At long last our wait for reliable Internet service is over. We had been using a wireless signal that our neighbors graciously shared with us, but it kept dropping out all the time. It took nearly a month for the Hikari fiber installation crew to come out, but it was worth the wait. Though they claim rates up to 100Mbits/sec, I'm satisfied with the 50Mbit throughput - and that's upload and download speed. Unreal! We don't have cable or other means to get a tv signal in the mountains, so the Internet has become our media center. Ellissa looks forward to a new episode of Naruto Shippuden each Friday while I stagger at the amount of variety shows Japanese audiences watch. To get a feel for Japanese tv programs search for KeyholeTV on Google. After it's installed, scroll to the bottom of the channel list and double click the last network. The quality is poor, but like our teachers say, it will give us refined listening skills to understand Japanese speech. I find the commercials more entertaining than the actual shows. Maybe it's because I understand them better.

Labels: praises, webtech

Hikikomori is a term that has become something of a silent epidemic in Japan. Meaning outcast or shut-in, we've briefly mentioned it here before, but thanks to Jon Junker for his excellent presentation on how to bridge the cultural gap using the gospel, we would like to share some of that insight with you. On the surface, it appears that institutions are blaming poor parenting skills as the source of the problem, while frustrated parents put the blame on bullying and poor school environment. If we dig deeper, the true source of the problem stems from a cultural glitch that is rooted in several hundred years of "self" deprecating attitudes. It is not merely one million people in Japan that suffer from hikikomori tendencies as the media would have us believe. It is more likely 60-90% of the population that experience side effects of the post modern Japanese society. Here are links to two videos produced by HarvestTime TV, one of the foremost producers of Christian material in Japan. They invited noted Japanese behaviorist Yuichi Hattori to speak on the subject.
Hikikomori & Social Collapse
Bringing Christ to Social Collapse
To believers and pre-Christians alike, those that have seen this presentation agree for the most part on the real cause of the state Japan is in today. Please pray that we are further equipped to build strong relationships with Japanese people who may suffer or have family affected by this social disease.

Labels: culture, Japan, prayer

Our language teacher Miho Tokutake invited us to join her and her daughter to the Prince Shopping plaza a few miles from our place in Karuizawa. We met at the Starbucks for lunch and then wandered around the upscale shops. It was great weather and there were lots of families playing in the park.



This is Noel, Miho sensei's daughter who is Ellissa's age. Her drawing is being showcased at the shopping plaza and depicts her with her friends singing at church. Click the photo to enlarge.

Labels: Karuizawa

Here is our local volcano, Asama Yama, with the Karuizawa fire station in front. It's always fun to see it on a clear day. As of this writing, it had most recently erupted in Feb of 2009 sending ash and rock up to 1km away. It is not the lava kind of volcano, so we don't have to worry about our house catching fire, but all the local school children where safety helmets to and from school to protect themselves from flying rocks! Perhaps one day we might climb it, although I'm not that excited about it.

Labels: Karuizawa

Due to the recent increase in swine flu cases in neighboring towns, the children's school has delayed starting classes until now. Ellissa, Julina, and Aaron had their first day at Horizon Christian School today and were required to wear the trendy fashion masks. Whether it improves their listening skills remains to be seen. Nevertheless, all but Aaron fared well on their first day. Apparently he decided he was hungry and wanted to have lunch before the appointed time. Fortunately, it was a half day session, so the drama was cut short. Please pray that all the kids would be good students, make friends, and begin to sponge the language and culture from their Japanese teachers - including COokie Monster.

Labels: prayer

Aaron's regular teacher was replaced with Cookie Monster Sensei. Today's Skype lesson is greetings based on the time of day. Let's see how he does.Video playback link: http://vimeo.com/6515857

Labels: praises, videos, webtech

It is said that many foreigner lose stomach to natto (fermented soybeans). I decided to take the challenge at the local sushiya. The best way I can describe is like sticky cottage cheese. Maybe your experience is different? We went with our neighbors the Taylors who treated us to an all-you-can-eat sushi experience as well as Katie Folden who is manning the camera. Will I eat sushi again? Probably. Natto? Only if challenged. I'm praising God that I managed to swallow it all and keep it down. [link to video on Vimeo]

Labels: culture, praises, videos

The kids make their way down the steps at the Church Street shopping center. It is a fairly new addition to the quaint downtown shopping district in Karuizawa. It is on the old road from Tokyo that served as a stopping point for many travelers back in the day. This is considered the "old" part of town, while the more urban section is west of here. Karuizawa grew out of tourism over 100 years ago when foreigners began to frequent this area, missionaries in particular, wanting to escape the heat of the summer months down south. It is in that tradition that the Church Street gallery of shops grew up.

Labels: history, photos

The September edition of our monthly mission newsletter has been imported for your just.

It is amazing what you can see in such a short distance from our house in Japan. From new friends at Karuizawa Union Church to the creek behind our house and along the path to the top of the mountain, our neighborhood is about as close to nature as you can get.

Labels: photos