In a city where stress, overwork and culture shock are hourly occurrences, there is help in English. That's good news for anyone who's been driven to addiction. Other groups have adopted AA's steps by replacing references to alcohol with their own unique issue. They may go back to work through a particular step or steps again. What's so great about twelve-step programs is that they are not dependent upon one person to keep the group going.
People tend to rotate out of Japan after three years.
But the groups don't. They just get passed from member to member, continuing to be a vital part of the community. Many people who have never worked through a twelve-step program, or supported someone else working through a program, get a bit confused about the spirituality issue. There are indeed references to a higher power in the steps. The meetings Key to any twelve-step program is the meetings.