, huh!) We ventured out for groceries, but always wearing masks. It was rather surreal not seeing any children throughout the town, and brought to mind “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Remember the village with no kids? We half expected to see the Child Catcher! But we took advantage of some nice family and English study time. We were also appreciative of the timing of the quarantine: it wasn’t enacted until after the Bible Club, and then the families had a whole week to read their new Bibles. God is good!

Lunch here in northern Japan is very different from what I remember of my grade school lunches at Fernwood Elementary in Portland, Oregon in the 1970s.

I joined local school children for English time and lunch July 16 and 17, one week before summer vacation started.  We had something fishy on Thursday and cold noodles on Friday.

Here are five of the many ways lunch at Seien Elementary School is different from Fernwood.  How does your own grade school lunch experience compare?

1.  Japanese students eat in their classrooms.  They sit with other members of their own han, groups of 4-5 used for dividing classroom responsibilities and, more significantly, for developing teamwork in this “group-oriented” society.  At Fernwood all classes descended on the auditorium and kids sat where they wanted.

2.  All students at Seien School purchase their meals. At Fernwood we could bring lunch from home or buy at school, and could decide each day which to do.

3.  Japanese kids eat a lot of rice.  No big surprise, I know. At Seien in Sapporo they have rice every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesdays are bread days; Fridays are noodle days.  Even on bread days, though, there’s no bologna sandwich with banana and Tollhouse cookie like I remember.

4.  They all start and finish together. The han in charge that day gives food announcements (like what’s available for seconds) and initiate the loud, unison itadakimasu that Japanese people everywhere say at the beginning of each meal.

5.  Teachers eat with students. I’ve been to Seien before and noticed some teachers sit at their own desks and others pull up a chair and join one han of students.

Many years have passed since I was at Fernwood Elementary.  Since then the name has changed three times and is now Beverly Cleary School, named after its most famous alumna.  Perhaps many things about lunch there have changed, too.

What were you eating for lunch when you were in the 5th and 6th grades?  Please leave your comments to share the when, where and what of your school lunch memories.

Elementary school lunch in Sapporo, July 2009.

Students bring a favorite handkerchief from home for a place mat.

Students eat in their classrooms with members of their "han" group.

 After lunch students take their class's lunch cart to the cleaning area down the hall.

When the alarm rang at 4:42am this past Sunday we were both dreaming about time. Wakako was dreaming it was 3:30 and she had just one more hour to sleep. In my dream it was 2:30 so I had two more.

But we'd run out of time to sleep and were up early to leave in time for the 7:00am service at Sapporo Bible Church.  It took 55 minutes to slide across town, avoiding the many plows working hard to clear snow that had just fallen.

I gave the message at Bible Church at the 7:00 and 10:30 services.  A highlight of the morning was hearing Watanabe-san tell her story in the second service... [More...]

From Wakako Clark this time. . .

It’s now been a year since I moved to Sapporo February 2,2008. I have enjoyed all four seasons in Hokkaido! Before I moved to Sapporo, some people warned me how cold the winter in Hokkaido is, so I was little scared. But it’s actually not so bad for me. The snow is beautiful and buildings are kept much warmer than in the Tokyo area. Of course it’s still difficult for me to walk on the snow but I’m getting better at it.

One thing I like in winter here is the scenery, such as snow on trees with red berries.

I’ve never seen such a beautiful combination in the Tokyo area (where all the berries are eaten by birds). I think this is special gift from God to people in the extreme cold of Hokkaido. Every time I see these trees, I think of how thoughtful God is.

We had great plans for a December outreach.  We invited couples whose weddings I’d officiated in 2008 to our home in Sapporo to experience American Christmas.  

It was a big stretch, inviting people we didn’t know well.  But that was OK.  We had 25 couples to invite and wanted just three or four to visit our space-impaired apartment. And we thought it would encourage people to come since we, like them, were celebrating our “first married Christmas.”

But then the date of the party drew close and not even one couple had RSVP’d. We had bought turkey and all the fixings, no small investment in Japan!  We just needed a few guests.

We prayed and decided to try Plan B. . . [More...]

The other day, we celebrated three birthdays, including mine, at an Italian restaurant here in Japan. The other two celebrants were Japanese and women, so the staff at the restaurant was not at all flustered by them. I, on the hand, caused them a bit of anxiety. [More...]

A week ago, Japan Stories hit a milestone with our 50th podcast. How fitting that it was the podcast in which we introduced our new president, Joe Handley, to our listeners. Today, on the newest edition, Takeshi Takazawa gives insight on the tragic murders that took place in Akihabara last month.

After three years of doing the podcasts... [More...]

When I first went to our Japanese neighbor's house and met Helen, it was clear to see from the sparkle in Katsu's eyes that she was Daddy’s girl. And the tenderness with which he talked about her disabilities was surprising to hear from a Japanese man.

She’d already spent the first fifteen years of her life with only one good eye, and virtually no hearing, but it didn’t seem to have affected her independent spirit. Then again, independence is second nature to... a cat.

With Katsu's affection for Helen, it wasn’t too much of a surprise that when we started the book of Genesis in our Sunday evening Bible study, he was very interested in the creation of animals… and man… and the difference between them.

“What does it mean that God breathed life into man?”
“So do animals have souls?”
“If animals don’t have souls, will there be animals in heaven?”

All I could say was. . .

"So Pastor Sako, how was your summer? What did you do?"

"Well, Peter, I went for a drive."

"That sounds nice, where did you go?"

"Japan," answered the pastor.

"Well, yes, seeing that we are an island, that's obvious."

"I drove around Japan," he continued. "Literally."

Thus began an amazing discussion I had with Kazumi Sako, a pastor from Wakayama Prefecture (near Osaka) and a proven leader...

Last Friday, my son shouted the customary “Tadaima” (I’m home) as he came through the front door after school.  He’s in the fourth grade at the local elementary school, which means in just two more years his schoolwork may well be beyond the capabilities of his parents.

A few minutes after his arrival, there was a knock on the door and in came a schoolmate. I thought to myself,“How nice. He’s having a friend over.” Two minutes after that, the front door flew open and down the hall ran another friend. My home office, which is in the front of the house, usually provides a nice vantage point to observe who is coming and going, but this kid was a blur.

As I got up to investigate the blur, four more boys were coming through the front door. I wasn’t sure if I was still thinking that this was nice.

“Umm, son, what’s going on?” I asked.

“Just having some friends over, dad.”

“OK, but perhaps next time give us some warning.”

“OK, dad.”

So now what? Seven fourth graders were bouncing off the walls, pulling out the Game Cube, and crowding around our TV...