Finding the father I never had

Antonio Koga has played the guitar for 70 years, and in 2019 will celebrate his 60th year in the entertainment industry. Mentored by the late Masao Koga, he debuted as a singer in 1959 with record label Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd. He has since appeared on numerous television shows as both a singer and guitar virtuoso, touching hearts with his music. At Christmas 2016, Koga attended a church service for the very first time, and the experience moved him to tears.

“As I sang the hymns, tears kept streaming down my face. Joy welled up within me, and it felt as if I had met someone,” says Koga, recalling his first visit to Tokyo Onnuri Christ Church (pastored by Bonju Mun). He had been invited by Tōtarō Wajima, music producer and CEO of Voice Factory, with whom he became friends through his work. Usually Koga would be busy performing at dinner shows during the Christmas season, but in 2016 his schedule was unusually clear, and he was intrigued to find out what Christians did at Christmas. His wife and son agreed to go along to church with him.

Korean and Japanese believers worship together at Tokyo Onnuri Christ Church, and the worship ministry is robust. Koga recalls that the moment he stepped inside, “The atmosphere was wonderful. I was astonished.” The service began with worship and ended with worship. Koga spent the entire time crying.

A week later Wajima invited Koga to a New Year’s service, and after that Koga started attending church regularly. Eventually Pastor Mun asked him to play the guitar for them. In April 2017, at Easter time, Koga and his wife Kazuko were baptized.

Koga was born in 1941, the year that the Pacific War broke out. When he was two years old, his father was killed in Burma (now known as Myanmar). “I only saw my father in photographs, and don’t have any memories of being held or scolded by him.” Koga is grateful that his mother worked hard to raise him. “She brought me up with a lot of love,” he says.

At the age of seven, Koga first met his mentor Masao Koga at a show he’d gone to with his mother. At one point a solo guitarist played “Kōjō no Tsuki” (The Moon over the Ruined Castle). “When I heard that, I said to myself, ‘I want to play the guitar. I want to play that song’.” He first took lessons from inspirational guitarist Yasuo Abe, and later, starting at the age of 17, from Masao Koga. Taking his mentor’s name, he debuted at 18 as Antonio Koga. He traveled all over Japan playing at various shows, and performed as a backing musician for singers such as Hisaya Morishige and Hibari Misora.

Now a Christian, Koga stood on stage at Love Sonata Tokyo1 in July 2017 and shared his testimony. “At the age of 76, I was baptized along with my wife. And all of a sudden I found the father [God] I never had.” At this, the hall filled with roaring applause. Koga’s voice wasn’t at its best that day, but he remembered the words of his mentor, Masao Koga: “A song is not sung with one’s voice, but rather with one’s heart.” Koga felt that the Lord was telling him, “Accept yourself as you are,” and so he felt able to sing. “It was a wonderful feeling to be in that place. I just cried out to the Lord,” says Koga with excitement. With a beaming smile he explained how he feels that, “It was meant to be, for me to become a Christian. Even before I believed, God was protecting me.”

From Christian Shimbun, December 24 and 31, 2017 (combined issue)
Translated by Grace Koshino

1. A cooperative event held at the Tokyo International Forum by Korean and Japanese churches.