Gathering of the Called Out Ones

SPIRITUAL REMINDERS

2011-12-23T15:48:00.000-08:00

Subaru of America 66 mpg Look Cheap & Ugly

2011-11-08T17:21:00.001-08:00

GOT ART?

2011-10-21T23:09:00.000-07:00

REMEMBERING AUGUST 6TH

2011-08-06T22:25:00.000-07:00

This Week's Cartoon

2011-08-02T09:26:00.001-07:00

Gospel event to sing prayer for Tohoku

2011-07-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 22, 2011

TOKYO

By MIKE HAMILTON, Staff writer

The bombastic and expressive vocals of gospel music are far removed from traditional Japanese culture, which may be why the genre is so popular here.

With the financial support of Tokyo Union Church, Rev. George Redding and a group of American and Japanese gospel singers are hoping their chorus will inspire more people to embrace the genre at the Japan Earthquake Disaster Gospel Music Charity Show.

The extensive roster of artists is bound to impress those at the 1,400-seat capacity Nerima Bunka Center with awe-inspiring sounds. Redding, who has lived in Tokyo for the past 10 years, started organizing the event in February this year. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, Redding made the decision to donate profits from the event to disaster victims in the Tohoku region.

While the event will center on gospel, R&B will be provided by artists Christi and Rod Ross. Shoko Yamagishi and Jonny Dynamite will also add a dash of jazz to the event. In total, nine individual artists are set to perform. Also, young quintet PMG Kids will take the stage as will 23-member-strong group True Praise supported by Ray D. Lewis. The group will perform gospel classics such as "Oh Happy Day."

Japan Earthquake Disaster Gospel Music Charity Show will take place at Nerima Bunka Center Hall in Nerima Ward, Tokyo, on July 31. Doors open from 6:45 p.m. Tickets cost ¥3,000 in advance, ¥3,500 at the door. For more information, visit a1production.web.infoseek.co.jp.

Science cannot affirm the non-existence of God

2011-07-21T22:54:00.001-07:00

Archbishop: Church Must Learn Language of Youth

Says Liberty and Science Are Two Dominant Values

MADRID, Spain, JULY 21, 2011 (Zenit.org).- To evangelize young people, the Church must understand their culture, in which liberty and science are dominant values, say the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella said this Wednesday during the summer course "Young People and the Catholic Church: Points for a Youth Ministry for Today," which is under way this week at King Juan Carlos University in Madrid.

The archbishop's talk was titled "Young People and God, Young People and Jesus Christ, Young People and Eternal Life."

One cannot speak to young people of Christ, said the evangelization dicastery president, "without speaking of liberty, as the youth of today has placed it in his culture, but liberty must always be in relation to truth, as it is truth that produces liberty."

At the same time, he added, "one cannot speak of God to young people without knowing the culture of today's young people, which is scientific. Today's culture, its content, is full of axioms of science."

The Italian prelate clarified that the Church is "in favor of science, but the latter must be in favor of humanity and never against humanity."

"The time will come when science itself will ask for help from theology to know the realms of reality more amply, and to be able to give an answer to pain, to betrayal, to death," in short, "to the great questions, the questions of meaning," said archbishop Fisichella.

Archbishop Fisichella pointed out that "the interaction of science, personal life and ethics is necessary," and that one cannot live without the other.

By way of example, the archbishop gave the case of the director of the Genome project, Francis S. Collins, who has gone further into the language of God, because "true science puts you at the doors of the transcendent."

Archbishop Fisichella concluded assuring that one "can be Catholic and scientific at the same time. To experience scientific knowledge does not imply atheism. The scientific has its limits; it cannot affirm the non-existence of God."

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U.S. stamps to mark 100 years of cherry trees gift

2011-07-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

Kyodo

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service will issue two stamps next year on the 100th anniversary of the gift to Washington of more than 3,000 cherry trees by Yukio Ozaki, the mayor of Tokyo at the time.

The "Cherry Blossom Centennial Forever Stamps" create a single, panoramic view of the cherry trees blooming around the Tidal Basin when two stamps are placed side by side.

The other half of each stamp features blossoming trees arching over a family on a stroll and two girls wearing kimono, and a canopy of pink blooms with the Jefferson Memorial in the background. The trees have become a symbol of the Japan-U.S. friendship.

Pastors Videos For Pastors How to Disagree with Grace

2011-07-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

Chandler, Horton, Keller on How to Disagree from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

JIM NIELSEN REPORTS FROM NORTHEASTERN JAPAN

2011-07-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Praying Friends,

Eileen and I have been up in the northeast of Japan for the past month now serving as CRASH Tono Base Camp Manager, Safety Officer and Church Liaison Officer. At present, we have 30 volunteers from the U.S,, Canada, So. Africa and Uganda serving through the base camp which presents us with many logistical challenges daily in keeping all the volunteers housed and fed as well as coordinating in getting them also deployed daily to the coastal disaster hit areas.

As the CRASH Liaison Officer, we also have the task of coordinating our relief and recovery efforts through local pastors and churches here in Tono Shi, Iwate Prefecture, which also presents a separate set of challenges as there are few solid, evangelical churches in this area. We have a number of important meetings with key pastors in the next week (Pastor Kondo - 3.11 Network, Pastor Chiba -Conservative Baptist, Pastor Miura - Tono Bible Church) and would appreciate it if you would pray with us that we would see some good, long-term partnerships formed with these pastors and their churches in the days ahead.

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve the Lord here in Iwate Prefecture in the aftermath of such a devastating natural disaster in bring hope to the hopeless. We are particularly blessed to be working along side the local church to be an encouragement and help to them at this time of need. But also, to have the privilege of working along with the many Christian young people who are coming from all over the world as volunteers to serve the Lord here with us.

Thank you for your continuing prayers for us and the efforts of CRASH to bring healing and hope to the people of Iwate Prefecture and the Tohoku region.

In Christ and for His Glory, Jim and Eileen Nielsen TEAM-Japan

American nonprofit organization All Hands

2011-07-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Zenetsu Nishiyama (second from left) stands in front of his tsunami-damaged home in Ofunato, Miyagi Prefecture, along with members of All Hands volunteer group. JON MITCHELL PHOTOS

U.S. volunteer group earns tragedy-hit Iwate's respect

All Hands signs up for any cleanup task and wins trust along the way

By JON MITCHELL

Special to The Japan Times

Since its formation in the wake of the 2004 Sumatra tsunami, American nonprofit organization All Hands has dispatched more than 6,000 volunteers to the scenes of more than a dozen disasters across the globe. While these teams are accustomed to encountering tough conditions — including torrential rain in Indonesia and the threat of cholera following last year's Haiti earthquake — what they encountered upon their arrival in Iwate Prefecture in April was an entirely different kind of problem.

A volunteer worker clears debris from a canal in Ofunato.

"Although the tsunami had reduced whole areas of the coast to debris and the few houses still standing were full of mud, when we asked the owners if they needed help, they turned us down," recalls Neil Lawson, the NPO's work coordinator. "For almost a week we went door to door trying to assist people, but all of them declined."

The reactions of the residents surprised the volunteers. A month earlier, the mayors of Ofunato and Rikuzentakata, two of the Iwate towns most severely damaged, had given All Hands' Executive Director David Campbell and his fact-finding team a warm welcome. But it would prove more difficult to win over the trust of the survivors living in the heart of the destruction.

"Partly, the residents were worried that we would try to charge them for the work we were offering to carry out," says Lawson, a Missouri native. "And also they seemed concerned about clumsy, loud Americans tearing through their houses."

Despite this setback, Lawson's team continued to trek through the devastated communities, attempting to help local residents — many of whom were too old to conduct the strenuous work of clearing mud by themselves.

Lawson remembers the day when his perseverance paid off. "An elderly couple asked us to clean their kitchen shelves. It was only a small job but when they saw how carefully we did it, they asked us to help them to move some heavy furniture. After that, they requested us to clear the mud from beneath their home."

Having won the trust of this first couple, word quickly spread throughout the community that the volunteers were enthusiastic — and careful — workers who were not afraid of getting their hands dirty. Over the next few weeks, the NPO was tasked with larger projects, including clearing debris from flooded rice fields and shoveling tons of rotting seaweed from a gutted factory.

In early June, due to the fast-approaching rainy season and threat of flooding, the Ofunato Municipal Government took the unprecedented step of embedding these international volunteers into its official maintenance crews to unblock drains.

With its volume of work increasing, All Hands has seen a steady stream of volunteers through its base in downtown Ofunato. On any given day, it has between 40 and 60 volunteers in its charge. Approximately half of them are Japanese; the other half come from as far afield as the United States, Britain and the Netherlands. All Hands requires volunteers to pay their own way to the disaster zone — but, once there, bed and board is provided free of charge.

Combined with a flexible policy that allows volunteers to stay as long as they choose, the NPO attracts an eclectic mix that has included a professional poker player, Ivy League students and retired CEOs. In May, Grammy-nominated pop star Sara Barelleis joined All Hands to clear ditches in Ofunato for four days. "She was a hard worker," recalls one of those who toiled alongside her.

The boardroom backgrounds of other volunteers have proven useful in securing support from well-known corporations, including 3M, Goldman Sachs and Walmart. According to All Hands' representative director in Japan, Satoshi Kitahama, Walmart's offer to supply groceries at wholesale prices is playing a vital role in the NPO's contribution to feed survivors.

"In Rikuzentakata, there are still 10,000 residents who are unable to secure food for themselves. No supermarkets are open and people's cars have been washed away. The government only supplies them with a bare minimum — rice balls and bread — so their health is beginning to suffer. We're trying to ensure that they receive some nutritional balance to their diets," he said.

Despite — or perhaps because of — the desk-bound past lives of former executives like Kitahama, they are often among the first to volunteer for the most demanding cleanup jobs, such as shoveling the tons of putrid fish still scattered around Ofunato port. Kim Faith, a long-term All Hands member, claims that this zeal no longer surprises her. "The dirtier the job, the more hands go up (to do it)," she says. "There's this volunteer eagerness. They pride themselves on doing the work that nobody else wants to do."

While clearing mud is usually sufficient for most volunteers, All Hands sets aside special projects for those who would like an even tougher challenge. In May, one job took a team to the isolated town of Yamada, where the tsunami had destroyed the 500-year-old Arajinja Shrine, an important place of worship for the prefecture's fishermen. Volunteers camped close to the coast in an area known for its wild bears, while they conducted the 12-day cleanup project.

The meticulous care with which they worked earned All Hands a great deal of respect — and further helped to cement support from the local community.

However, the elderly residents whose homes have been cleaned by the volunteers remain those most grateful for the NPO's assistance. Zenetsu Nishiyama, 73, lives near the port of Ofunato — and the car tire still balanced atop the roof of his two-story house is testament to the height of the wave that swamped it on March 11. Whereas his neighbors' homes were uprooted and washed away, Nishiyama's sturdy house stood firm — but its rooms were left deep in mud that threatened to rot its foundation.

In mid-June, a team of five All Hands volunteers helped to clear away this sludge and remove the moldering walls. Watching the foreign crew work, Nishiyama's praise was unreserved. "It would have been such a waste to tear down this house. Thanks to them, it can be repaired and I'll be able to move back. The volunteers work with all their heart and I really appreciate their help."

Four blocks away, more All Hands volunteers were working on a project to bring some cheer back to this devastated town. After learning from a local resident that the town's children enjoyed watching fireflies around the neighborhood canals, the volunteers vowed to clear away the choking debris. Working waist-deep in sludge, they scoop aside the mud — in the process uncovering children's toys and rings of keys that they set aside in the hope that their owners are still alive to reclaim them. After a morning of sustained labor, the water slowly started to move through the canal. First a gurgle, then a torrent — the volunteers exchanged muddy-handed high-fives and relished their minor victory.

According to Ofunato native Moto Suzuki, ultimately it is this enthusiasm that has made All Hands so welcome in Iwate. Suzuki returned to his hometown from Tokyo after the tsunami struck — and now he regularly works alongside the NPO's volunteers. "They've brought fresh air to this town. The residents are really impressed and appreciative of their work. As time goes on, I'm confident that our relationship will become even stronger."

TOM NIELSEN WORKING ON GUAM

2011-06-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

Settlement reached in Lada Estates case

A development in Dededo that's been long stalled in court is finally coming to a conclusion. As a result, the proposed Lada Estates affordable homes project finally becoming a reality. More>>

Eric Clapton,Bob Dylan,George Harrison,Neil Young,Tom Petty,Roger McGuinn-Knocking On Heaven's Door

2011-06-22T21:54:00.001-07:00

Japanese interfaith group joins protests over US bases

2011-06-22T14:59:00.000-07:00

By ENInews

22 Jun 2011

A new interfaith group in Japan has joined local opposition to the US military presence on the southern island of Okinawa, as the two countries announced on 21 June 2011 that they have postponed the 2014 deadline for relocating a US Marine base there, due to the plan's unpopularity.

"The lives of Okinawan people are still threatened [by the bases]," said the Tokyo-based group composed primarily of Buddhists and Christians.

"We as religionists have the same resolution in caring for life and protecting peace," the group said in a statement adopted at its launch on 17 June. "We will address the problem of US military bases in Okinawa," it said.

In Washington DC on 21 June, a joint statement by the two countries said plans for the relocation would not meet the 2014 date, but would be carried out "at the earliest possible date" after 2014. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto and Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa are in the U.S. capital for talks with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Robert Gates.

Under a 1996 agreement between the U.S. and Japan, the US Marine Corps Air Station, currently based near the densely-populated area of Futenma on the main Okinawa island, was to be relocated to an offshore coral reef area near the village of Henoko.

In 2006, the relocation plan was to be completed by 2014 as part of a US military realignment, but the plan has been strongly opposed since 1996 by local residents and supporters nationwide, including Okinawan Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and many Okinawan residents.

The local government has said that the bases hinder regional development and that there are concerns with crime, aircraft operations, noise pollution and environmental pollution.

The interfaith group is led by Tainen Miyagi, a Buddhist Abbot of Seigoin temple in Kyoto; the Rev Isamu Koshiishi, moderator of the National Christian Council in Japan and Bishop Daiji Tani, president of the Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace. The group's name in Japanese is: 'Religionists Group for Okinawa Without Bases - To Seek Removal of Futenma Base And Cancellation of the Construction of New Base in Henoko.'

The site of a significant World War II battle, Okinawa hosts about half of the nearly 50,000 US military personnel in Japan. After the war, the Okinawa bases were used to dispatch US troops to conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan.

[With acknowledgements to ENInews. ENInews, formerly Ecumenical News International, is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Conference of European Churches.]

'Benedictus': Fragrance Created for Pope Benedict XVI

2011-06-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

MEDIA ADVISORY, June 21, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Excelsis announced today that it has created a new fragrance made expressly for His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood in Freising Cathedral, Bavaria 29 June 1951.

Doctor Frederick Hass, founder of Excelsis, created this fragrance appropriately with linden blossom from Benedict's native Germany, frankincense from the Holy Land and bergamot from Italy. The result is subtle and dignified, befitting a man of finely cultivated tastes. Barely perceptible is a nuance of citrus, and as it evolves, a discrete hint of musk. The overall impression is one of understated elegance. A slightly astringent and balsamic quality makes it a soothing and refreshing aftershave.

Benedictus will initially be available only online at www.ExcelsisUSA.com.

Distribution for retail sales will begin shortly. Dealer inquiries are invited.

What is the Japanese word for 10,000,000 billion?

2011-06-21T10:06:00.000-07:00

TOKYO — Japanese computer geeks are celebrating a comeback after a Fujitsu-built supercomputer set a world speed record — beating the reigning Chinese machine and giving Japan the most powerful computer for the first time in seven years.

The Fujitsu “K” — a play on the Japanese word for 10,000,000 bn, the number of operations per second it is designed to perform — topped the semiannual ranking announced Monday at the International Supercomputing Conference in Hamburg.

“This is proof that our nation’s technology sector is still healthy,” said Ryoji Noyori, project director at Riken, a government-funded research institute that collaborated with Fujitsu. “We have to aim for [the] top spot.”

Read full article >> (Jonathan Soble)

Makoto Fujimura: The function of art

2011-06-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

The church needs the arts, not so there will be opportunities for more artists in churches, but for the sake of the gospel, says the artist and founder of the International Arts Movement.

Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, Ill.

“Charis-Kairos (The Tears of Christ).”

May 10, 2011 | Chances are if you’ve heard others use the expression “It’s like watching paint dry,” you’ve assumed they meant that something was boring.

But that’s not the case for Makoto Fujimura, an artist and the founder of the International Arts Movement (IAM), a nonprofit that encourages artists to wrestle with questions of art, faith and humanity through workshops, lectures and performances.

He finds watching paint dry fascinating -- so much so that he has even videotaped it. “There’s something about it that is very generative for me, that makes me come alive,” said Fujimura, who moved from Japan to the United States when he was 13 and was drawn to visual communication as he learned English.

He paints using the traditional Japanese technique Nihonga, and his paintings have been exhibited at galleries around the world, from the Dillon Gallery in New York to the Contemporary Museum of Tokyo. His latest work is “The Four Holy Gospels,” an illuminated manuscript of the Gospels published by Crossway in January to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.

Fujimura became a Christian while completing a master of fine arts degree at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and was named World magazine’s “Daniel of the Year” in 2005. A former elder at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and a founding elder at The Village Church, he is the author of a memoir, “River Grace,” and a collection of essays, “Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art and Culture.”

Fujimura spoke with Faith & Leadership about the function of art, the International Arts Movement, and the “Four Holy Gospels” project. The following is an edited transcript.

Read this article here

Gulliver's Kingdom

2011-06-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

Photos of an abandoned Gulliver's Travels amusement park in Japan.

Under the shadow of Mount Fuji lies an imprisoned (and spray painted) Gulliver. Look closely and you'll see some explorers standing on the statues face, body, and hand. (Photo: Martin Lyle)

MacArthur sought to impose religion on defeated Japan

2011-06-14T18:14:00.000-07:00

By ENInews

10 Jun 2011

In the wake of the destruction and surrender of the Japanese empire in August 1945, a "spiritual vacuum" emerged that the country's de-facto ruler, General Douglas MacArthur, sought to fill with religious and quasi-religious beliefs still new to Japan, from Christianity to Freemasonry - writes Suzanne McGee.

That is the focus of a recently published study of the Occupation years of 1945 to 1952 by Japanese investigative journalist Eiichiro Tokumoto.

In "1945 Under the Shadow of the Occupation: The Ashlar and The Cross," Tokumoto documents MacArthur's efforts to persuade missionaries to intensify their efforts among the Japanese population in hopes of providing a counterweight to the growing appeal of communism in the earliest days of the Cold War.

"There was a complete collapse of faith in Japan in 1945 -- in our invincible military, in the emperor, in the religion that had become known as 'state Shinto,'" says Tokumoto, referring to spiritual practices dating back several millennia that in the decades before World War II became a kind of state religion. It became closely associated with the growth of militaristic nationalism that led Japan into war in China and later with the United States and its allies.

"MacArthur was very interested in the relationship between politics and religion in Japan, and he wanted both to reform the ideas and the ideology of the Japanese people as well as [make] sure that communism did not fill the gap in people's minds and hearts," Tokumoto explains.

A number of letters and reports that Tokumoto studied while researching his book only recently were declassified, he says. Among them was a report of a meeting between two American Catholic bishops, John F. O'Hara and Michael J. Ready, and MacArthur in the summer of 1946. After a three-week trip around Japan, meeting religious and political leaders as well as members of the imperial family, the bishops reported to the Vatican that MacArthur encouraged the Catholic Church to attempt to convert the Japanese en masse.

"General MacArthur asked us to urge the sending of thousands of Catholic missionaries - at once," the bishops said in their report. MacArthur told them that they had a year to help fill the "spiritual vacuum" created by the defeat - a vacuum "into which anything may rush."

Based on his experience in the Philippines, MacArthur believed that the Catholic Church particularly would appeal to the Japanese because the tradition of seeking absolution "appeals to the Oriental," they reported. Taking responsibility for one's mistakes or misdeeds, and making amends, long had been a part of Japanese culture - although traditionally, among samurai warriors, this ended with ritual suicide or seppuku, rather than by seeking absolution from a priest.

The general, who became the absolute authority in Japan during the Occupation, reiterated his interest in encouraging conversions to Christianity during the visit of an Australian cardinal, Norman Gilroy, in December 1946. Tokumoto viewed a recently declassified report by Gilroy to the Vatican in which the cardinal wrote that MacArthur believed that, if the church didn't act, "Communist agents will obtain the converts who should be gained by the church."

Even after leaving Japan, MacArthur never relinquished his interest in religion as a counterweight to both extreme nationalism and communism in Japan. When International Christian University was founded in Tokyo in 1955, MacArthur became chair of its fundraising efforts, says Japan scholar Garrett Washington, an assistant professor at Oberlin College in Ohio. "It was another place that could legally teach and protect Christianity."

In the wake of the missionaries' efforts, the Bible became a best seller in some bookshops, while the number of Catholics climbed about 19 per cent between 1948 and 1950, Tokumoto says.

Still, despite the interest of the Japanese in learning about the belief systems - from democracy to religion - that they believed had helped their adversaries conquer them, the effects of these missionary efforts didn't last. Partly, Washington says, despite the Vatican's proposal that missionaries obtain specialised training and language skills, relatively few of the 2,000 or so who flooded into Japan in the war's aftermath could communicate effectively with their target audience.

In the 1960s, within a few years of the creation of International Christian University, there was a backlash against what students perceived as a Christian 'elite' who ran several major Japanese universities or had risen to power in other fields. "There was a growing conviction across Japanese societies that all religions had failed them in one way or another," Washington says.

The perception was that Shinto had led to the disastrous defeat of Japan in 1945, but Christianity was associated with Western powers that young Japanese increasingly saw as "hypocritical," he says. "They were not practicing what they preached, from dropping the atom bombs to the Cold War and even the war in Vietnam."

Today, Washington adds, Japanese citizens have relatively little interest in any religion.

MacArthur's other initiative to fill the spiritual void - expanding Freemasonry in Japan, including the induction of the first Japanese masons - had somewhat more lasting success, Tokumoto says. That first generation of Japanese members included members of the Japanese parliament, or Diet, as well as journalists and even a member of the imperial family.

JON PETERSEN REPORTS

2011-06-13T22:34:00.000-07:00

Mon 6/13/2011 6:52 PM PDT

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from one pooped and happy traveller. This was virtually one of those unplannable trips...flow as you go stuff... To do this you need the right kind of te

am - which I was blessed to have. Josh (21), Dayn (24) and Sara (21), loved our team times of worship, prayer and studying "identity in Christ" themes in the New Testament. They are true "intercessors" and covered every aspect of our trip and the people we met in prayer.

Now I'm heading home and I've left them with the Crash Japan team to go north with Dr Andy Meeko, a co-MK from Japan who is a Dr of Psychology and committed to grief counselling in the Tohoku region. They will be praying for CRASH workers, local churches and many in the disaster region who need comfort and Jesus.

Sara, who is Japanese/Hawaiian, speaks great Japanese, knows the train system, loves to pray and is a sweetheart towards the Japanese people - a real bridge between cultures. Dayn is has a great "antennae", is pastoral and a great leader. Josh, though new to Asia, fit in beautifully (as long as we kept him fed.) He loves to pray, worship and "treasure hunt" - going into a crowd and searching for someone to talk to about Jesus. All three of them ran into divine appointments through their "treasure hunting" forays... very amazing!

Josh and Dayn are off to China on the 22nd to meet up with Wendy there, then cycle back through Yokohama on the 27th of July.

Things in Yokohama are now in place to launch the Yokohama Prayer Room in July during our next trip. We have met with over 10 yokohama pastors and a number of praying types who are excited to have a place in their city to come and pray together for the city, Japan and the nations.

Tuesday was the day Andy Game introduced JesusNet (internet evangelism) and I shared the partnership with Andy and 24-7 Prayer with a number of Yokohama pastors. We hope to see the website up and running with "internet counsellors" and partnering churches in September. With the elevated grief and subsequent suicides rising in Japan, we believe this evangelism/counselling website, partnered with prayer, could be a real tool in the hands of the Lord.

Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed a "redemptive roots" tour from Scout Douma, pastor of the Yokohama Grace Bible Church. What a blessing to see the city the Lord has chosen to lead us to has a rich history as a gateway into Japan, some godly roots and a beachhead for the Gospel into a historically resistant culture.

A couple of times we woke up knowing we had no clear place to go or sleep later that night - each time the Lord opened amazing doors and provided for every step - phew! He is the "break-through" God.

Sunday night was a gathering at CAJ, my old school for United Day of Prayer. What a joy to see nearly 200 pastors, intercessors, missionaries and praying people gathered to pray for Japan and for the world. I was blessed to share a few minutes on "the prayer of agreement" - a big need in Japan where the church is separated from itself in many ways. Things are truly beginning to shift in this country where, new forms of Church and new spiritual leaders are being raised up by the Lord.

We are in critical need of a permanent person or couple to set up in Yokohama, partner with Andy Game and facilitate the prayer room and prayer teams going into Japan. Once that is in place we'll be able to facilitate monthly "Prayer Journey" teams into Japan - Pray specifically for the right people!!

If you or someone you know would like to join a "Prayer Journey Team" beginning in September, please let me know. We will try to mix Japanese and non-Japanese speakers on the same team - thankfully Japanese is not a required language in talking to God.

OK, gotta catch a plane - again...(sorry if this is rough - didn't even have a chance to edit.)

Love y'all, Jon Petersen

Living Abroad in Japan

2011-06-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

Preview the introduction and table of contents

Born in Tokyo and raised in Hokkaido, Ruthy Kanagy is an expert on Japanese culture and currently works as a travel systems consultant, leading cycling tours of Japan. Ruthy provides insight and first-hand advice on navigating the language and culture of Japan, outlining all the information needed in a smart, organized, and straightforward manner. Moon Living Abroad in Japan makes the moving and transition process easy for businesspeople, students, teachers, retirees, and professionals.

Moon Living Abroad in Japan is packed with essential information and must-have details on setting up daily life, including obtaining visas, arranging finances, gaining employment, choosing schools, and finding health care. This relocation guide also includes practical advice on how to rent or buy a home for a variety of needs and budgets, whether it’s an apartment in Tokyo or a mountain retreat in Nagano. All Moon Living Abroad guides include color photos, black and white photos, black and white illustrations, and maps.

About the Author

Ruthy Kanagy was born in Tokyo and grew up on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. After finishing high school in Japan and higher education in the United States, Ruthy taught English and Japanese language and culture for 22 years at universities in the United States and Japan. She also translated a Japanese children’s book, The Park Bench.
When she started cycling in earnest in 2000, she discovered the joy of traveling under her own power, without reliance on fossil fuels. A highlight was touring Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan — exploring her roots and visiting the places her family had lived when she was young. The mountains, caldera lakes, hot springs, rugged seacoast, and wildflowers were just as she remembered.

In 2006, Ruthy organized Japan Cycle Tours to introduce cyclists to Hokkaido, Tokyo, Kyoto, and other areas. She is convinced that encountering new cultures on a bicycle makes you more approachable and brings you closer to local people. Currently, Ruthy is a bicycle travel consultant at Green Gear Cycling/Bike Friday, builders of custom, high-performance bicycles that pack into a suitcase for air travel (www.bikefriday.com). Her job is to help people design the bikes they need for adventures around the world. She is also studying French and Korean in hopes of further exploring the globe by pedal power.
Other than annual trips to Japan, Ruthy calls Eugene, Oregon home; her two daughters live in San Francisco and New York City. Ruthy’s travel photos are displayed at www.livingabroadinjapan.com.

2011 Japan Women

2011-06-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

2011 WOMENS OUTREACH TO JAPAN
Where: Iwata, Iwakuni and Osaka, Japan
When: June 28 – July 16, 2011
Who: College Age Women and High School Seniors
Cost: $3,150

THIS TOUR will stretch each participant on & off the field. We will be learning what it means to be a sports minister, as well as putting what we learn into practice through many different avenues of ministry such as matches, camps, post-game meals, testimony sharing, friendship evangelism, clinics, and pre-tour training. Our hope is that each girl on this tour comes home with a deeper knowledge of our Lord, Sports Ministry and a confidence in sharing her faith with others.

COME JOIN US for this exciting 2011 outreach to Central & Southern Japan. This is our 8^th year to minister in Osaka and our 5^th in Iwakuni. This year in particular serves a unique purpose in helping to plant a long-term sports ministry center by partnering with Masa & Chie Yokota and Pastor BJ Tsutada in Osaka. In addition to matches, we will be helping to establish a soccer camp which will attract families to the Soccer Academy they hope to start. They have arranged matches for us with local select clubs and universities as well as High School teams. Besides matches and the 3-day camp, we will be engaging with the locals through soccer clinics and other relational opportunities.

Osaka is the second largest city in Japan but we will also be traveling to Southern Japan which is one of the most beautiful parts of the country. There we will be partnering through the Chapel on a US Navy Military installation to provide a 4-day camp to the children of the F-18 fighter squadron and their support team families. We will also minister off-base with a Japanese pastor while making connections to the community that would otherwise be difficult to make. It’s not all work and ministry however, there will be a day to rest, relax & see some of the scenic & cultural locations of historical Japan.

Get ready to make an impact and be challenged by the opportunity to represent your Savior, your country, your sport, and the Seahorse Soccer ministry through this awesome opportunity. We will take two days prior to departing to cover cultural orientation, physical preparation, and get ready spiritually.

To apply for this tour please fill out the application and mail it to our offices along with a $100 deposit (non-refundable)

For more information
Call Paul Gizzi: 714-739-8375
Email: paul.gizzi@seahorsesoccer.com
DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Visions are motivating the church in Japan

2011-06-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

Japan (MNN) -- Saturday marks three months since the earthquake and resulting tsunami swept across Japan. According to Pete Howard with Food for the Hungry, the homelessness and cleanup continue. Howard says many Japanese are still in need. "Close to 200,000 people are still living in shelters and outside of their homes. Some of those people, especially those who live near the Fukushima Nuclear Plant, cannot go back to their homes." Howard says the church in Japan has been phenomenal in providing relief -- going into "at risk" areas. Howard says it's a move of the Holy Spirit. "Pastors and leaders are having dreams -- dreams of Jesus walking through the rubble toward the Fukushima Nuclear plant. Some of these Christian leaders see those dreams as a call to the church not to run away from the danger or the challenges, but to follow Jesus into the danger." Japan's technology hasn't been able to provide hope, so they're now asking spiritual questions. Pray that Christians will be there to provide the Answer.

GOT ART?

2011-06-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

Rebuilding homes and hearts will take long-term efforts post-tsunami

2011-06-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

Japan (MNN) -- The rebuild process of homes and hearts is ongoing in Japan. Mark Lewis with the compassion ministry of EFCA, TouchGlobal, says debris removal is happening, but "it's more than 250 miles of coastline with community after community that have had waves as high as 60 or 80 feet. Just immense devastation. So even though there's been progress made in some places, it looks like nothing's really happened." Rebuild is vital, but slow-going. And interestingly, Japanese hearts seem to be following that pattern. Lewis says hearts are crying out for change, but it'll take long-term relational care for tsunami victims to fully trust Christ fully. So now, the biggest need is for believers to nurture relationships. They need "both national workers from Japan and short- and long-term missionaries literally from around the world, to come and be part of what I perceive--and I think what the national pastors here perceive--as a time of unprecedented openness for the Gospel."

"Third culture" leaders are the future of the church.

2011-06-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

May 24, 2011

The Post-American Church (Part Uno)

"Third culture" leaders are the future of the church.

by Skye Jethani

A week ago I returned from a trip to Spain where I was speaking with a team of missionaries working in different regions of the country. Yes, I was suffering for the Lord on a Mediterranean beach. Apart from the breathtaking beauty of Peñíscola, Spain, I was blessed to share time with some spectacular people engaged in very good work.
When many Americans think about missionaries they picture a team of Western, Anglo, people doing evangelism and church planting among dark-skinned “natives.” Perhaps that image was true at one time, but it’s definitely not anymore. As someone has recently remarked, missions today is “from everywhere to everywhere.”
The team of missionaries I spoke with in Spain included people from the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and the Netherlands. And they were serving among Spaniards, Portuguese, Chinese, Moroccans, Latin Americans, and Arabs. In many cases they reported greater receptivity to the gospel among immigrant populations in Spain rather than among native Spaniards. It was a striking example of how globalization has radically “flattened” our planet.
And the nature of the ministries engaged by these workers was just as diverse as their passports. Some were planting churches, others had started a mission to rescue women from human trafficking, another team was doing marriage and family counseling, and others were helping immigrants from North Africa learn Spanish and find jobs. In other words, despite having a shared denominational background this team was not limited to a single missions playbook.
I came way from my time in Spain with two observations that may have some relevancy to the church on this side of “the pond.”
OBSERVATION ONE: The future leadership of the church belongs to “third culture” kids.
With only a few exceptions, nearly every missionary on the Spanish team was raised in a culturally diverse context. Some were missionary kids themselves who grew up in Southeast Asia or Latin America. Others were the product of diverse communities or multi-ethnic homes.
One couple from the U.S., for example, were both children of Chinese immigrants. They grew up having to navigate both American culture and the Chinese language and culture of their families. This equipped them with the skills necessary for cross-cultural ministry. Now they serve in Spain among Chinese immigrants in Madrid. And their children are taking it a degree further. They are ethnically Asian, fluent in Spanish language and culture, but carry American passports.
The examples are endless. I met 10-year-old Puerto Rican kids who spoke Spanish, English, and Arabic. Families from the Netherlands fluent in Dutch, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. And one leader responsible for church planting in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia was the son of Dutch immigrants to Canada. He’s spent his adult life in Africa and Europe and speaks French, English, German, Dutch, and who knows what else.
What’s my point? As demographics shift and populations continue to mix, it won’t be enough for us to master the leadership dynamics of our small community. We will need the skills to move between and among diverse groups and draw them together--often utilizing very different leadership values in the process. Kids with diverse cultural backgrounds who do not find such accommodation threatening, even second-nature, are going to be better equipped for this task. But many American churches, and the homogeneous unit principle they’ve been built upon, will not be the incubators for this kind of leadership.
Dave Gibbons has spent the last several years talking about the importance of “third culture” leadership which he defines as “the mindset and will to love, learn, and serve in any culture, even in the midst of pain and discomfort.” And while folks in the American church have been willing to listen to his exhortation, I’m wondering how seriously they’re taking it. It seems like most of what I read concerning “leadership principles” in the church are really “upper/middle-class Anglo-American leadership principles.” While such ideas are helpful and legitimate, they are often blind to the rapidly changing reality both overseas and right here in the U.S. (I remember being blindsided by African-American and Latino church leaders explaining why small groups are only effective among white people.)
If the dominant Anglo-American church doesn’t starting opening it’s ears, minds, conferences, books, magazines, and blogs to more global voices, it will quickly find itself unprepared for life in the post-American church world. But allowing diverse and divergent voices into the conversation is not only challenging, it’s messy. That is why we also need to begin cultivating church leadership environments that are not predicated upon uniformity and efficiency.
What to I mean by that? Most of what I’ve read/heard about church leadership says we should fight tenaciously to maintain clear purpose, vision, and values within our organization. And recruiting other leaders who conform to these is vital. Allow too many people inside who hold divergent ideas and you’ll derail the organization. But this mindset assumes that efficiency is the ultimate value to which all others must surrender. The best organizations, this view teaches, run like well-oiled machines with high capacity and high output. But in many cultures efficiency is not the highest good. And third culture leaders understand that in many cases clinical efficiency simply is not possible when seeking to lead diverse populations.
The future, as I saw in Spain, is both beautiful and complicated. It is marvelous and messy. If the Anglo-American church remains enamored with institutional corporate values and efficiency, we will not be positioned either to lead within or benefit from the changing world.
Stay tuned for Skye’s second observation concerning the post-American church.
Skye Jethani is senior editor of Leadership Journal, Out of Ur, and Catalyst Leadership. He also serves as the senior producer of This is Our City, a new project for Christianity Today. He is the author of The Divine Commodity: Discovering a Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity, and he blogs regularly at The Huffington Post and SkyeJethani.com.
Skye's new book, WITH: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God, will be released in August by Thomas Nelson. Read the first chapter online now.

June 1, 2011

The Post-American Church (Part Dos)

Despite our problems the church in the U.S. still has enormous influence.

by Skye Jethani

Read Part One of Skye Jethani's article, "The Post-American Church."
OBSERVATION TWO: The American Church still has a vital role to play as the global church rises.
In 2008, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria wrote the best-selling book The Post-American World from which I borrowed the title for this blog post. In his book Zakaria refuses to join the “America is in decline” bandwagon. Instead he uses the term “Post-American” to describe the emergence of new economic super-powers into the zone previously occupied by America alone. China and India are the two most obvious nations in this category with Brazil increasingly being added to the conversation. To paraphrase Zakaria’s argument, it’s not about the decline of the West, but rather the rise of the rest.
Like the doomsday prophets that have nothing positive to say about the American economy, there seem to be no shortage of doomsday prophets surrounding the American church. (Remember the “Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America” released by James Dobson’s political group in 2008?) Reading too many of these dire predictions about the American church would lead one to believe that everyone under 30 has abandoned the faith, every pastor is a closeted bi-sexual, and Muslims are salivating at the chance to convert abandoned mega-churches into mosques.
Well, I hate to disappoint the “prophets” profiting from this fear-mongering, but the evidence suggests the American church is far from dead. Sure, we have problems and many of them are significant, but the Christian religion in America is actually more robust today than it was two centuries ago. (Only between 10 and 20 percent of Americans belonged to a church in 1776. See more here.) And the idea that the U.S. is just one generation behind the secular and Islamic forces influencing Europe is like comparing Lady Bird with Lady Gaga.
My time with the missionary team in Spain in May, as well as my time at the Third Lausanne Congress on Global Evangelization in Cape Town last October, revealed that the American church still has a very important and influential role throughout the world. Consider just three areas: money, resources, and ideas.
Money is a no-brainer. The majority of the funds needed to assemble 4,000 global church leaders in Cape Town, South Africa, last year came from North America. And the United States remains the largest funder of international missions. While giving among Christians has been declining in the U.S., it would be tragic if we abandoned this very significant area of missional responsibility. Of course there is a danger with being the wallet of the Body of Christ. At times we can be tempted to use that role to micro-manage or control. These colonial instincts are hard to reprogram.
The second area is resources. My presence in Spain last month was to teach and encourage the international missionary team there. I was sent, with funds from the U.S by the way, as a resource to the growing Spanish church. The American church’s large infrastructure of ministries, schools, and publishers means a great many of the resources utilized by the global church have their origins here. (Check out this video just posted by Dave Ferguson showing church planters in Siberia using his book, Exponential. Siberia!) I’m proud that Christianity Today and Leadership Journal are part of the American church’s attempts to resource our sisters and brothers around the world.
With these resources and money, of course, come influence. Many of the ideas that begin in the American church find their way around the world. One missionary in Spain was explaining how his home church in another country had been heavily influenced by American values--both practically and theologically. And, according to his view, that was not always a positive thing. On the flip side, my week with the missionaries included a lot of Q&A time about trends I’m observing in the U.S. church. They were very eager to know what the American church is learning, trying, and utilizing. They very much believed that what is happening here matters over there. And they’re right.
My time overseas, which has not been nearly as extensive as some of my colleagues, has shown me that the global church is shifting. New values and leadership qualities are likely to emerge as a result. We may find that some of the highly celebrated values within the American church begin to lose favor as new values ascend. But we shouldn’t assume that America’s influence in missions is over. Far from it. We may be entering an age when the role of the American church is more critical than ever. But it means learning to cooperate with, and not just control, the rising global church.
Skye Jethani is senior editor of Leadership Journal, Out of Ur, and Catalyst Leadership. He also serves as the senior producer of This is Our City, a new project for Christianity Today. He is the author of The Divine Commodity: Discovering a Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity, and he blogs regularly at The Huffington Post and SkyeJethani.com.
Skye's new book, WITH: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God, will be released in August by Thomas Nelson. Read the first chapter online now.

Caution for Volunteers Heading to Tohoku

2011-05-31T10:32:00.000-07:00

It has become evident in recent weeks that some missionaries and pastors have been experiencing Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder, or Compassion Fatigue. This can result in nightmares, anxiety, flashbacks, numbness, and a myriad of physical and interpersonal problems resembling depression or burnout.

These are stressful and frenzied times, and may be more so with summer teams arriving, but JEMA wants to encourage missionaries to take special care of themselves and short-termers that may be coming to work in disaster relief in the Tohoku area.

Confirm that adequate orientation, accountability, and debriefing are taking place. If you don’t have such options be sure to check in with CRASH Japan to take advantage of its excellent resources. Also check out the video “Emotional Care in Disasters” at www.crashjapan.com in the Emotional Care department.

Andy Meeko, Survivor Care, CRASH Japan

DOROTHY MONTEI ~ December 24, 1919 ~ May 21, 2011

2011-05-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

DOROTHY MONTEI
December 24, 1919 - May 21, 2011

"...when I was old I used to know my sorrow reaps the love I sow.
How sad and sweet it is to be a whisper of eternity..." Peter Reebs
Dorothy Montei passed away May 21, 2011 in Vancouver, Washington. She was born to Howard and Ruby Wynant on December 24, 1919 in West Memphis, Arkansas.

Dorothy obtained a teaching degree in Chicago, Illinois, and Masters in teaching in Portland, Oregon.

She married Douglas Montei, May 23, 1942 in Pontiac, Illinois.

Dorothy taught first grade between 1945 and 1955 in Vancouver. She taught junior and senior high school from 1956 to 1969 as a missionary in Japan. She also taught junior high school and first grade from 1969 to 1985 in Vancouver.

Dorothy was an active member of Vancouver First Friends Church. She had the gift of hospitality and generosity throughout her life.

She is survived by her sister, Mabel Kunkel; son, David Montei; daughter, Anne Reebs; granddaughters, Kelli Christian, Jeni Kalliainen, Nellie Riehle; grandsons, David and Mickey Montei, Ben and Jesse Reebs, and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Montei.

Graveside service will be held Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Park Hill Cemetery. Celebration will follow at Bill's Chicken & Steak House on St. Johns Blvd., Vancouver.

Please view/sign Dorothy's guestbook at www.columbian.com/obits.

Courtesy of Bobby Howe '70

DO YOU MAKE TIME TO LAUGH?

2011-04-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

On Screen

2011-04-13T23:15:00.001-07:00

Apparently, the folks at the San Diego Asian Film Festival just can’t get enough. Though the fest itself isn’t until October, SDAFF is launching its first-ever Spring Showcase on Friday, April 15, at UltraStar Mission Valley. Eleven films will be presented during the next week, including a fundraiser to benefit the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Click here to read more.

Quake aid, local services

2011-04-11T18:14:00.000-07:00

By ASHLEY THOMPSON

For relief organizations, groups or individuals needing translators, Taichi W. sent information about the Japan Guide Consortium Volunteer Interpreters, a group of translators initially formed at the request of the government. Four are working in Sendai with the Indian National Disaster Response Force; other volunteers are available upon request. For more information, see the JGC Volunteer Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/pages/Japan-Guide-Consortium-Volunteer-Interpreters-Earthquake-Relief/ 149712655091836 ) or ( sites.google.com/site/jgcvolunteers/ ).

If you'd like to help children left orphaned as a result of the disastrous earthquake and tsunami, Living Dreams and Smile Kids Japan, two nonprofit organizations supporting children in orphanages, have set up a way to help through Global Giving ( www.globalgiving.org/projects/help-orphans-in-japan-rebuild-lives-post-tsunami/?rf=ggWidgetz ). Their project will focus on immediate and long-term support to orphanages in the affected areas. See the Global Giving site for details.

Services: Here are some local services offered in English as well as Japanese. Please send us any others you know of.

Greg Copeland is a carpenter who "does fantastic house reforms." In the industry for 25 years, he works internationally and has served Tokyo since 1998. Call 090-1700-6212 or e-mail grc@gol.com.

Tony (Antonio) Canales is CEO of the general construction company KK Rising Son Express . Phone/fax 0423-334-9511; cell phone 090-6159-4601; e-mail rising_son_express@yahoo.co.jp. All services related to construction — heating and air conditioning, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting, wallpaper, flooring, concrete, gardening, fencing and more.

Daiwa Setsubi is a long-established plumbing contracting company in Shinjuku. President Takahiko Sato (whose wife, Lyn, is American) speaks English. He and his team of five are happy to sort out any problem, from blocked drains to re-plumbing an entire property, new or old. Call (03) 3370-6294.

Akiyoshi (Aki) Matsumoto can do all kinds of things in Japanese or English: gardening, painting and decorating, plumbing, walking pets, house cleaning, disposals, removals, interpreting, message and courier service. Based in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward, he will extend out as far as Yokohama. Bilingual site: www.handyman-japan.com, tel.: 080-5678-3215, e-mail: handyman-tokyo@nifty.com.

Neil Hugo builds houses. One of the few foreigners to have a Japanese construction license, Neil's company, Foothill Homes , can design and build a home from scratch, build an imported log cabin or reform existing premises and spaces. Website (in English and Japanese): www.foothillhomes.net ; e-mail: foothill@mx5.mesh.ne.jp or neil@foothillhomes.net.

Stephen Young is a mover (and shaker). His business QUOZ Movers ( www.quoz.biz ) was founded in 1995 and is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. He takes care of moving, deliveries and also disposes of unwanted furniture. Call Steve at 090-3801-8083 or (03) 5932-7777 (his staff all speak English).

Cher Mori is an organizer and motivator. Describing herself as Tokyo's Personal Assistant, she will simplify errands, help you de-clutter and complete unfinished projects. Call her at 080-3340-7433. Website: www.jillofalltrades.jp/.

ChezVous specializes in housekeeping services, child care, handyman and cleaning services in Tokyo and Yokohama. Much recommended. Website: www.chezvous.co.jp/english/.

Ashley Thompson writes survival tips and unique how-tos about living in Japan at www.survivingnjapan.com. Send all your questions to lifelines@japantimes.co.jp

PRAY FOR AND WITH JAPAN AT 2:00PM TODAY

2011-04-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

CLICK THE PICTURE FOR A READABLE VERSION

CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF

WHEN GOD SHAKES A NATION

Japanese perplexed by slow quake response

2011-04-09T14:41:00.000-07:00

In a nation known for speed and efficiency, people wonder why it took so long for the government to mobilize relief for the areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.

By Don Lee, Los Angeles Times

April 9, 2011

Reporting from Tokyo

The calls came into Tokyo's metropolitan government soon after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. What can we do to help, some asked. Others, seeing shocking television video of people homeless and desperate for food, urged officials to take up a collection.

"Many people said, 'I have a child too. I want to do something,'" recalled Kazutoshi Matsuura, a department head at Tokyo's Welfare and Health Agency.

But it was a full week after the initial devastation when the first truckload of donated diapers, bottled water and other essentials gathered by volunteers and municipal workers left central Tokyo for the worst-hit areas along the northeast coast.

Time had ticked away as 20 metropolitan department chiefs put their heads together; half a day was lost just getting approval for storage space for donated goods. Rules on how to pack boxes cost precious more hours.

The story of what happened between the first public calls for the city to rise to the occasion and the delivery of aid is in some ways the story of the puzzling slowness that has characterized Japan's overall response to the magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami.

Weeks after the disaster struck, officials and relief workers say the basic needs of most people in shelters are being met, with many volunteers helping with cleanup as convoys loaded with water and even portable showers rumble along coastal roads. READ THE WHOLE STORY HERE

SOS from Mayor of Minami Soma City

2011-04-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

The anatomy of a megathrust earthquake

2011-04-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

It was the biggest quake to rock Japan in recorded history. On 11 March 2011, just 130 km off the coast of Sendai, on the main island of Honshu, a section of the massive submarine fault separating the enormous Pacific plate from northern Japan failed.

In a few minutes, over 500 km of the fault catastrophically ruptured, and rocks on either side were thrown over 20 metres along the fault.

The island of Honshu was wrenched 2.5 m towards the east, and the Earth's tilt axis moved by 16 cm in response to this enormous redistribution of mass. The seafloor upheaval shunted a column of water over 6 km deep upwards - a massive disturbance which culminated in a 10 m tsunami swamping the Japanese coastline.

At magnitude 9, the quake was propelled into another class of monster - a megaquake. The scale used to measure earthquake magnitude, whilst useful, does not do justice to the energy involved in the biggest of the big.

The moment magnitude scale is logarithmic - meaning the energy released by a magnitude 9 is around 32 times greater than a magnitude 8, and almost 1,000 times larger than a magnitude 7.

READ MORE HERE.......

International 'Golden Rule' Day

2011-04-06T08:50:00.001-07:00

April 6, 2011

Unfortunately, this one had escaped our attention before the 5 April 2011 Ekklesia daily e-bulletin, but today has been designated International Golden Rule Day.

The idea is to stop and ask ourselves and our neighbours how our lives might be different if the Golden Rule was lived… individually, in community, in our faith groups and denominations, in the city, the region, the nation, and the world.

The Golden Rule is expressed in the words of Jesus recorded in two of the Gospels as follows:

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7.12)

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6.31).

Many religions and spiritual teachers express this positive reciprocal responsibility in slightly different ways, points out the Rev Bosco Peters from New Zealand, who runs a wide-ranging liturgical resource website at: http://www.liturgy.co.nz/.

There is also a negative way of expressing a similar concept – the so-called “silver rule”: “One should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated”.

2009 was the International Year of Reconciliation. Religious Leaders of Ethiopia proclaimed 5 April as the Golden Rule Day.

Ambassador Mussie Hailu was the chair of the Interfaith Peace-building Initiative and the representative of United Religions Initiative to the United Nations Economic Commission of Africa. He had Golden Rule Day endorsed by the United Nations. It is now recognised by numerous organisations around the world.

The back-story is here - http://allafrica.com/stories/200909230374.html

JUST A MOMENT TO LAUGH

2011-04-05T10:18:00.001-07:00

Japan Relief Update - Jonathan Wilson, CRASH Japan

2011-04-03T18:17:00.001-07:00

CHUBU REPORTS

2011-04-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

(Apr. 1, 2011)

It seems that the situation in Japan has taken a back seat in the news especially with what is going on in Libya, Syria, etc. The situation here remains the same with little change at least at the reactors. There is some speculation things are worse than being reported as relates to radiation. Ongoing prayers are needed! To some degree life is returning to normal in some cities and towns. In areas where whole towns were wiped out life may never return to normal. Some towns and at least one city may never be rebuilt. Some people don't want to go back to their town or city because of what happened. The psychological impact is huge! Pastors I know are reaching out to many people in every conceivable way possible.

When I started writing my emails it was with the intention of asking for prayer and for sharing my heart regarding Japan. To some degree it was therapeutic for me to write everyone. I was overcome with the loss of life and destruction. My heart ached for the people of Japan and especially the people in the Tohoku area. It was not my intention to raise money for the relief effort.

However, some of you have donated money through Destiny Ministries for relief work in the Tohoku area. Thus, we are helping a church in Fukushima Prefecture in the city of Iwaki. It is about 40 km from the reactors. The city has asked this church to help the people of the city as well as the people who have flooded evacuation centers there. This includes feeding them and setting up baths as well as providing clothes and some essentials. To date we have sent significant money to help this pastor as well as other pastors in Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture. Thank you to those of you who have sent donations to help these people. Pray for strength and provision for them as they reach out to help the people there!

There is speculation that there will be hundreds of orphans from this crisis. As many of you know my wife was an orphan and we will soon be working together with Loving Shepherd Ministries to reach out to orphans in several countries. The plight of orphans is something very close to our hearts. There are over 143,000,000 orphans in the world today! I have pasted an article from the Yomiuri Shimbun (Newspaper) below regarding orphans from the earthquake and tsunami.

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Several hundred children are believed to have lost their parents in the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, substantially more than the 68 who were orphaned by the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.

Compared with the Great Hanshin Earthquake that struck early in the morning, the majority of children were at school on the Friday when the Tohoku earthquake hit and were able to evacuate safely.

However, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is having difficulty collecting information about orphans from local governments in disaster-stricken areas. Therefore, the ministry is sending local government officials from other regions to assist with such efforts.

Most children who lost their parents in the Great Hanshin Earthquake ended up being cared for by their relatives or acquaintances.

Thank you for your continued prayers for Japan!

Darryl & Stephanie Fast

A TEAM~JAPAN REPORT

2011-04-03T16:40:00.000-07:00

Psalm 23:4
”Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me."

Dear Praying Friends,

We have been here in Tokyo at the CRASH Japan Command Center for one full week now and what a week it has been! From the day we arrived, we have been put to work primarily being asked to take the lead in the volunteer relief team orientation and pre-deployment briefings and also debriefing the teams upon their return. Being thrust into a leadership role with new responsibilities being added daily, such as training, helping to develop a Volunteer Field Operation Manuel for Survivor Care and Team Care and developing the necessary follow-up procedures for the counseling of some who have been in the field has been a bit overwhelming, to say the least. But, we are thankful for a TEAM family who are currently on a three month home assignment opening up the use of their home to us, which has given us a quiet place to get away to for rest in the midst of all that is happening.

Two Personal Stories heard last week in Team Debriefings

From two Pioneer Mission workers who flew in from China to help....

"Though the area we were in was not hit by the tsunami, there was considerable earthquake damage and due to the proximity to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant....tensions were high. However, upon our arrival in Hitachi City, we were amazed to see that the pastor and the church already had a network set up for the distribution of the aid and all we had to do was follow their lead in getting it to those who needed it most! We were tremendously encouraged in seeing the church and Japanese believers at work!"

From one Volunteer Worker who was in a Tsunami devastated area of Sendai

"We spent the day shoveling mud out of the house of a 75 year old lady in Sendai and when we were taking a break at one point, I asked her if I could pray for her. She said yes and upon finishing the prayer, as I looked up, I saw tears streaming down her cheeks, as I believe God touched her heart. Later in the day and before leaving, I had a chance to pray with her again and am trusting God to draw this dear woman to himself through this tragedy."

How next week is shaping up for us. With the enormity of the task before CRASH Japan and the number of volunteer teams the organization anticipates will soon begin pouring in, we will need to step up our efforts to see systems put in place for:

1. The forming of Volunteer Teams prior to their coming to CRASH Japan.

2. The training of staff for orienting, briefing and debriefing of Volunteer Teams.

3. The follow-up of Volunteers after their return who might need continuing counseling and care.

How you can be praying.

1. As we will be meeting with Jonathan Wilson, the CRASH Japan director and a number of key people over the next few days in order to see the above accomplished. Please pray for wisdom and the Lord's leading so that we might get the necessary systems in place in order to effectively handle the growing number of Volunteer Teams.

2. As we will also be seeing an increase in all Japanese Volunteer Teams coming, all of the team preparation materials and procedures must also be developed in Japanese. Please pray for the necessary Japanese to help in the translation and staffing needs that will be growing.

3. Having been in the trenches here at CRASH Japan for a full week now, Eileen and I both feel that the Lord has prepared the both of us for a time "such as this". Please be in prayer for us however, that we may sensitive to the Lord's voice and leading in just how long that commitment will need to be.

God is Good! As part of the debriefing process with the teams coming back from the disaster area, we are purposing to ask the team members to tell us one or two of the bright spots or stories of hope that they have seen. The above mentioned are just two of the many we are beginning to hear and each is a reminder that God is good and his hand of mercy is at work through the relief efforts of CRASH Japan volunteers! Thus, please continue to pray for the on-going relief efforts and specifically that the seeds of the Gospel that are being sown in the Tohoku area now will result in a revival in not only that area but also throughout Japan!

In Christ and for His Glory, Jim Nielsen TEAM-Japan

Jesus and the Buddhists

2011-04-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

Samaritan's Purse brings aid to bind up Japan's wounds

Ken Isaacs, head of the Samaritan's Purse disaster response team in Japan, had a dwindling warehouse of supplies - what remained of a 96-ton load the group had airlifted to Japan. He would be reordering soon, and he needed the latest intelligence.
Updated Apr. 3, 2011 3:21 AM | Full Story

'Not done weeping yet,' missionary in Japan says

2011-04-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

Mar 30, 2011 | by Tess Rivers ISHINOMAKI, Japan (BP)--"Disaster" says it all.

Southern Baptist missionaries and volunteers finally distributed relief goods in Ishinomaki, Japan, this week after two weeks of attempting to gain access to the quake-stricken areas. Power outages, gas rationing, an escalating nuclear crisis and relocation of International Mission Board personnel hampered earlier attempts.

Ishinomaki -- a small city of around 120,000 people -- was devastated March 11 by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami. Officials estimate that more than 18,000 people died and thousands more are missing along Japan's northeastern coast.

The 11-member team spent two days distributing relief goods at multiple locations throughout the city, including an apartment complex, a nursing home and a bus station. Everywhere they went, they found grateful Japanese, eager for someone to listen to their stories.

International Mission Board missionary Jared Jones helped one man shovel debris from his home. The day before, the man received a call from local officials to identify his wife's body. The man -- a Buddhist -- talked with Jones about how his wife often encouraged him to read the Bible. The couple had been married 40 years.

"He just needed somebody to listen to him," Jones said.

Missionary Ed Jordan had a similar experience. Jordan, who works with the deaf, was distributing goods in a bus station when a colleague asked for help. One of the victims was a deaf woman who was unable to communicate with the hearing volunteers.

When Jordan talked with her in sign language about her family and her home, the woman was thrilled. "If she shook my hand once, she shook it a dozen times," Jordan said.

Both Jordan and Jones noticed uncommon openness from the Japanese during their trip.

"They look you in the eye," Jordan said. "They need somebody to talk to and many are willing to let us pray with them. No one turned us away."

On Saturday International Mission Board missionaries living in and relocated to the Osaka area loaded a 2-ton truck and three mini-vans with rice, vegetables, baby food, cleaning supplies and other relief goods. Then they drove the nearly 600 miles from Osaka to Ishinomaki.

The group was overwhelmed by the scope of the destruction that greeted them. A large fishing boat leaned against a damaged power line in the middle of a city street. Battered cars sat atop mounds of trash and debris. Black mud, the color of crude oil, filled the streets and the ground floor of homes and businesses.

"This is not like any other disaster I've ever seen," Jones said.

"There was a debris field everywhere you looked," Jordan agreed. "Cars were stacked on top of each other. One car had washed through the plate glass window of a 7-11."

As they make plans for future relief work in the quake area, the team asked for prayer that they would have opportunities.

"Our biggest prayer is, 'What can we do in the next few weeks to get reorganized and get back up there?'" Jordan said. "There is such great openness, and we want to be able to respond."

Jones agreed, adding that the scenes and experiences from this trip will continue to affect him.

"I'm not done weeping yet," Jones said.

What it means to Pray for Japan

2011-03-31T20:20:00.000-07:00

Mar 31, 2011

Jon Petersen (North America director of 24-7 Prayer) talks about what role prayer plays in the current situation in Japan, and introduces the Prayer Room at CRASH.

'Songs for Japan' album tops iTunes charts in 18 nations

2011-03-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

NEW YORK (Kyodo) "Songs for Japan," an album dedicated to supporting victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunamI, is the top-selling album on Apple Inc.'s online shop in 18 countries.

According to the iTunes Store Top 10 Albums, the album, featuring 38 songs by artists and groups from Europe and the United States, tops the charts in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and the U.S.

The artists and groups include U2, Madonna, Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Bruno Mars. The first song is "Imagine" by John Lennon and the last "Sunrise" by Norah Jones.

Proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

The track list for Songs for Japan, according to Apple:
1. John Lennon, "Imagine"
2. U2, "Walk On"
3. Bob Dylan, "Shelter From the Storm"
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Around the World"
5. Lady Gaga, "Born This Way"
6. Beyoncé, "Irreplaceable"
7. Bruno Mars, "Talking to the Moon"
8. Katy Perry, "Firework"
9. Rihanna, "Only Girl (In the World)"
10. Justin Timberlake, "Like I Love You"
11. Madonna, "Miles Away"
12. David Guetta, "When Love Takes Over"
13. Eminem (featuring Rihanna), "Love the Way You Lie"
14. Bruce Springsteen, "Human Touch"
15. Josh Groban, "Awake"
16. Keith Urban, "Better Life"
17. Black Eyed Peas, "One Tribe"
18. Pink, "Sober"
19. Cee Lo Green, "It's OK"
20. Lady Antebellum, "I Run to You"
21. Bon Jovi, "What Do You Got?"
22. Foo Fighters, "My Hero"
23. R.E.M., "Man on the Moon"
24. Nicki Minaj, "Save Me"
25. Sade, "By Your Side"
26. Michael Bublé, "Hold On"
27. Justin Bieber, "Pray"
28. Adele, "Make You Feel My Love"
29. Enya, "If I Could Be Where You Are"
30. Elton John, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
31. John Mayer, "Waiting on the World to Change"
32. Queen, "Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)"
33. Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody"
34. Sting, "Fragile"
35. Leona Lewis, "Better in Time"
36. Ne-Yo, "One in a Million"
37. Shakira, "Whenever, Wherever"
38. Norah Jones, "Sunrise"

Call for earthquake aid donations

2011-03-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

In response to the catastrophe of the March 11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, The Japan Times is collecting donations that will go to support the efforts of the Japanese Red Cross and the Japan Emergency Team, operated by Jhelp.com For more information see http://jtimes.jp/quake

Why Do We Let Them Dress Like That?

2011-03-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Moses, author of a recent WSJ article "Why Do We Let Them Dress Like That?" talks with Kelsey Hubbard about the tempest her piece has provoked.

Live Chat

Join author Jennifer Moses on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET for a conversation about her essay. Ask your questions now.

Today's teen and preteen girls are bombarded with images and products that tout the benefits of sexual attraction. But must we as parents, give in to their desire to "dress like everyone else?" asks author Jennifer Moses. She talks with WSJ's Kelsey Hubbard.

Watch both video interviews and read the WSJ article here……

WHO NEEDS A RECEIPT?

2011-03-29T07:53:00.001-07:00

JAPAN CURRENT NEWS

2011-03-27T22:42:00.001-07:00

SEND team members risk lives to help Japanese

Japan (MNN) -- Countries are beginning to ban imports from Japan, fearing radiation has contaminated the food supply in that nation. Despite the radiation fears, the International Director of SEND International Warren Janzen is heading there to do his own assessment. He says they'll be meeting with SEND leadership and leadership with the Japan Evangelical Church Association. "We're going to be talking about what we want the Japanese people to be saying about SEND two years from now. And then, how do we get there? We're going to be networking with the Japan Evangelical Church Association leadership to hear what they want us to do -- how they want us to be involved." Janzen says SEND personnel are already delivering aid to the north. And they're driving near the radiation evacuation zone to do it. Pray that people will come to Christ as they help in Jesus' name. Funding is needed to help do more. Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/15513

Radio helps share Christ in earthquake-ravaged Japan

Japan (MNN) -- While food, water, medicine, housing and clothing are important in relief outreach, Japanese Christians aren't forgetting about the spiritual needs. HCJB Global is beaming Christian radio programming into Japan via shortwave. Their Japanese language service manager, Kazuo Ozaki, says victims are "trying to find a way out, at the same time they're trying to know what went wrong in Japan. It's a wake-up call from heaven to re-establish a new Japan. When one life ends, new life begins. The country of Japan should be a country of a loving God." HCJB Global Voice broadcasts into Japan twice a week. Funding is needed to help continue these broadcasts, and you can help. We'll connect you at our Web site. Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/15516

Operation Tohoku

2011-03-27T16:37:00.000-07:00

March 27, 2011

The Japan Emergency Team has been in the Fukushima, Sendai and Kesenuma areas of Northern Japan, since the day after the 9.1 earthquake on March 11 bringing in food, blankets, water and other supplies in its 85^th Disaster Operation since 1989

The team command center is currently based in the Sendai Government Offices and it operates four projects.

First, bringing in supplies including food, water, medicine, clothing and delivering as needed to shelters and individual homes.

Second, operating an emergency feeding program to individual emergency shelters and individual homes including hot rice, stew and other items with nearly 3,000 served to date.

Third, the Japan Emergency Team receives supplies and individual teams assisting them on site to provide help as needed.

Fourth, the team operates The Emergency Assistance Service which based on a running survey of shelters and smaller individual communities provides assistance in bringing supplies and people to places of need, locating missing individuals and providing assistance as needed.

The Emergency Assistance Service operates by going to www.jhelp.com and clicking `help`. Supplies provided, assistance needed, individuals wishing to help on site and other requests are matched with current need.

Currently most needed supplies include water, canned and instant food, blankets, sleeping bags,tents, used laptop computers to communicate.

Donations can be made online at www.jhelp.com or at Postal Furikae 00160 7 162438 Nihon Kinkyu Enjotai.

The Japan Emergency Team began in 1989 when 38 students from Chuo University travelled to assist with the San Francisco Earthquake and has been to nearly every disaster both within and outside Japan since that time.

The team can be reached on site 24 hours a day at 090 3080 6711 or 090 7170 4769.

日本緊急援助隊は

２０１１年３月１１日に発生しました東北・関東大地震の翌日から仙台、気仙沼、福島に入り援助活動を行っております。

食料、医療物資、水、缶詰などを早急に運び、現在は仙台を中心に４つの活動をしています。

①避難所、個人の被災者に物資の供給

②炊き出しを行い計3,000人分の配給を実施

③最も必要とされている被災地のリスト作成

④各国から入っている援助部隊の窓口として派遣先を案内

日本緊急援助隊は１９８９年に千葉大学の学生８人がサンフランシスコ大地震の被災者を救済活動をお行いました。それは日本において初の民間としての援助となりました。

１９８９年から始まったこの活動は国内外問わずの災害地に一番に乗り込み一番最後まで被災者救済を行うポリシーで活動しています。

国内では雲仙普賢岳、北海道南西沖地震、阪神・淡路大震災、能登半島地震、新潟県中越沖地震などで活動を行ってまいりました。

この度のオペレーション東北は８５回目の援助活動となります。

現在行っている東北・関東大震災では、短い期間でも活動を行っていただけるボランティアを募集しております。

また現地では缶詰、インスタント食品、粉ミルク、寝袋、テント、水、ノートパソコンを今一番必要としています。

救援物資は災害受付システムから送ることができます。皆様のご協力をお願いいたします。

http://www.jhelp.com/

jhelpのHPから「助けて」のアイコンをクリックして自分がボランティアできる活動範囲などのご要望をいただければ

後日ご連絡します。

またオペレーション東北では現在寄付も募っております。

郵便局振替口座　００１６０７１６２４３８　

まで寄付をお願いします。

現地に取材を申し込まれる方は

team＠jhelp.com

までご連絡ください。

A Music Thanatologist in Tokyo

2011-03-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Carol Sack, who along with her husband Jim work at the Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary in Mitaka, Tokyo, was interviewed for a 30 minute weekly broadcast on religion on NHK Radio 2 today. Carol, a music thanatologist*, offers palliative care through harp and voice at the bedside of the dying, going weekly to a hospice for the homeless in Tokyo. She now trains others in the discipline through courses in harp, voice, and theological reflection.

I recorded the re-broadcast of the interview and posted it to the following as an audiobook file that you can add to your iTunes library. The interview is in Japanese:

https://files.me.com/ruthie/b2y9kx.mp3

The name of the file is "Carol_Sack_NHK_Radio_Interview.mp3" and it is about 29 megabytes in size.

Here is the NHK broadcast schedule listing of the re-broadcast:

http://cgi4.nhk.or.jp/hensei/program/p.cgi?area=001&date=2011-03-27&ch=06&eid=84967

* Thanatology is the academic, and often scientific, study of death among human beings. It investigates the circumstances surrounding a person's death, the grief experienced by the deceased's loved ones, and larger social attitudes towards death such as ritual and memorialization. It is primarily an interdisciplinary study, frequently undertaken by professionals in nursing, psychology, sociology, psychiatry, social work, and is offered as a course of study at many art schools. It also describes bodily changes that accompany death and the after-death period.

Courtesy of Joel Ingulsrud (formerly of Nagoya and now Tokyo)

"CROSS" FERTILIZATION

2011-03-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

Salutary Good Fruit

Toyohiko Kagawa, a Japanese Christian once wrote:

"I read in a book, that a man called Christ, went about doing good. It was very disconcerting to me that I am so easily satisfied with just going about."

God's fruit trees were not planted merely to look good, but to be good for something. The "sin" of the fig tree is not that it was doing something bad, but that it was doing nothing-just taking up space in the vineyard. The Gardener turned out to be more than a caretaker in a graveyard, but one who invested himself in fruitless trees so that they might not only look good, but bear fruit-good for people to eat and be nourished. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control" (Gal. 5:22-25). This is said of those who "belong to Christ," people who have undergone "cross fertilization"! In our troubled accident-prone, disaster-ridden world, might we not become "show-and-tell" trees that bear good fruit, samples of produce good for something, good for people in bad times?!

THE JOY OF THE CHURCH IS TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHURCH

2011-03-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

Thursday, March 25, 2011

Dear Friends,

Well, I'm off on Saturday to Tokyo and we are arranging others to follow. I'm sending on some links to you that will really bless you and keep you informed for prayer. The first is a "Thank You for Praying: Video from Japan" video from some young Japanese - this will really move your heart.

Andy Game is my primary contact in

Japan

and has made CrashJapan his focus. Relocated from Yokohama to the Christian Academy in Japan (Saitama Prefecture) he is involved with the team coordinating relief efforts for the people of the north region. Check out the Crash website for the latest signs of hope and regular updates.

Andy just sent me this video on rescue efforts - amazing!!

We have received most of funds we need for getting our team to Japan and back for this first trip (thank you so much), and are applying any additional donations to helping specific needs we encounter when we are there. Having cash in hand is sometimes the most effective way of helping those in crisis - especially "those of the household of faith" who are suffering. It is the joy of the Church to take care of the Church.

Read more about how this trip came about by visiting 24-7 Japan The Time is Now. A link to give online is also provided here.

Also check out the www.24-7prayer.com website and www.24-7prayer.us as we will be posting updates in the days and weeks to come.

So, there it is, short and sweet. I'll be in regular touch over the next two weeks. Please let me know if you get anything from the Lord in prayer for

Japan

, scriptures, encouragements etc...please send them along and I'll pass them to the folks I will be meeting with in

Japan

Pray especially as we seek to build a coordinated prayer strategy in partnership with key ministries, churches and leaders. It won't be easy, but it is paramount for

Japan

's future.

Love, Jon Petersen ninevahjon@cs.com City Force

JAPAN FIELD REPORT FROM AICHI

2011-03-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me."

March 26, 2011

Dear Praying Friends,

Thank you all for your continuing prayers on our behalf, on behalf of the relief efforts currently underway through CRASH Japan and on behalf of the people of Japan. With the devastation and loss of life in northeast Japan being said to be five times the size of Hurricane Karina and with the enormity of the recovery and relief effort now before the nation of Japan, your continuing prayer support is much needed.

This past Tuesday/Wednesday (3/22,23) I was up in Tokyo for two reasons. The first was for our monthly Japan Leadership Council Meeting, which took place on Tuesday and then to visit the CRASH Japan Relief Command Center, in order to assess the possible need for Eileen and I to join the CRASH Japan EmoCare team, which is focused on disaster victim care and the pastoral support and care needs of the relief teams being sent up to the disaster area.

Two reflections on my trip up to Tokyo

Reflection #1: One sobering thought.... Since the Kobe of 1995, our here in Central Japan was predicted to be the next area that would be hit by a major earthquake, as I rode the Bullet Train through our neighboring prefecture at a speed of 260 kph and passing right next to the ocean, I was struck by the fact that should that earthquake have hit where it had been predicted, literally, the entire area we were passing through along with the Bullet Train and it's tracks have been swept away into the ocean and no longer exist.

Reflection #2: One powerful thought.... Upon entering the CRASH Japan Command Center and seeing the 100 or more volunteers focused on the relief effort and led by a large cross-section of the evangelical missionary community, I was impacted in seeing how the Lord was mobilizing his people in bringing the needed physical, emotional and spiritual help to the nearly 1/4 million displaced and suffering people of northeast Japan.

Concerning CRASH Japan and its Three Pronged Strategy

While at the CRASH Japan Command Center, I was encouraged to hear of the three pronged strategy that has been developed in order to get the necessary aid into to those who most urgently need it. That strategy first involves the establishing of six base camps through six area churches in the northeast which are able to receive the supplies and house the relief teams. Then, by avoiding the "hot spots" where other relief agencies are currently working with local pastors and believers in order to get the necessary supplies to the many hidden areas which have yet to receive the aid they need. And lastly, along with the bringing of the necessary supplies to meet the physical needs of the countless displaced people, to also to deliver a special piece of literature speaking of God's message hope from Psalm 23.

In a recent report just received back from one of the base camps, "While on his assessment trip for CRASH, Ralph and his team found 9000 evacuees who were very low on supplies. They're now working with Samaritan's Purse and the Marines to get supplies like hygiene kits, rice, water & cup-ramen delivered to this huge group of people whose town was obliterated."

So how are we going to get involved? As a home near the CRASH Japan Command Center has been offered to us, Eileen and I plan to drive up to Tokyo in order to join the CRASH Japan EmoCare team in the preparing relief teams to be sent to the disaster area and also to be there to debrief them on there return. Thus, we will appreciate your prayers in the following specific areas:

1. For the Lord's leading in exactly what role He would have us play in terms of pastoral care and relief team preparation.

2. As CRASH Japan is currently working out of the campus of Christian Academy in Tokyo, with school scheduled to resume in early April, they will need to move their operations to a longer term facility. Please pray for the Lord to open up just the right facility that will meet the needs of CRASH Japan.

3. And finally, as we will initially be committing to serve at the CRASH Japan Command Center for the next two weeks, please pray that we might be sensitive to the Lord's will if he would have us commit to a longer period of time.

Even though we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil, for we know the Lord is with us and the efforts to bring physical, emotional and spiritual help and hope to those tens of thousands who are suffering greatly. Thank you for your continuing prayer support!

In Christ and for His Glory, Jim Nielsen TEAM-Japan

PS For more up-to-date information concerning the relief efforts of CRASH

Japan

, please visit: http://www.crashjapan.com/

Kelsey Nielsen follows her heart to help impoverished in Uganda

2011-03-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

By Mary Cantell, Correspondent

How far would you go to help the impoverished? Collegeville resident and Temple University junior Kelsey Nielsen can tell you. She’s been to Uganda as part of her school’s social work curriculum and fell in love with the people. Despite getting malaria three times, she doesn’t let it stop her from doing what she’s been called to do.

“I’ve had [for years] a heart for Uganda. I feel drawn and called to this culture and the people here,” said Nielsen in a recent telephone interview. “This is home now.”

Her calling came several years ago when she read about the war on Northern Uganda along with the incidents of child soldiers, slave trading and sex trafficking. Now she is serving as the adoption coordinator at the Amani Baby Cottage, an orphanage in Jinja, in addition to coordinating special projects and taking online Temple courses.

Nielsen had malaria three times in 2010. The latest bout indicated the onset of cerebral malaria, the most deadly form, for which she was treated with Coartem and IV Quinine treatments. If not treated within the first 24 to 72 hours, the disease is fatal.

“I know the pain that this disease puts your body through. The severe body aches, the high fevers, the piercing headaches,” Nielsen said. “I began to hallucinate, and I did not know who I was or where I was. Within minutes people back home were praying. My friends were standing by my bedside and praying. The medicine began to work.”

Nielsen’s tasks working in the sub-Sahara can sometimes be overwhelming both physically and emotionally. Sometimes she feels totally unprepared for the tasks before her, she said. Although she understands the pain of contracting malaria, what she cannot understand is not having the resources to fight the disease. The destitution in Uganda encompasses so much in the way of economic and social adversity; fighting the battle of mosquitoes and their disease is like adding insult to injury. The bright spot is that malaria can be prevented.

Working with the families, lawyers and making trips to the U.S. Embassy and Immigration offices, Nielsen finds it all worth the effort as she loves working with the children and seeing them go back into safe and loving homes through the sponsorship program she’s been a part of creating.

“Seeing families empowered to take care of their children with the little bit of assistance we can provide through our sponsors … seeing happy, healthy children … that’s where I want to be,” she said.

Nielsen wishes to bring awareness to the severity of the disease and be a voice to the voiceless. In Africa, a child dies every 45 seconds from malaria, according to the World Health Organization. The plan is that she’ll remain in Uganda until June … for now.

“I just love loving the Ugandan people,” she said. “I could get malaria a thousand times and still feel this is where I need to be. The beautiful things I get to see here far outnumber the painful. Seeing children re-united with their families … orphans being adopted into their new forever families … the resiliency … the strength of these people. It's something you'd have to see to believe. That is why I stay.”
Nielsen can be contacted for correspondence or donations at Kelsey Nielsen, Amani Baby Cottage, P.O. Box 1799, Jinja, Uganda, East Africa.

Kelsey Nielsen is the eldest daughter of the late Charlie Nielsen and his wife Linda.

Charlie Nielsen was raised in Japan as an MK.

Kelsey can also be contacted by email at tub56099@temple.edu

Please visit Kelsey's blog ~ Bring Them Home

A REPORT FROM JAPAN

2011-03-24T16:23:00.000-07:00

24 March 2011

I watch the evacuated people in school gymnasiums and public arenas living in simple conditions. Some have cardboard separating family units. They have little food in some evacuation centers although this is rapidly improving. The Budokan is the first evacuation center in Tokyo to serve hot meals to the evacuees 6 days after they started to arrive! I attended a Billy Graham Crusade in this same hall in the 60's. I particularly notice the children. They are playing, laughing and smiling. Children are more resilient than we give them credit for! The Japanese government has said no children orphaned will be adopted by families in other countries.

In the devastated area more than half of the residents are over 60. They have lost everything! Many young people leave that area for jobs in Tokyo and other big cities. I've watched older men and women cry over their loss of loved ones and life as they knew it.

I have watched as some people have gone back to their devastated homes. They are not hoping to find something of material value but of sentimental value. Perhaps a family photo or a photo of a lost child or something precious to a family member.

High school graduates cannot have a graduation ceremony (graduation is in March in Japan) because their school is destroyed or housing the homeless. There are close to a half million homeless.

The cost of reconstruction will be the highest due to such a disaster. Estimates are $309 billion - almost four times the cost after Hurricane Katrina in the US.

Many people in Japan (including some foreigners) are irritable and short tempered. There is the radiation concern, radiation in some foods and now radio active iodine in Tokyo's drinking water. The government has said children under 1 should not drink it but it is safe at the present for anyone over 1. There are aftershocks, supply interruptions, etc. especially in the Tokyo area and north. I heard today that some areas built on reclaimed land in the Chiba area are having trouble with sewage disposal due to the earthquake and cannot flush their toilets, etc. Chiba is quite far from the devastated area but it was rocked pretty good. The Tokyo Narita Airport is in Chiba as is Japan's Disneyland.

One bank (actually today I heard several banks) in the devastated area was destroyed but its vault survived. Power failures or malfunction caused the door to open and a half million dollars were stolen. By and large, this is an exception. There are not a lot of reports of looting although according to one person I talked to it is happening.

I, like you, listen to the cries and heartache of a mother who lost her child or that of a husband who lost his wife. In some instances they watched them being swept away and blame themselves for not being able to save them. My heart cry as I listen to these stories is, "Jesus, heal their hearts, heal their memories." The psychological impact is beyond description. Pray!

Volunteers are flooding the area. One area asked for 60 and got 600! Other areas, however, are still lacking volunteers. I've talked to some who have gone in. Unspeakable destruction! Yet recovery and reconstruction is in full swing! Please pray for strength, wisdom, physical and mental healing, and recovery! Please pray for the heroes working to stabilize the nuclear reactors. They and many others are heroes beyond description. Through all the horror and devastation may Jesus be lifted up and may many come to know Him!

My heart is broken for the people in the Tohoku area. There are so many immediate needs and there will be many long term needs. Your ongoing prayers are appreciated!

Thank you for reading and for praying!

Darryl Fast, Destiny International, Nagoya

HOW OUR PEOPLE ARE PRAYING & WHAT OUR PEOPLE ARE SAYING & DOING

2011-03-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

“Well, I'm off on Saturday to Tokyo…….. Pray especially as we seek to build a coordinated prayer strategy in partnership with key ministries, churches and leaders. It won't be easy, but it is paramount for Japan's future.” Jon Petersen, Colorado

“The US has made a huge contribution to the relief effort but gets little coverage, that's ok though.” Tom Nielsen, Guam

"So much going on! The nuclear reactor situation, rebuilding in the devastated area, lack of food and water in many areas, the ongoing search for those missing, the climbing death count, contaminated spinach and milk, etc. Yet in the midst of it God is doing good things!" Darryl Fast, Nagoya

“….meet with the leadership of CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope) on Wednesday. We have been told there is a critical need for us to come and join them in preparing the growing number of relief teams and workers in going out… As one of the staff member said, "The situation is going to get much worse in dealing with people and their hearts before it begins getting any better." Jim Nielsen, Toyoake

“I am experiencing this feeling of desperation like I did when I was a 13-year-old boy and B-29 planes dropped bombs on my home city” said Ozaki, an HCJB Global radio producer who continues to do programming at age 78.”

“Here's why few of us from the Kanto plain north have gotten much sleep the past six days, especially those suffering without heat as a cold snap hit the main islands yesterday” http://www.japanquakemap.com/ Joel Ingulsrud, Tokyo

“Our hearts are heavy for the country & people of Japan. Thanks to all of you for your prayers & showing interest….. I am still considering my own response but as my father has taken a turn for the worse I will be “staying put” to tend to family matters for now.” Paul Gizzi, Orange County

“A Benefit Concert for Japan ~ Wednesday, April 13 at 7:30pm Location: Eastern University” Jamie Nielsen, Pennsylvania

“Thank you so much for the link! I have been watching NHK World in English via the Italian state television channel, simultaneously interpreted into Italian, -- at times very confusing with Japanese at the back of the English narration, with the Italian voice-over, all three audible. But Ustream provides an elegant solution. I had never known its existence.” T. Taneda, San Diego

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING

2011-03-22T18:27:00.001-07:00

Japan's relief effort intensifies

2011-03-21T22:57:00.001-07:00

Japan's relief effort intensifies

Japan (MNN) -- Japan's earthquake damages will be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. For many survivors of crises, the most immediate concern is not the future, but the present need for food, shelter, clean water and heat. Asian Access estimates that nearly 300 churches were in the tsunami-impacted areas, and they've set up a relief base to provide help. Other churches are serving as shelters. A2 also has a million dollar matching grant right now, multiplying the impact of donations dollars. We've got more online.

Disaster-ridden Japan in store for more trauma

Japan (MNN) -- The triple threat in Japan of earthquake, tsunami, and radiation will likely have significant psychological effects on the Japanese. Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety are all expected to inflict a much greater number of people than if only one of the three had occurred. Rich Blanco with Biblica says fear will last for years. "When people experience a disaster like this, often they're not sleeping well, they're waking up scared, and there's the fear of another tsunami or earthquake." The ministry will help people cope with this emotional stress through three post-disaster booklets. The books allow people to work through their thoughts in their own timing, journal, and ultimately cast their cares on Christ. "People who've lost everything are going to really just be seeking how they rebuild their lives, and that's where Biblica steps in with God's Word in very appropriate formats to bring hope to a hopeless situation." Help with this project at our Web site.

Japan pushed to the limit with triple threat

Japan (MNN) -- The nuclear crisis developing in Japan's quake-damaged Fukushima power complex is complicating relief. Jeff Palmer with Baptist Global Response explains, "We've looked at plans for helping in the earthquake areas. The tsunami areas are fairly well closed to private volunteer organizations. The Japanese government is handling that, and [in addition], those are in the radiation areas." Because of this, Palmer says, "A lot of us are focusing our response on those peripheral earthquake-affected areas which are requiring food, shelter, and help for folks who are being evacuated or have left the area." Although there are limitations to where they can help, they've got a long view. "We will respond and help people where they are hurting. At the same time, we will also offer them a hope that is found in eternal hope: a hope that is here and now, as well as later and beyond -- a hope that is found in Jesus Christ." Read more here….

Earthquake stirs emotion

Japan (MNN) -- The emotional and spiritual effects of the recent disaster are starting to show in people all over Japan. TEAM doesn't work in the region most affected, but everyone seems to be shaken. Ministry Area Leader Steve Baughn talked to us from Japan: "They need to just talk; they're scared. They don't know when the next big earthquake's going to come in their area; they don't know about the nuclear reactor. This is going to have an ongoing effect throughout the nation which...is going to give Christians opportunities to share the love of Christ with people who are going to feel more needy and more insecure than they ever have, possibly -- no matter where they are in Japan." TEAM will certainly play a role in this, but "for the missions, the key is to continue to try to work with the Japanese and the Japanese church to make them the most effective they can be in reaching their own people." As opportunities arise, "The biggest prayer is that we would just be ready."

Read more……

Relief kits needed for Japan

Japan (MNN) -- The grim search for survivors continues in Japan as a half-million people are reportedly homeless. The need for food, water, and other essentials continues. In response, Medical Teams International is committed to help. President of the ministry Bas Vanderzalm says the church is meeting the basic needs for shelter, food, and water. Unfortunately, the needs are great. "There are thousands and thousands of people who need help right now with just basic essentials for life. It's those needs that we're looking to meet with local church groups in Japan." They'll need temporary shelter, such as tents. They'll also need blankets, clothing, and other items to protect them in the cold months of the year. Vanderzalm says it doesn't take a lot of investment. "For $30, we're able to provide a disaster kit to people in an emergency situation like this that would be enough to care for them for at least several weeks. So, even a small gift would make a huge difference." Click on the link at our Web site to help.

Triple threat hangs over response teams in Japan

Japan (MNN) -- Experts say Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami will rank among the most costly natural disasters on record. Peter Howard with Food For the Hungry (FH) says, "It's a modern country, so this is unparalleled for the scale of this disaster in a modern country." It's winter now, and millions are without food, water or shelter. Nuclear meltdown looms. The FH team has a plan that flexes with the needs. "For Food for the Hungry, our niche is really working with the local churches and local church partners throughout the region affected and trying to get supplies in through those churches and basically provide support through those churches and ministries." Keep praying as their team moves forward. "We believe that the church is God's vehicle for spreading the Gospel of love and compassion and the message of peace. We're really hopeful that the Japanese church supported by churches all around the world will rise up and truly show what Christians are all about." Read more here….

Damaged communication keeps status of churches hidden

Japan (MNN) -- It's mostly unknown how Japan's churches have fared in the wake of disaster. Asian Access pastor Hiroshi Kawasaki says, "More than 300 churches are affected." Kawasaki is attempting to contact churches nearly around the clock, but many wireless lines and landlines are down. He has yet to hear from most. Ministry Director for Japan Mary Jo Wilson says unaffected churches are doing all they can to help. "Some other churches have opened up and are supplying some long-term temporary housing. So we see the body of Christ working together." For now, aid and housing are vital for the more than 310,000 people made homeless. Asian Access has set up a relief fund to provide aid. But the church is preparing for another need as well. "Soon after, maybe they need a very, very big spiritual help," says Kawasaki. For now, "Pray that Japan experiences the reality of Christ's love." Read here….

Christians called to pray for Japan and USA

USA (MNN) -- While the world struggles to come to grips with the devastation in Japan, Ron Hutchcraft says Christians need to pray. He says our prayers need to focus on two areas. First, with only 1% of the population Christian, Japanese people need our prayers. "The millions of gods of Shintoism. The feeling that Christianity is a western religion. All these things have created great barriers, and my prayer now is for the people of God in Japan, that this could be their moment [they share their faith] because of their hope." Hutchcraft says in the United States, newscasters are talking about biblical prophecy. He says when people ask about it, he gives some suggestions on what to say. "You need to make sure you are in the hands of the One who predicted it all, whose coming preceded by it all, and who is the only safe place," which is Jesus. Listen to the full interview on our Web site.

Japan's quake creates opportunity and obstacles

Japan (MNN) -- Japanese seismologists have upgraded Friday's earthquake to a 9.0. The resulting tsunami has caused radiation contamination from damaged nuclear power reactors. We spoke to Howard Plucar with EFCA Reach Global from Tokyo via Skype. He says most of the team is safe, but there is no word from the Furukawa church and their team in Sendai, near the epicenter. "There's going to be immediate need that's going to flow in through churches and through Non-Governmental Organizations, but I think where the church is really going to have its greatest impact is in the long term--helping people rebuild their lives." TouchGlobal Crisis Response is assessing the situation. "As we show the love of Christ, we also declare the meaning of Christ to people whose lives have been turned upside-down and who don't have a lot of hope. So, to weave meaning into the acts of kindness is going to be key for the church." Read here….

God's timing prepares team for quake

Japan (MNN) -- Asian Access> reports that their team survived the quake safely. However, there are several partners who have likely been severely affected, but communications are limited. The team is confident that God will use the faith of these believers to reach out to the hurting in the community. A note of interest: six days ago, the leaders were part of an all-day training to help Christians in Japan be prepared to respond in case of earthquake. Pray with them as they move to respond. Read here…

SEND International starts earthquake aid fund

Japan (MNN) -- International Director of SEND International Warren Janzen says they have 67 people working in Japan. "We've connected with our people, and everyone is safe--although not everyone is home. There were some people who were stranded in other parts of the city. Others chose to walk four or five hours to get back to their residences. All of our structures are all sound for now." SEND is one of the founding missions of the Japan Evangelical Church Association, and Janzen says they'll be working through that organization. "They are trying, right now, to connect with churches and believers in that affected region. They want to assess what the damage is and then begin strategizing on how to go in an assist." SEND has set up a fund to help. "SEND has created the Japan Earthquake Recovery Project to jump-start our national partners' recovery effort. These gifts are going to go to their immediate needs and the Japan Evangelical Church Association ongoing ministry for both physical and spiritual needs of people in the affected area." Go to www.SEND.org to help.

Read more here….

JAPAN-LIBYA-USA

2011-03-21T09:57:00.001-07:00

Russian Church fundraises for Orthodox believers in Japan

2011-03-18T19:29:00.000-07:00

Moscow, March 15, Interfax - The Moscow Patriarchate is fundraising for needs of Orthodox believers who suffered from the earthquake in Japan.

"We start collecting aid in Sts Martha and Mary Convent in Moscow. We're fundraising for needs of the country's Orthodox communities," head of the Synodal Department for Charities and Social Work Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo-Zuyevo told Interfax-Religion on Tuesday.

According to him, there is no any accurate and detailed information about damage inflicted to Orthodox churches in Japan.

"However, we know that some churches were badly damaged, one or two are destroyed," the bishop said.

Bishop Panteleimon added that his department fundraises together with the Synodal Department for External Church Relations.

"Means can be transferred to the accounts of the Synodal Department for Charities in rubles, dollars and euros. We will publish detailed information about donated money," he said.

Meanwhile Bishop Seraphim of Sendai (the Japanese Autonomous Church) told about serious consequences of the earthquake in Japan for the country's Orthodox believers.

"On God's mercy the church in Sendai was not seriously damaged and life in the city is being restored. However, churches on the Pacific coast are destroyed and we lost communications with them," the bishop said in his message sent to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on Tuesday.

According to him, the earthquake inflicted "great, hardly describable damage to the eastern coast of North Japan, including the Sendai Diocese". "Help comes to victims from all over the country, but we don't have the full picture of developments as the roads and communications are destroyed," Bishop Seraphim said.

The information from believers is coming and "the number of supposed victims will be significant."

"We, survived priests and parishioners, will fulfill our duties as far as we can," the Bishop assured Patriarch Kirill.

Districts on the territory of the Sendai Diocese greatly suffered from the destructive earthquake and tsunami in the north-east Japan on March 11.

The number of the Japanese who identify themselves with Orthodoxy equals to about 30,000 people.

The Japanese Autonomous Church was founded by St. Nikolay (Kasatkin) who came to Japan on 1861 on the decision of the Holy Synod. He founded and headed the Russian Orthodox mission in Japan in 1870. He translated the Holy Scripture and liturgical books into Japanese and built the Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo.

The Russian Orthodox Church canonized Archbishop Nikolay in 1970. The Moscow Patriarchate granted autonomy to the Japanese Orthodox Church the same year.

CRASHって何？

2011-03-18T17:59:00.001-07:00

Charles William Nielsen

2011-03-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

In Memory of a Life

Charles William Nielsen

November 7, 1955 ~ March 19, 2004

Ideas are clean. They soar in the serene supernal.

I can take them out and look at them, they fit in books,

they lead me down that narrow way. And in the

morning they are there. Ideas are straight~

But the world is round,

and a messy mortal is my friend.

Come walk with me in the mud. . . . . .

by Hugh Prather in Notes to Myself

We do not grieve as those who have no hope and for that we thank the Father for not leaving us as orphans. Charlie is at home in Gloryland and is keeping company with those of the hall of faith, all the saints who have gone before.

Charlie died from a Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT, a blood clot that formed in his leg and moved to his lungs.

Please continue to keep Charlie's wife Linda and children Brian, Kelsey, Josh and Elise in prayer.

Please keep Charlie's parents, Mary and Charlie Sr. in prayer as they continue to age in grace and are praying about returning to Japan this Spring of 2011 to minister healing and comfort to the people of Japan who are being traumatized by three tragedies.

Always in Jesus' name, Ken Nielsen

March has been proclaimed DVT Awareness Month

DVT Awareness Month is being sponsored by the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) to raise awareness of this serious medical condition among consumers, healthcare professionals, government, and public health leaders. The Coalition is comprised of more than 20 representatives from nationally known medical societies, patient advocacy groups and other public health organizations. The Coalition objectives include: the need to reduce the risk of DVT; the actions to help achieve better diagnosis; the steps required to reduce DVT prevalence and incidence, and the ways to inspire government, healthcare leaders, and policy-makers to make DVT a national healthcare priority.

About Deep-Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

Deep-vein thrombosis is a medical condition that occurs when a thrombus (blood clot) forms in one of the large veins, usually in the lower limbs, leading to either partially or completely blocked circulation. It may be caused by a variety of risk factors and triggering events, including increasing age, obesity or restricted mobility due to acute medical illness, stroke, major surgery or respiratory failure. The condition may result in health complications, such as PE and even death if not diagnosed and treated effectively. Pulmonary embolism can occur when a fragment of a blood clot breaks loose from the wall of the vein and migrates to the lungs, where it blocks a pulmonary artery or one of its branches. Of those who develop PE, up to 200,000 will die, which is more than from breast cancer and AIDS combined. Risk reduction measures for DVT include early mobilization, sequential compression devices to prevent blood clotting and anticoagulants, and/or blood-thinning drugs, such as low-molecular-weight heparin, unfractionated heparin and warfarin sodium. For more information, visit www.DVT.net.

Interview with Phil Foxwell

2011-03-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

Phil Foxwell, who just recently returned from Shichigahama, shares his testimony on what he saw, people he met, and the condition of the city. Takayama, a vacation site located inside Shichigahama, is a favorite retreat location for many international workers in Tokyo and all over Japan. For more pictures of the situation go to the Facebook page "Love on Japan | Crash Quake Relief," or click on the link here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=201131439904666&aid=51207

Relief efforts ramp up across the island

2011-03-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

http://www.guampdn.com/article/20110317/NEWS01/103170301/Relief-efforts-ramp-up-across island?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

Donations pour in: Tom Nielsen, president of Maeda Pacific Corp., presents a $10,000 check to Japan Club of Guam representatives Mark Hishikawa and Sonomi Sasayama yesterday. Members of the Guam Contractors' Association donated $24,100 to the Japan Club of Guam for tsunami relief. During the monthly membership meeting thousands of dollars more were pledged. / Courtesy of Guam Contractors' Association

"It seemed like the right thing to do after seeing and hearing all the devastation in the media and the many lives lost in this tragic event. I also encourage other GCA members to help in this cause by making monetary donations to the Japan Club of Guam who will then turn over these funds to the Japanese Consulate office," said Tom Nielsen, president of Maeda Pacific.

WIlderness ~ Spoken Beats

2011-03-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

A TEAM MISSION REPORT BY J. NIELSEN

2011-03-15T18:07:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Dear Praying Friends,

Though we are approximately 500 km (350 miles) from the Northeastern Region of Japan, hit hardest by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami last Friday, with the death count rising daily, with the regular tremors and aftershocks continuing and with the unstable nuclear power plant situations still unfolding, the entire nation of Japan is a high state of anxiety, stress and fear. Even tonight at 9:30 PM, a magnitude 6 earthquake shook Shizuoka Prefecture, our neighboring prefecture, which was registered as a magnitude 3 here in Toyoake and shook our house considerably. Difficult, trying times for sure but our hearts remain strong knowing that God is our refuge and strength, knowing His ever-present help in these troubling times.

Just a few things to update you all on in terms of how we are responding to the many needs around us:

1. In the earthquake/tsunami relief effort, we are currently partnering with CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope) in getting food and provisions up to the Northeastern Region of Japan, hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami. Pray for these efforts by CRASH to get the necessary provisions to the most needy and for opportunities to share Christ in doing so.

2. Also, in the earthquake/tsunami relief effort, with the thousands of people who have been left homeless in Northeast Japan, we are currently formulating a plan to open up TEAM’s R&R facility (in Karuizawa), which has 20 summer cabins to the two church associations we cooperate with to temporarily house those believers who have been displaced. As I will be heading up this effort with our mission chairman, please pray for wisdom in how to best proceed.

3. Lastly, in an effort to reach out to the people in our local community, Pastor Sugimoto and I spent sometime today coming up with a game plan to first, update our church website, inviting all who would need a place to talk, to come to church where they could be helped. Then, after things begin to settle down, to create a flyer for distribution, further encouraging people to come and hear God's message of salvation and hope at Toyoake Hope Chapel.

Please be in prayer for these efforts and that the many hurting people in this area might find their way to church.

Thank you for your continued prayers for us and the people of Japan.

In Christ and for His Glory,

Jim and Eileen Nielsen TEAM-Japan

Ken Miura on behalf of Google Japan and international Crisis Response teams

2011-03-14T11:22:00.001-07:00

3/12/2011 07:49:00 AM

(Cross-posted from the Google.org Blog)

I was in the middle of writing code when the Google Japan office, on the 26th floor of Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, started shaking slowly. The rocking gradually increased, and I looked out the window to see the surrounding buildings all swaying ominously. Although alerts from the building urged us to evacuate via the emergency stairs, I couldn't help but stay and search for information about the earthquake’s epicenter and scale. Amidst a series of aftershocks rocking our office, a small group of us in Tokyo and several other Google offices started gathering information about the earthquake to create the Crisis Response information page.

As someone who experienced the Kobe earthquake 16 years ago when I was at university, I cannot forget the immediate desire for information. There was no way to find out where people's family and friends were, if transportation would be available to get us home, and most importantly, whether we would be able to find shelter.

This experience helped me remember that during a crisis, information about shelters can become increasingly muddled. Together with our Google Crisis Response team, we decided to organize existing public information from local governments about the concerned areas. Because of the very high volume of web traffic yesterday, this proved difficult to access. Collaborating with the Google Maps engineering team in Tokyo, we rapidly put together a page of information on Google Maps for our Crisis Response page.

And thanks to our colleagues in California and around the globe, within one hour of the earthquake we launched Google Person Finder, a tool to help locate missing people, in Japanese, Chinese and English. We published sites in Japanese and English with maps, news updates, videos and resources. We also posted tsunami alerts on the Google homepage for appropriate domains to make sure as many people as possible saw the warning. And in addition to these tools we've made available, we are donating $250,000 to organizations in Japan who are working on relief and recovery efforts.

Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by the tragedy, and we thank the citizens, first responders and organizations working hard to keep everyone safe.

Posted by Ken Miura on behalf of Google Japan and international Crisis Response teams

Japan Earthquake Emergency Information

2011-03-11T15:38:00.000-08:00

Emergency Assistance Click Here

A NOTABLE QUOTE FROM KIERKEGAARD

2011-03-06T09:09:00.001-08:00

“Every religious writer, or speaker, or teacher, who absents himself from danger and is not present where it is, and where the Evil has its stronghold, is a deceiver, and that will eventually become apparent. For every one who comes to the gates of death and its doors open for him has to lay aside from him all the pomp and grandeur and wealth and worldly reputation, and the stars of knightly orders and other tokens of honour—whether they were distributed by kings and emperors or by the crowd and the public—has to lay them all aside as things which are entirely inappropriate and superfluous. Only one exception is made, and that is with reference to the man who in his lifetime has been a religious writer or teacher or speaker. If he is found in possession of any such things, he is not allowed to lay them aside. No, they are packed up in a bundle and returned to him, and he is compelled to keep them and carry them, as a thief may be compelled to carry his stolen goods. And with that bundle he must enter the place where he is to be judged. Having been a religious teacher, he will be judged by the true religious teachers, who all of them so long as they lived were mocked, persecuted, derided, scorned, and spat upon. Ah! how frightful it is for the natural man to stand here on earth and be derided, mocked, and spat upon! More frightful still to stand in eternity with this bundle under his arm, or attired in his . . . finery!”

World’s Oldest Traveling Minister Credits Faith for Good Health, Longevity

2011-03-04T10:27:00.000-08:00

Posted on March 4, 2011

World's Oldest Traveling Minister: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

Traveling ministries may seem a thing of the past, but not for Otis Clark.

Bishop Otis Clark has been preaching all over the world for the past 89 years, MyFoxHouston reports.

He continued his lifelong craft and spoke at a public gathering in Houston Tuesday night.

Continue Reading on www.foxnews.com

We got snow near San Diego this weekend.

2011-02-28T16:13:00.001-08:00

We got snow near San Diego this weekend. The attached photo is awesome. It was taken from Point Loma looking east across North Island Naval Air Station and downtown San Diego toward the eastern SD County Mountains. Courtesy NBC Channel 7, San Diego & Bill Jenkins of Christ United Methodist Church.

Lord Save Us From Your Followers

2011-02-24T17:51:00.000-08:00

2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal

2011-02-21T08:59:00.000-08:00

2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal

By Lev Grossman

We're fast approaching the moment when humans and machines merge. Welcome to the Singularity movement

Floating World

2011-02-16T20:19:00.000-08:00

By W.S. Di Piero | Published Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011

Hiroshige (1797–1858), Japanese woodblock print of Mt. Fuji and Mt. Ashigara viewed from Numazu in clear weather after a snowfall.

When in 1853 Admiral Perry and what the Japanese called his “black fleet” (the ships were painted black and their coal-stoked engines puffed black smoke) sailed into Yokohoma Harbor, he couldn’t have known he’d be influencing the course of Western art. For over 200 years Japan and its grandest city, Edo (now Tokyo), had been virtually closed to outsiders, trading only with the Dutch and Chinese. Perry’s military force resulted in trade agreements: by 1858 Japan had finally opened up and its Ukiyo-e (“floating world”) art, which began circulating all over Europe, was beginning to change how Western artists represented physical reality.

According to ancient Buddhist belief, material reality and the activities of ordinary life (yo) were illusory, fleeting, impermanent. Here is how the scholar Michael Shigeru Inoue unpacks the modern meaning of Ukiyo-e:

“The original characters for the word ukiyo, used in a Buddhist context, expressed the idea of a material world filled with anxiety, worry, and affliction (uki). During the Edo period [1603–1868], which was a bohemian time of peace and prosperity in Japan, new homonymous kanji characters [i.e., derived from Chinese characters] for ukiyo arose that literally mean ‘floating world,’ but they now were used to refer to the joys and pleasures of the fleeting life on earth.”

Ukiyo-e’s gorgeous paintings and prints illustrate that the world’s delights, in time, float away. But what delights! The woodblock prints that proliferated from the 17th till the 19th Century represented the pleasures of courtesan culture, theater, and fashion, as well as legends and events of Japan’s past. Ukiyo-e artists were dream merchants. Like travel-magazine illustrators, they depicted to town folk destinations in faraway places (dreamy renderings of hammering waterfalls, swaying forests, lush country pastures) and moments of blissful respite from daily tasks. They also depicted those tasks, the daily toil of farmers, porters, miners, and other laborers.

If, like me, you know Ukiyo-e primarily because of the influence its prints — with flattened depths, sinuous deployment of contents, and restricted but concentrated palette — had on Western artists (Van Gogh owned 400 prints), an exhibition split between the San Diego Museum of Art and the University of San Diego, Dreams and Diversions, will break open a new world. It’s a generously instructive introductory course in Ukiyo-e’s origins, development, thematic preoccupations, and techniques. Most of us are acquainted with the rainy landscapes, rice-paddy farmers, and slinky prostitutes of Ukiyo-e, but the hundreds of woodblock prints on display dial in on its marvelous varieties, like the proto-collage composition called Harimaze. Very popular in 19th-century Japan, Harimaze prints were single-sheet scrapbooks containing cutouts of popular scenes, events, and places configured in an interior picture-space.

Ukiyo-e was a collaborative art. Artists like Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusai, and Utagawa Hiroshige passed their renderings to carvers who executed their visions in wood blocks that were then given to printers who controlled the color consistencies and intensities of texture and line; the artist then hand-colored the prints, which went to a publisher or dealer who cultivated a clientele for pictures and albums. Dreams and Diversions tracks Ukiyo-e’s changes: woodblock presses progressed from two to three to multicolored prints; artists responded to technical advances in carving and inking; the conventional courtesan figure shape-shifted from a stocky, curvy, full-featured creature to a more lithe, statuesque type. In any art form, a change in figure, stance, gesture, and grouping records a changing model of desirability. Japanese art is sublimely erotic, though viewers accustomed to other expressions of erotic desire may not respond to it. The highly stylized nature of Ukiyo-e makes it seem uniform — erotic album sets were made for a male merchant-class with shared models of idealized behavior and beauty — but Dreams and Diversions trains our eye to be more alert to variation than to standardization. Kitao Masanobu’s 1784 print of six courtesans (they’re showing off their calligraphy styles, one attribute of a woman’s refinement) pulls the tall, “new type” figures into two groups, but each figure has a distinctive personality and features, each performs a separate action, yet all are swept and tied together by confluent lines and sheeted fabrics.

Spend enough time with these prints (not all in the best of health: some are faded) and the variety sensitizes us to different styles. Hiroshige’s pictures of birds, for instance, differed from those of another Ukiyo-e artist, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, in their often satirical or humorous representation. Kuniyoshi’s world is a more ferocious place. However realistic the presentation of subjects from nature, Ukiyo-e artists associated birds and other creatures with certain attributes: cranes, longevity; geese, reliability; swallows, good luck (and marital fidelity). In Ukiyo-e, the natural order is a moral order.

Kabuki actors were public celebrities and another prime subject. As kids pin rock-star posters to their walls, Kabuki fans acquired prints of their favorite actors to hang in their houses. The most famous Kabuki entertainment — treated by Ukiyo-e artists sometimes soberly, sometimes as caricature — were stories of ronin, samurai warriors who had lost their daiymo, their feudal lord. The most famous was Chushingura (The Treasure of Loyal Retainers), a tense, slowly told tale of 47 ronin in the early 18th Century who waited years to avenge their daimyo’s death. (There are two fine, slow-till-slaughter-time film versions available on DVD.) Ukiyo-e trains us to “read” a print vertically, whether we’re following a mountain trail down through clouds past streams and forests or studying (eavesdropping, really) on some historical event. The long, narrow hashira-e, or “pillar print,” made to decorate a pillar inside a

house, lent itself especially to anecdotes of disclosure or nosiness. It draws us in and makes co-conspirators of us. Torii Kiyonga’s late-18th-century hashira-e (couple spying on a courtesan reading a love letter) from Chushingura, sweeps down from a samurai on a balcony who through a small hand-held mirror (we see Japanese writing reflected on the glass) is spying on a long scrolled letter being read by a courtesan on a porch below. Our eye naturally cascades down the stretched s of the narrow paper until it lands on a woman hidden under the porch holding the unfurled scroll so that she, too, can read its contents. The intimate letter is being checked out top to bottom.

Just as America received accounts of the newly explored Far West through the great advertising tools of 19th-century photographic images, the Ukiyo-e prints I mentioned earlier attracted a thriving merchant-class to visit desirable destinations, in fact or in their imaginations. Hiroshige made an enchanting, visually loaded set of prints of the famous 53 stations along the Tokaido Road, a coastal highway connecting Edo to Kyoto, with a (usually witty) poem worked into the scene. One of these, Shono: Driving Rain shows off his skills in shifting gradually across the page from heavy-skinned darkness to rain-veils made of zippy lines shaved and shredded from tree tops. One picture spins a whirlpool’s energy in a way that cranks our gaze up from the bottom of the page toward the craggy, whippy spindrift peaking and curling up and around the paper.
Another majestic place, Mt. Fuji, so spiritually important in the lives of the Japanese, was famously documented by Hiroshige’s contemporary, Hokusai, whose two major books, the color prints of Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji and the black-and-white series Hundred Views of Mt. Fuji, include people going about their daily routines overseen by the grand mountain. Fuji has strong associations with immortality, so these beautiful, robust pictures remind us that the human is small and passing, indeed, and that even our closest material realization of immortality is itself a part of the stuff of this world.

Dreams and Diversions has two venues, The San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park and the University of San Diego. It will be on view till June 5, with a complete rotation of prints — the first rotation of Hiroshige’s Kyoka Tokaido, for instance, contains prints of stations 1 through 26, the second rotation displays the remainder — February 26, 2011. ■

Dreams and Diversions, San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619-232-7931; University of San Diego, Robert and Karen Hoehn Family Galleries, 5998 Alcalá Park, 619-260-4600. Through June 5.

Just like us, only better

2011-02-16T15:59:00.001-08:00

Posted on: Feb 15 2011

Seems like everybody over the age of 40 likes to talk about how messed up this new generation is: how we’re raising spoiled underachievers who (eye roll here) have no work ethic, feel entitled, and need an app to get out the front door.

The underlying assumption is that previous generations were smarter, savvier, scrappier. What’s going to happen to our country? We all need Dragon Moms to whip these kids into shape.

So I was happy to read the report this week that set it all straight: America hasn’t fallen behind the rest of the world in academic achievement – we were never world leaders when it came to math and science. It’s a myth that we’ve fallen from our glory days. Our standing is actually improving, thanks to the current generation. According to the Brookings Institution report, there never were any glory days – they were just the exaggerated dreams of older generations looking back through rose-colored glasses. Back in 1964, American 13-year-olds took the First International Math Study and ended up ranking in 11th place. Considering that only 12 nations participated, including Australia, Finland, and Japan, our next-to-last performance was pretty abysmal. Other international tests American students have taken over the years have also never showed that we were in the top spot.

Personally, I think that our children are improving with every generation. They’re much more progressive, open-minded, and intelligent than we ever were.

I spotted this message on a high school student’s Class of ’12 T-shirt the other day: “It’s not the end of the world, we’re just taking over.”

All I can say is, what took you so long?

JON PETERSEN'S LATEST NEWS

2011-02-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

Japan

If you know me, you know I'm half Japanese and am convinced that sushi will be available at the marriage supper of the Lamb. So to be invited back to Japan was a treat beyond words.

JAPAN - Alpha, led by Andy Game has probably been more effective in the nation than most endeavors over the past 65 years (since the War). You would love Andy - he is extremely funny, single, 40 something and a real servant to the Church in the nation. He has a stellar reputation from what we could see. He has helped launch Alpha courses from Hokkaido in the north to the island of Okinawa. He is a Kingdom guy and is now putting all of his energy into using the internet to share Jesus and launch Alpha Courses in the business community. We met the leader of a business leaders' ministry called VIP. These business leaders have hundreds of chapters in Japan and in other nations, . The guy is a "pray-er", lives next to the emperor and begs God for a move of God in his nation.

Prayer is not nation wide but seems to be growing and the desire to see it become more central to the Christian community is rising. The church is beginning to make a connection to the redemptive story of Jesus in Shintoism (the national religion) and it seems like a huge onramp for a framework for prayer. It's like walking through tabernacle: you come in through the sacrifice of blood (now a red arch), cleanse with water, enter a room with bread (rice), incense and light, past a veil into the next chamber where a box sits that represents the seat of "god" and which priests carry through the streets once a year - hmmmm, sounds familiar.

I am thinking of a trip back later this year to look more intentopnaly of launching 24-7 prayer in the nation. We are praying for a team of people to be formed who have Japan on their hearts.

One very exciting encounter was with a church in Yokohama that is truly missional, young and FULL of Jesus. They were growing in love with each other, leading people to faith and were a picutre of a what a redeemed Japan can look like. Made me cry.

For now we are filtering through the opportunities and vision to see where we might find an inroad for longterm involvement. Very encouraging.

Here is our fearless team! Jon, Andy, Joe and Wendy...Taking pictures in a mirror at CAJ, the school in Highashikurume where I was "educated"...welll maybe...

Tokyo's Haneda Airport makes life easy for international travelers

2011-02-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

After Narita International Airport opened in 1978, Tokyo's Haneda Airport (officially Tokyo International Airport) was used predominantly for domestic flights within Japan and for some charter flights within Asia.

But this past October, Haneda Airport officials christened a new runway and cut the ribbon on a swanky new International Terminal filled with shiny arrival and departures halls, gleaming gate areas and dozens of intriguing restaurants and shops.

· PHOTO GALLERY: Tour Tokyo's Haneda Airport

A robust schedule of international flights to North America, Europe and Asia began rolling out in late October as well. Now travelers can fly to Haneda from Detroit, Honolulu, New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Seoul, Singapore and a steadily increasing number of cities on a variety of major airlines. This week, for example, American Airlines, which already has regular service to and from Narita, is adding a daily flight to Haneda from New York's JFK airport.

Flying to Tokyo is one thing. Getting from the airport to the city is another. A frustration of arriving at Narita has always been the hour (or more) it can take to get into town. Haneda Airport is much closer to Tokyo's center and, with a sleek new monorail and train connections, passengers can now arrive downtown within 30 minutes.

But if there's no need to rush, stick around. Haneda's new International Terminal offers free wireless Internet access, posh lounges and a wide variety of other amenities that make it a destination all its own.

Here are some highlights:

Shops and restaurants: honoring the old and the new

Beyond the ticket lobby, but still pre-security, travelers will find two distinct dining and shopping areas.

A shopping street lined with Japanese lanterns and antique-looking facades is designed to evoke a traditional Japanese Edo village. There are restaurants here serving traditional Japanese foods, conveyor belt-delivered sushi, pizza and French bistro dishes. A garden-like setting overlooks the entry hall and offers a quiet spot to enjoy green-tea soft swirl ice-cream from the newest branch of Kyo Hayashiya, a sweets vendor that has its roots in a teahouse established in 1753.

The Edo Marketplace shops stock everything from made-in-Japan clothing and elaborate floral arrangements to elegantly boxed gourmet and regional foods and organic cosmetics.

One level above the Edo Marketplace, in the brightly-lit Tokyo Pop Zone, it's definitely the 21st century. Dining options here include a café with a built-in planetarium, and a branch of R Burger, a fast-food restaurant dishing up Japanese-sauce-topped burgers (pork, chicken, tofu, veggie, salmon, etc.) served on white steamed buns that boast wrinkle-reducing marine collagen among the ingredients.

Tokyo Pop Town also offers some entertaining and unusual shopping. There's a toy store here with a giant slot car racetrack, a shop filled entirely with JAL Airlines-branded character souvenirs, a huge Hello Kitty marketplace and Design Japan Culture, a showcase for artist-made clothing and accessories that has a vending machine to dispense arty tote-bags and other treats.

"Convenient and agreeable services"

In addition to upscale airline lounges operated by JAL and ANA (All Nippon Airways), Haneda's new International Terminal offers common-use airline lounges with shower rooms, massage chairs, Internet access, business facilities and places to nap.

An outdoor observation desk, free and open to the public, offers great views of airfield activity, including the arrival and departure of the occasional Pokémon character-adorned plane. Back inside the terminal, the amenities include smoking cubicles, a medical clinic and a brightly colored children's play area where everyone is required to remove their shoes.

And in a country well-known for its high-tech toilets, the airport restrooms are a delight. "Ordinary toilets" have wider-than-normal doorways to accommodate both manual wheelchair users and travelers with suitcases. Folding doors on the cubicles include a sign indicating whether or not there's a baby seat and a fold-down changing table inside. And inside each women's restroom area there's a urinal for use by small boys.

"Multipurpose toilets" are exactly that. To accommodate wheelchair users, passengers traveling with babies or toddlers, elderly people and anyone with a special need, there are restrooms equipped with just about every facility imaginable. In addition to diaper changing tables, beds and changing platforms, these restrooms have ostomate showers and sinks, layouts that allow for right or left hand transfers to the toilet seat from a wheelchair and an emergency button linked directly to the airport's Disaster Control Center.

And, in what is certainly an airport first, there's even a restroom designed specifically for use by service dogs.

Harriet Baskas writes about travel etiquette for MSNBC.com and is the author of the airport guidebook Stuck at the Airport and a blog of the same name.

Japanese Girl Explains Titantic

2011-02-15T09:53:00.001-08:00

Video: Japanese kids go crazy over McDonald's happy meal

2011-02-15T09:51:00.001-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

2011-02-14T14:25:00.000-08:00

Japanese women seek right to their own identity

2011-02-13T10:37:00.000-08:00

TOKYO - FOUR Japanese women will go to court on Monday to challenge a law that now compels almost all females to drop their maiden names and assume their husbands' surnames when they marry.
The group - plus one of their husbands - want a civil code clause from the late 1800s declared unconstitutional and are seeking financial damages for their emotional distress at the Tokyo District Court.
The legal action comes after the centre-left government in power since 2009 failed in a push to revise the civil code because of stiff opposition from conservatives, including a minor ruling coalition partner. It is part of a drive for greater gender equality in Japan, where women still face strong social pressure to leave their jobs when they marry to handle household chores and raise children.
But the country's prolonged economic slowdown has prompted more women to continue their careers after marriage, often without changing their maiden names in the workplace, leading to growing calls for a dual-surname system.
One of the four women among the plaintiffs, Kyoko Tsukamoto, 75, said that having been forced to use her husband's name officially for more than half a century had caused her 'psychological trauma'.
'My name is a reflection of my self,' said Ms Tsukamoto, a retired school teacher who uses her maiden name for private purposes but must use her husband's surname on legal documents, her passport and her credit card. She declined to disclose that name to AFP. -- AFP

Kung Hey Fat Choi!

2011-02-03T10:26:00.001-08:00

The Chinese Year of the Rabbit Begins

In the Chinese calendar,

today marks the start of the Year of the Rabbit,

which is expected to be a 'quiet, positive & inspiring' year.

Find out what else to expect.

Could the Year of the Rabbit bring you love?

Cocktails made for the Chinese New Year

BASEBALL IN JAPAN

2011-02-01T17:03:00.001-08:00

Japanese teenagers obsessed with hiding faces behind medical masks

2011-01-29T09:17:00.000-08:00

Saturday 29th January, 2011

Experts have warned that there is a growing culture among teenagers in Japan to hide their faces behind white medical masks.

The disposable facemasks are a favourite among Japanese commuters and office workers, who wear them to help prevent the spreading of flu germs, especially during the winter.

But now teenagers are seen wearing the cotton masks, some from the moment they awake until they go to bed, sparking concerns that they are using them in order to retreat from society.

Yohei Harada, an analyst specialising in youth trends at Hakuhodo Inc, the advertising agency, said there is an increase in the number of wearers.

"A few years ago, very few teenagers wore masks. But many wear them today and the numbers are increasingly very rapidly," the Telegraph quoted Harada as saying.

"The reason is that these teenagers are looking for something to hide behind.

"They are constantly having to communicate with friends via SMS and emails and this is making them so tired that it is a relief to wear a masks. It is a way to hide their feelings," Harada stated.

The climate of political flux, economic instability and the absence of jobs for life in Japan are further factors believed to be fuelling social insecurities among teenagers. (ANI)

WHICH PERSON IS KEN?

2011-01-27T20:10:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister Kan's personal website now available in English

2011-01-26T08:21:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 26th January, 06:30 AM JST

TOKYO —

An English version of Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s personal website, called ‘‘Kan-Full Blog,’’ was launched Tuesday as he hopes to promote his key policies also to a non-Japanese audience. The Internet site, launched in mid-November in Japanese, features video clips and texts mainly related to Kan’s official duties.
The content will be translated from the Japanese original, a Cabinet Secretariat official said, adding that the two-month-old website has had around 10,000 views per day.
The URL is http://kansblog.kantei.go.jp/