Unique arts in Japan

Do you like chocolate? How many of you can remember a chocolate sampler where there would be various kinds all in one box? I always liked the chocolate crème ones and hoped I didn’t get one with orange filling. Sometimes you wouldn’t know what you got until you bit into it. Today I would like to give you a small taste of some arts used in Japan and let you know more about them. Through the arts in ministry, we can taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel hula

In the past few years, gospel hula has become popular here. Several years ago, my friend Melanie from Hawaii was invited to dance hula at a church about an hour away from my home. My part in helping was to drive her to the little church. We got there early and stayed late. As Japanese are naturally curious and want to talk to overseas guests, not only did I get the chance to interpret for her, but I was also able to make friends with the people over lunch and encourage them in their faith walks.

When I talked with her recently, Melanie explained there are many styles of hula, like traditional or contemporary Hawaiian hula, Tahitian hula, and gospel hula. Gospel hula focuses on worshiping God in an elegant, more sedate manner than, say, the hip-swinging Tahitian hula. Some types of gospel hula include a combination of American Sign Language and traditional hula movements in telling a story through the hands. Melanie shared that many people have commented that their hearts were touched through the graceful and worshipful gospel hula dance.

Even this year during COVID-19, I received an invitation to a mini gospel hula “concert” that took place during a Sunday morning service. My friend Izumi from Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, was coming with her team, Shalom Gospel Hula. I arrived early and struck up a few conversations with people at the church. One lady told me it was her first time to come to church. We had a heartwarming conversation for about ten minutes.

When the team began dancing, it felt so good to see people not wearing masks and being themselves as dancers. They were wearing beautiful red dresses and white leis around their necks, and they conveyed the gentle and caring love of Jesus through their dance to the song “There Is None Like You.” The music flooded my heart and nourished me, as did their presence. One dancer especially got my attention because she was 92 years old! How glad I was to see her being a part of the group. I was touched and encouraged as I watched the dancers beautifully worshiping the Lord through song.

Wearing Japanese art

This may be a surprising way for women to use art. Over ten years ago, I started to wear a Japanese haori when I went to concerts and different events. A haori is a traditional jacket that is worn on top of a kimono. I wore a pair of slacks, even jeans, with a T-shirt and then put a haori on top. Oh boy, did this ever open the door to conversations with people, especially elderly Japanese ladies! I was not fishing for compliments, but they would tell me how much they liked seeing me wear it.

As they approached me this way, it opened the door for conversations. I guess I was showing them that I valued their culture and something that was important to them—their traditional clothing, made from silk, in different colors and patterns. I started to buy more haori so that I could have different colors for different seasons. For all you bargain hunters out there, these are typically 300–500 yen at recycle shops, so it is very reasonable and easy to get one if you want to try wearing art and see what happens.

This is a great way to start conversations because the people will come to you and start talking. Then you know who is open, and you can see how God leads from there. It brings me joy, and I still wear haori to this day.

Tying it all together with love

Usually after gospel concerts and gospel hula, there is a teatime where food is served and tables and chairs are set up for people to mingle and have fellowship. I make it a point to talk with the different people who come and ask God to use the conversations we have. I like to become friends with the artists as well as the guests, sometimes getting connected on Facebook or other media.

This May, there was an American gospel artist who was brave and courageous to come to Japan for music ministry. As I visited her Facebook page, I was extremely surprised to find a picture of my coworker, Momoko, with this singer. As I dug into the story behind the picture, I found out that Momoko had become a believer through this ministry. It began by her attending a concert and then becoming friends with the singer as well as with people in the Japanese choir, all of whom were part of leading her to Christ over time.

All of this makes my heart sing and give praise to the Lord. He uses music to bless us, encourage us, and even to give us friends. The Lord our God is with us, and he is mighty to save. He takes great delight in us, and he quiets us with his love. He rejoices over us with singing, as we see in Zephaniah 3:17.

Photos submitted by author