I was invited to be on a Japanese TV show called “ワタシが日本に住む理由” (Why I live in Japan) this fall. The format usually consists of following a foreign national for a day, sharing a little of their history, and uncovering some hidden beauty in Japan from the town or area they are living in. And most of the time married couples are mixed, a Japanese wife married to a foreigner.

Turns out that Hannah and I are a pretty unique case as we are both US citizens living, working, and raising our family here.

So the TV producer decided to make the show about our family’s life and work in beautiful Norikura Kogen.

It will air on the Japanese “TV Tokyo” cable channel this Wed. from 7:55pm.

https://www.bs-tvtokyo.co.jp/nipponsumu/

A fun little footnote,

In the spring of this year, I was given an offer to become an ambassador for Columbia Sportswear Japan as a photographer/designer. Being an Oregonian who grew up on the Columbia river I was pretty stoked about the offer and super thankful to work with a brand from home.

When I moved to Japan in 2005 as a single man I felt strongly that this is the path that God was leading me on and that God would provide everything I needed. Nearly 18 years into this journey in Japan, God has been ever-faithful to provide and I feel extremely thankful for the family and friends we now have here.

In the TV show, they mention a TV show from the 1980s called “From Oregon with Love” and then they changed the name to say “From Norikura with Love” but my prayer for this TV show and especially this Christmas season is that people would be reminded of God’s wonderful love for them made evident through Christ’s birth that we celebrate this season.

So I would rather say “From Heaven with Love”.

「天国から愛」

1闇の中を歩む民は、大いなる光を見

死の陰の地に住む者の上に、光が輝いた。

2あなたは深い喜びと

大きな楽しみをお与えになり

人々は御前に喜び祝った。

刈り入れの時を祝うように

戦利品を分け合って楽しむように。

3彼らの負う軛、肩を打つ杖、虐げる者の鞭を

あなたはミディアンの日のように

折ってくださった。

4地を踏み鳴らした兵士の靴

血にまみれた軍服はことごとく

火に投げ込まれ、焼き尽くされた。

5ひとりのみどりごがわたしたちのために生まれた。

ひとりの男の子がわたしたちに与えられた。

権威が彼の肩にある。

その名は、「驚くべき指導者、力ある神

永遠の父、平和の君」と唱えられる。

6ダビデの王座とその王国に権威は増し

平和は絶えることがない。

王国は正義と恵みの業によって

今もそしてとこしえに、立てられ支えられる。

万軍の主の熱意がこれを成し遂げる。

イザヤ書 9

For to Us a Child Is Born

[1] But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

[2] The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shone.

[3] You have multiplied the nation;

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

[4] For the yoke of his burden,

and the staff for his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

[5] For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

[6] For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

[7] Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (ESV)

Isaiah 9:1–7