Santa Claus and Ho Ho Ho and Mistletoe...

Dear Family,

            It’s election time in Japan and the campaigns are in full swing. Japan has a constitutional monarchy where the emperor, Akihito, son of Hirohito of WW II recollection, is official head of state with titular power like the Queen of England.  Their government is parliamentary, where the prime minister is an elected member of the Diet (parliament) and head of his party.  We saw Prime Minster, Yoshihiko Noda, a month ago. He was at the same shopping arcade we were, and he and his entourage passed within a few feet of us as he toured some of the shops. It was interesting to see the swarming cameramen and reporters, the always-alert, outward-facing “secret service” officers lining the way and the gaggle of people following along. We didn’t know they were there until we saw the motorcade parked nearby, but we were surprised to be able to drive within 100 yards of his group and to come very close on foot. Campaigning lasts for about two weeks and is done mostly by vans with loud-speakers (and I do mean LOUD) roaming the streets with an annoying, unrelenting verbal barrage.  They also use temporary election billboards stationed at eye-level along sidewalks and roadways each with eight square spaces where each candidate gets his or her 300 square inches of fame.  It’s a very organized and controlled process, and my guess is that it costs somewhat less than the $2 billion Americans are used to.

with Yumi at her Train Station concert

It’s hard to wrap your mind around missionary work in a country where only 1% of the population is Christian.  Christmas is celebrated here but almost exclusively in a secular sense.  Many lights, decorations, trees, gifts, and festivities but no mention of Jesus Christ.  We did attend a singing program featuring a “Gospel” choir with some jazzed up versions of some of the Christmas carols and the Church has had some programs but attendance has been quite sparse.  Last week we sought council from Yumi, a young woman acquaintance, asking her for advice on how to most effectively approach young single adults in Japan; what would best awaken their interest in our message about Christ. It was interesting to compare her response with that of the 13 returning missionaries from the previous week as to what initial approach worked best for them. Yumi, as a Buddhist, was loathe to offer advice to Christian missionaries, but we insisted that her perspective was exactly what we wanted. The returning missionaries had identified their most successful initial approaches which could be characterized as follows: 1. Is death the end or the beginning? 2. Does God know your name? 3. What is true happiness? and 4. This book (The Book of Mormon) will change your life.   Yumi was negative about the first two and very positive about the last two. We suggested a picture of the smiling Kohei Uchimura wearing his gold medal for the all-around men’s gymnastics as the picture of happiness. She suggested a happily married couple or a family.  Most interesting.

This week Pat and Sister Gustafson, the mission mom, conducted a cooking tutorial for the Relief Society on how to make gingerbread cookies, men and houses.  She scoured the stores to find the elusive molasses and other essential ingredients. From all accounts, the Relief Society sisters had a lot of fun with this event.

We plan to spend Christmas Eve with our son Dan and his family in nearby Tosu, , to stay overnight and be there Christmas when young Raiden and Anika awaken to Christmas morn. Christmas evening they will join us, Pres. and Sister Gustafson and the mission office staff for dinner in the mission home. And, of course, we are then allowed to call home. We hope the holiday season finds you well and surrounded by loved ones. Sending our love over the miles, we remain your faithful far-eastern correspondents, Mom and Dad