Akememashte Omedetou Gozaimus!

Which means: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

A Winter Wonderland! And a light on in the home.



My camera has a way of making these moutains seem a bit smaller than they were in real life. (Maybe you should come and see for yourself!; and there are more pictures on my picasa page)



In this land of varying contrasts, the weather is certainly one area which gets attention. Sunny southern island(s)including Okinawa and Iwo Jima; freezing tundra of Hokkaido; and here I am in the "middle" - right on the coast, close to the mountains. Ahhh, creation. What a beautiful testimony to our Creator. Fortunately, I returned "home" to the colder temperatures, somewhat snowy and frigid Niigata after a few great days around the Tokyo area (actually, about an hour train ride outside of the capital city). Here in Niigata it is city and urban, but I was taken out to the "countryside" and into area that is basically the foothills leading into the ranges which run down the center of the island. I will certainly suggest you go to my Picasa Pics if you would like to see more!

The Winter Wonderland from which I welcomed the New Year with a church family who let me visit for a few days. Praise be to God for our Brothers and Sisters who openly share their homes, lives, and FOOD!


Oh Yea! Reindeer!


Santa was happy to know they have some "young ones" in training!

A CHRISTmas Message from James

To my family and friends, if I recently met you or have known you for a while, Merry CHRISTmas. May you know God's love this day and always.

Shogyou Commercial High School Festival!

As I mention in the following (previous) blog entry, the school festival was a chance to put homcoming and a church bazaar – into one! The students did an exceptional job of using their creativity. Most of them made their decorations out of recycled plastic and paper. What great stewardship!

My time there was one of shock-and-awe, complete hysterics, and just-plain enjoyment! I was shocked at the number of costumes which were pretty “out-there” and also pretty “childish”. What I have found is that having gaudy, “sexy” and very provocative is accepted just as readily as a 17-year-old dressing up as “Pokemon”!






My laughter couldn’t be contained as I encountered a couple soldiers who had ENTIRE gear, down to the mask-goggles. We did an impromptu skit. Check it out.



They made me give a classmate her money for the ice-cream I took!

Also, there was an emphasis on "cultural" activities like: Traditional Tea Ceremony







and Caligraphy







In closing, I can definitely say that I enjoyed myself with these students and this event. This is a main reason I truly love the education community and the opportunities it gives students to build relationships with each other, connecting to the past as well as making some new stories for the future. Take a look at these pictures to see more. If you have questions, feel free to email me and I can give you details.

Great job, Shogyou Students (and teachers!) – James Sensei

Kamo Kindergaten's Krazy Kids and KoKuTai

During the week I take about an hour train ride to go to one of our Lutheran Kindergartens in the small town of Kamo. There I teach two different classes, 3 year olds and then 4-5 year olds. The time at this school has been a joy so far and the kids are always pretty excited to see: Teacher James/James Sensei. During the last week of September and first week of October, there was a very special National Sports Festival which takes place ever year. Each year the festival is in a new prefecture (consider them counties for states, or states/provinces for a nation). This year, Niigata was the host prefecture. Many people from all over Japan came here for competitions. AND....in the little town of Kamo - there was Boxing!

The Official Poster of the Koku Tai - National Sports Festival

The Official Poster - for the Handicap/Special Olympic equivalent of the Koku Tai-National Sports Festival

Kamo's Contribution to the Koku Tai: Boxing!

As part of the community, the Kindergarten was able to perfom a dance that went along with the theme song for the games. This song was sung and played at various locations and times as an encouragement for the athletes and spectators. The kids went at it for about 4 minutes, but I thought a shortened version would be best for the internet. If you want to see more - just let me know!