The Red Lotus

I was impressed by the symbolism behind this particular print by Linda Yuki Nakanishi called simply "Japan Earthquake 2011 No. 1". The lotus flower rises from the cracked broken earth, through the mud, above the water, and blooms unstained in full light of the sun. The lotus is a symbol of "spontaneous" birth. Red symbolizes love and compassion. Linda described this work this way: "This is how I view Japan, as a country that teaches their people to be strong and to endure." May the Japanese people also rise through the mud and above the water to be a people full of health and life!

All proceeds from the sale of this print will go to Canadian Red Cross to help tsunami and earthquake victims. You can buy her work here.

The Folded Sun

Last month, a friend of mine from the U.S. gave me a signed print he bought from a Swiss communication graphic designer to help raise money for disaster victims in Japan. I have it next to me, propped up on my desk to remind me of the many people and artists who have been part of the recovery here in Japan. The work is called "folded sun" by Remo Caminada. "When designing the poster, I had the idea to create a super sign, which, in connection with the disaster of 11 March 2011 in Japan, is supposed to encourage people to give thought to the natural power of the earth and its implications," writes Caminada.

The vermillion sun disc is damaged. The folded part, a slighter darker red than the rest, seems to cast a shadow on the disc. The design also symbolizes hope. The missing part of the circle is indeed folded away, but it is not missing. The original state might be restored even if the scar remains.

The folded part is a simple image of the tsunami rolling in the same direction as the wave hit northeast Japan, but it is also a direct reference to the most famous Japanese print of all time created almost 200 years before by Katsushika Hokusai. "The Great Wave of Kanagawa" also known as "The Great Wave" represents man's struggle against nature to survive. The boats are built for speed to transport live fish as quickly as possible from surrounding coastline to the fish markets in Tokyo. Mt. Fuji can be seen in the distance.

The folded part in the design also represents a boat. If you superimpose the two images on top of each other, the folded section of the disc exactly fits the negative space created by the wave in Hokusai's print. The Japanese people will ride out this wave as they have many beforehand. They are a strong and enduring people.

Everybody, thank you for your help for the people of Japan!

Graphic tsunami video

I had never seen this video clip of the tsunami. People are yelling and crying "I can't believe it!" "No!" "This can't be!" The mist in the distance, as if the sea is on fire, is all that is evident at first of the impending wave of death. You can see the speed and the power with which it rips through town. People run for high ground. Some don't make it. At the very end at the left, a man in a blue jacket rushes down to help but is swept up in the wave probably never to be seen again. Warning: this video may be too graphic for many people. (It doesn't seem to work on iPads and some computers.)

Building Community through a Scarf

On March 10 and 11, we had the privilege of collaborating with Shannon Johnston, an artist working in Australia, for the memorial events in Japan. She brought with her an 80-foot scarf as shown in pictures below. It was great to see people group around and get involved in the project. Here is the artist's statement about the origins and purpose of the work:

"In response to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan of March 11, 2011 I started knitting a scarf.  A hand made scarf is an intimate gesture of affection.  Intimate due to the personal time invested in the making. Affectionate through the way it is worn, wrapped around the neck as if a hug.  Scarves by their nature and function insinuate warmth as well.  All of these were things I was feeling and hoping for the people of Japan.

Other artists, men, women, and high school students of all different social, religious, and economic backgrounds have contributed portions to the scarf.  As they knit, all of the contributors have been asked to knit their hopes, prayers, good thoughts, and love for the people of Japan into the scarf.  Some people have chosen to knit actual items into the scarf that symbolize these prayers, others have made metaphors through knitted wool, and others still have simply used the time knitting to reflect and pray.

This is an ongoing project, just as healing is an ongoing process and new knitters can join at anytime.  Although this project was conceived for Japan in response to events that happened, it is not intended to stay there.  It is my hope that each person or group the receives the scarf will then add to it and pass it on to someone else who needs prayer, comfort, hope, and encouragement." (Shannon Johnston)

One lady quietly knitting her prayers into the scarf on March 11.

The scarf is currently about 80 ft in length. How long will it one day be?

My first experience knitting!

A group of ladies getting into the project on March 10.

Shannon Johnston interacting with a Japanese lady as she adds on to the scarf on March 11.

Church Planting in Japan

Network, Mission to the World's magazine about work around the world, wrote an article about Japan entitled "Hope for Japan" in the Summer 2011 issue. If you would like to learn more about the growth of the church in Japan, this article is also worth reading. It also has many quotes of me in it...

Christianity Growing in Japan?

A friend just forwarded me this article by Christianity Today about Christianity taking off in disaster areas of Japan. "Tsunami Aftermath: Second Chances in Japan." I know and am connected with everybody quoted, and I think it is worth reading if you want to learn about church growth in Japan as a result of the tsunami.

Abi Speaks in Luncheon

On February 23, Abi Lowther was the guest speaker for Second Presbyterian Church's women's luncheon during the world missions conference. She told what those first few days were like after the earthquake and how many joined in the relief movement in Tokyo soon after the earthquake on March 11, 2011. Here is a link to the talk:

http://www.2pc.org/resources/audio-library/world-missions-luncheon-with-abi-lowther/