1The 24th JELCW Newsletter
No.161. October 15, 2020
Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church Women
1-14-14 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo 169-0072
Michie Nakahara, Publisher; Saeko Sawada, Editor
Overall theme: “Living Together in the Grace of God”
Subtheme: “Encouraging Each Other in Hope and Joy, We Work Together for Peace on Earth”
Scriptural Theme: “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him”—
Romans 6:8

Lord, Will You Touch Us?!

Pastor Satoru Tada
Hiyoshi Church
COVID-19 infection continues to spread. Responding to the request for restraint issued by
the government, quite a few Lutheran churches temporarily stopped holding services or congregating
there. Churches have managed to air their services online. Even though we can hear God’s words via
the Internet, still it is undeniable that COVID-19 has deprived us of opportunities to be invited tochurch and share blessings together. Without a good Internet connection, it is as if the connection to
the church has been severed. We have all suffered from the inability to assemble at church, haven’twe?
According to Dr. Juich Yamagiwa, President of Kyoto University (2014-2020), a
primatologist and anthropologist, humans are unable to trust others just by sharing the same sight andsound. Being at the same place and time, and experiencing the same smells, tastes and touch
together, which in fact we cannot share, humans are able to trust others.
Living in modern society, we in Japan have tended to be timid of touching and being
touched by others from long before the pandemic began. The outbreak of COVID-19 has revealed
that there seems to be an invisible wall that separates us from others. Jesus Christ first touched theweary, people with burdens, or those suffering from illness, before He spoke to heal them. His handson them communicated His warmth and kindness. His words are not just words, but actuallyencouragement and power for living. The words of Jesus touch us even in the physical senses that
may not be normally shared among each other.
May Jesus touch you when you are not able to get in touch with people.

2

East District Women’s Group (EDWG)
Together As One
Naomi Ichikawa, Chairperson
When we were about to start activities in the 3rd year of the 24th term, we were forced tocancel everything due to the spread of the COVID-19 infection. Under such circumstances, EDWG’snewsletter Rose of Sharon was published in April, reporting on various topics such as thechairpersons’ meeting in the previous fall, some opinions from the questionnaire that had been taken
by EDWG, the committee members’ situations, and the problems we currently face. The next
newsletter will be published in fall, in which I would like to make EDWG more familiar to themembers and hope that they will agree to work together so that EDWG will be connected to society
and will continue to exist.
We had no meetings in May and June, but in July, we tried remote meetings, and theconnection was finally made on the screens of our mobile phones after a trial-and-error process. We
were happy to see each other on phone screen after a long time. The meeting did not go as smoothly
as an in-person meeting might, but this inconvenient
opportunity has given us a chance to learn a new way ofconnecting with other members.
The women’s groups of each area could not holdmeetings. Some churches stopped services, which made us
realize how blessed we have all been in past days. We thinkof and pray for the sick and for the current victims of natural
disasters.

Online board meeting, July

Tokai District Women’s Group (TDWG)
Going on with strength in God’s grace
Shigeko Sakai, Chairperson
We issued our newsletter Agapanthus in February this year, in which we reported ardent
opinions from attendees of the chairpersons’ meeting held last year, and issues each church wasfacing and struggling with. We want everyone to feel connected through Agapanthus.
We planned to have a gathering at Nagoya Megumi church in May, asking Pastor Tokuhiro

3to be our lecturer. He returned from Brazil, and we were looking forward to hearing about his
missionary works there. However, because of the state of emergency declared due to COVID-19, we
postponed the gathering until October.
We were finally able to hold our board meetingin July. Pastor Ozawa from Nagoya Megumi Church,
who became in charge of TDWG, was present. After
discussion, the October gathering was cancelled due toconcerns about the spread of the infection. Thus, thewomen’s groups were not able to be active.
So, in the October edition of Agapanthus, wewill share how everyone of the district lived out theirfaith during the time of self-restraint.
We want to go forward with God’s grace as ourstrength, despite the concerns associated with decliningand aging membership.

At the Board meeting in July withPastor Ozawa

West District Women’s Group
Role of Women’s Group
Sumie Kuniyoshi, Chairperson
While a state of emergency was in effect, Pastor Mizuhara, the head of the West District,sent out “A Joint Prayer” following the Lord’s Prayer every week. As our women’s group also
wanted to join in these prayers, we sent a simultaneous email via our group Line “Western Wind.”
We apologize that we were unable to send many of thesimultaneous e-mails due to problems with the e-mailenvironment of my place, however.
Under such circumstances, we took an online survey
regarding the postponed district meeting, a way of choosing new
executive members, and our visions for a women’s group.
Among the answers concerning the future, somesuggested that the group should think of new ideas to haveworking women and the young feel like joining the group. It wasalso suggested that a new way of life is needed in the church.
Others are concerned that the Women’s Group may not be able toexist as an affiliate of the Church if the Church’s existence itself
is in jeopardy.

A message on a church benchasking social distancing
saying, ‘Welcome back.’(Shimonoseki Church)

4Looking back at the origin of the group and facing realities, we want to work for theevangelical mission of each church. For that purpose, we hope that every one of us can bestrengthened and encouraged to help each other invite new members to church.
I hope that we will be able to hold the once postponed district meeting in October. As I don’tknow how to use the Internet, I am looking for a person who can make good use of online and othernecessary technologies.

Kyushu District Women’s Group (KDWG)
Beyond Human Thoughts
Miho Hirayama, Chairperson
Investigating facilities to which the JELCW could send gratitude donations this term, wehave had annual meetings with the Kumamoto District Women’s Group in the fall.
We prepared for a gathering in which to learn about “Fellowship of the Little Lambs” thisyear, hoping that the COVID-19 infection would end, but unfortunately, we had to cancel thegathering. It is not easy in these days to draw a line between “normal time” and that of “emergency.”
Yet I believe we are always in God’s blessing, both in good times and in bad.
The 5th newsletter, Michishirube (guidepost), of this term was published in July. In responseto the activity goal, we reported ‘the sharing of divine grace with the elderly.’ Answering to thequestion ‘what is church to you?’ some sent us very serious and honest messages.
Trying to widen and deepen communication
among the members in the newsletter, we also
introduced each group’s everyday activities as well as
their peace studies and testimonies of faith.
The disaster of the heavy rains this summer washeartbreaking and we received prayers and support fromacross the nation. The executive committee for thepostponed JELCW’s annual meeting was set up in July.
Your prayers have enabled us to keep on walking.
We have clearly understood that God’s
blessings are realized when we humbly and warmly
receive and embrace people’s thoughts.

Visiting Akune Church in March5Feature Articles=Nuclear Power Plants and the Aftermath of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station Accident=
Ten years will have passed next March since the Great East Japan Earthquake and theaccident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. We look at issues of nuclear power
generation and people struggling to restore a bit of calm to everyday life. What can, and should, wedo?
The Issue of Nuclear Power Generation is a Challenge of Faith
Pastor Shingo Naito, Minoridai Church
The nuclear power problem is not a difficult issue to discuss. The ethics committee wasbehind the Germany’s decision to opt out of nuclear power generation. Of all others, the committee
argued that major accidents can and do happen and the downsides are more significant than theadvantages. Moreover, even if there is no accident, leaving radioactive waste for future generations isethically problematic. Three out of seventeen committee members were Christian leaders. The issue
is a challenge of faith for us Christians in Japan as well. Let us see what else is being questioned.
First, we look at uranium mining sites. There remain slagheaps of dug-out earth from whichradioactive substances have run out. Those substances affect not only the miners’ health but also theecosystem of the area. Secondly, we see the problem of discrimination. Nuclear power plants areconstructed in poor areas far away from big cities with the expectation of hiring laborers who are noteager to work at the plants, yet they have no other choices. There is no secure ‘threshold level’ fromradiation exposure. Only people in need take this risky job. Our government admits the possibility ofa nuclear accident. And there is the matter of life (Life Issues). The ICRP (International Commission
on Radiological Protection), which was established to protect nuclear industries, does not admit there
is such a problem as low dose internal exposure. However, many experts voice an opinion different
from that of the ICRP, as do many ordinary people as well. Moreover, there is the issue of peace.
Advocating the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the Japanese government has reasoned in the Dietthat the possession of nuclear weapons for Defense is legitimate and does not violate the constitution(Article Nine). Amid all of this, it is already proved that we have enough power without nuclear
energy. It is good for power companies to supply safe and peaceful electricity which serves thepurpose. I would appreciate it if you would use my book Kirisutosha toshite genpatsu odookangaeruka (How to Think of Nuclear Power Plants as a Christian) as a reference book, which isinexpensive and well-read in various denominations.

6

Lastly, this spring, some (Buddhist) priests and other religious people like me filed a lawsuit
to abolish the nuclear fuel cycle business,
the worst nuclear problem of all (Search theInternet as ‘Religious People Nuclear Fuel
Cycle Case’). The straightforward petition
we presented to the court is an epochmaking one referring not only to technicaltheories but also ethical issues. Will you
read this as well? (Purchasable upon request
Religious people nuclear fuel cycle caseto Pastor Naito.)press conference on March 9th, 2020

All Lives are Connected to the Ocean– We Who Resist the Discharge of Contaminated Water –Terumi Kataoka,
Citizens’ Council for the Prevention of Further Marine Contamination
When cooling water to cool fuel debris caused by the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power Station gets mixed with underground water flowing into reactor buildings,
approximately 200 tons of contaminated water increases daily and currently some 1.2 million tons ofpolluted water is stored in about 1,000 large tanks.
The Japanese government and TEPCO claim that the water will be safe and harmless whenprocessed by ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System), except for tritium. Currently there is no
more space to build tanks. Therefore, the Japanese government and TEPCO are planning to discharge
the processed water into the sea over approximately 30 to 40 years starting in the summer of 2022.
However, the density of 70 % of the water in the tanks exceeds standards of 62 radionuclides,reaching 20,000 times of the standard maximum level of safety. The Citizens’ Council for thePrevention of Further Marine Contamination lobbied and petitioned the local council. Twenty-one
local councils out of fifty-nine municipalities anonymously adopted opinion calling for onshore
storage. Also, a special resolution strongly opposing discharging polluted water into the sea wasanonymously adopted both at the General Meetings ofFukushima and the National Fishermen’s Associations.
On July 23rd, forty members of The Citizens’ Council
made ‘Marine Day Standing’ near Onahama port, where they
handed out 300 flyers in less than two hours. They soon startnegotiating with the government on holding public hearings forordinary citizens.
Marine Day Standing

7

Supporting Each Other from the Same Standpoint –Chikako Chiba, Secretary-general,
Group Hydrangea, Thyroid Cancer Support Group
Group Hydrangea was founded in 2016 by families affected by childhood thyroid cancer,patients, and supporters. Since then, having received warm support from many organizations andindividuals, we regularly exchange information, provide medical consultation, cooking classes,exercises, and lectures. A thyroid cancer evaluation meeting was held on June 15, where 240 persons
were reported to have, or be suspicious of having thyroid cancer, and 195 persons who had
undergone surgery had been diagnosed with cancer.
Families suddenly diagnosed with cancer are full of surprise and confusion.
Both the national and prefectural governments say that the onset of cancer has nothing to do withradiation exposure (there is no causal relationship). Some professionals (experts) say that the cancer
is so ‘mild’ that no medical treatment is required. Patients say that they ‘want to know the cause ofcancer,’ and ‘think that, because the government has a national policy to promote nuclear power
generation, the government also has the responsibility to investigate the possible connection withcancer and make it public.’ We could find out some new facts through working together. Problems
such as cancer recurrence, difficulty of going on to higher school and lack of opportunities for
employment have been revealed. After thyroid examination, when patients are over 18 years old, as
medical expenses are to be covered by insurance, there is a system in which the prefectural
government provides support for individual expenses. We together submitted an improvement
request to the Fukushima Prefectural Office concerning the discovery of patients who were excluded
from this support, the improvement of unreasonable systems, and a review of the reduction of thyroid
cancer inspections. This was the first time that patients and their families had faced county officials.
We keenly feel the importance of peer support, that one’s experience can help other patients. We arevery concerned that the spread of COVID-19 infection and the Tokyo Olympic Games etc. push thenuclear power plant issues aside and cloud them. Fukushima Prefecture is (still) under a declarationof ‘a state of nuclear emergency.’