My Third Life

• Population: 4691 as of Feb. of 2016
• Town Office website: http://www.town.atsuma.lg.jp/ (you can click on the English)
• Every small town or village has one common theme: To increase or maintain the population. Many small towns have similar phenomenon: More older people, less youth. In order to keep the younger generation, they need to provide jobs. In order to provide jobs, they need to have investment on entrepreneurship.
• This town is located close to Tomakomai city. Tomakomai city is one of the major port city with lots of ships passing through. This is the 5th biggest city in Hokkaido. Therefore, it may be very convenient to live near by town like Atsuma town.
• The town office is promoting the new comers from other places by providing housing for young family, and support for those who come from other places. They pay for a part of the purchasing an used house or a land for a new house.

The following video is at the winter festival in Atsuma town:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray for the development of business start-up ministry who are called to help people to start a new business. This will help the town to develop and the whole town will welcome this type of ministry.
3. Pray for the Christian ministries to be developed in this town.

• Population: 17,924 as of Feb. of 2016
• Shiraoi town has large Ainu Tribal people. When Japanese government pushed Ainu tribal people near by into this town, they were forced to live in this town. It was because the Ainu people live in a small number at various places around this town. In order to control them easily, this town was started with lots of Ainu people.
• Now they have a museum for Ainu in this town. When we visited

  

  the library, they had whole section for Ainu related books. This collection provided us with lots of good information including Ainu awakening about 100 years ago. Some of them became a preacher after they graduated from the seminary. (On the right)　His name was Ega Torazo. He was baptized by John Batchelor an Anglican English missionary to the Ainu people of Japan.

• When you come into this town, the whole town is built upon some kind of different atmosphere comparing to other towns. Maybe because of how the town was started with Ainu people from different regions.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Ask the Lord to bring reconciliation between Ainu people and Japanese.
3. Pray for the Christian ministries to be developed.

• Population: 2665
• Town Office: http://www.town.sobetsu.lg.jp/english/
• Tourism Info: http://www.town.sobetsu.lg.jp/kanko/
• Sobetsu town is located near Lake Toya. There is a active volcano near by. When there is volcanic activity, there are lots of Hot Springs near by. Therefore, the Hot Springs are very popular.
• Because of the location, the tourism is very active. Toya Lake is very resourceful in supplying tourism related businesses although the agriculture is the main trust of this town.

The following video shows the scenery of Sobetsu in 4 seasons.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Since the typical church planting in a rural area would be very difficult, it would be great to start a house church. Please, pray for the house churches to be started in this area.
3. Self-sufficient missionaries are needed in order for them to sustain themselves in this small town. Please, pray for the new wave of self-sufficient missionaries would be sent to this town.

• Population: 4,233
• Town Office site: http://www.town.toyoura.hokkaido.jp/hotnews/category/20.html
• Toyoura town is a port city. It’s facilities are well developed. Beach area is also beautiful.
• The population is decreasing each year. The town has a program to invite people to live in their town or try to support those who decide to live in the town.
• It seems that they have developed nice supporting program so that people from outside can come to live in Toyoura town easily.
• So far, we have not found any Christian influence on this town yet. Nor any Christian existence.

This town has very unique event. It is ” world scallop fishing championship.” Maybe it’s because there was a boxing world champion from this town. Many people from this town were supporting the champion for a while during the champion was active. After their support for this champion was over, they created this championship since scallop is one of the main fishery in this town.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Work can be a main idol sometimes. They put so much efforts at the expense of their family sometimes. They put work as the number one priority in their lives, and it seems that work is an idol. Please, pray that they will find the Lord and put God 1st above all else.
3. Pray for the Christian ministries to be developed.

• Population: 4,128
• A overview of Shikabe town: http://www.town.shikabe.lg.jp/hotnews/detail/00000004.html
• Main industry is fishery.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Very small town but because of its compact size, it can be a good place to live. Please, pray that the missionaries would be called to come to this town.
3. Pray for break through in terms of reaching the people in Shikabe town.

• Population: 4515
• The Shinkansen (Bullet Train) will connect to this town on March 26, 2016. They are rushing to promote their town for the tourists from Honshu (main island of Japan). Lots of new events are planned and newly remodeled shops are everywhere specially near the JR station of Kikonai town.
• This year, they started to open the Roadside Station near JR station.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray that the Tentmakers who follow God’s call to a place where they are called to go, are to be sent by God for this land.
3. Pray for God’s sovereign intervention will take place in order for the souls to be saved.

• Population: 4658
• In this town, there were many martyrs in the history. Many believers fled to this town from Matsumae town where the leaders persecuted pronounced Christians. They were murdered by the government soldiers in this town.
• Whenever there is blood shed without sin, they shout from the land for justice. Their blood will never be in vain since their sacrifices will take effect on the lives of people.
• One of the policeman whose wife was a Christian came to the Lord through his dream. When I visited him while he was stationed in Shiriuchi town, he shared about his dream where he saw a man with bright white robe calling him to come. The man with white robe, stool above all kinds of idols, and asked him to come near to himself. Then he woke up. When I heard him share this, I knew God was calling him to the salvation. There I was privileged to share the Gospel to him, and there he accepted the Lord. He later transferred to Tokachi area where I lived, and began to attend our worship service in my home. He now lives in Asahikawa city serving God with other church. Praise God for that!! It was right here where he was saved!!

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray for the Martyrs’ shout would be affecting the town.
3. Pray for the spiritual awakening to take place in Shiriuchi town.

• Population: 8021
• Matsumae’s history goes back to 1600s where they started Matsumae Han(Group) with a castle.

  

  The castle lord had connection to the central government and began to control Hokkaido as a newly developed territory.There was regular transportation between Matsumae and Kyoto where the central governing entity resided. After establishment of Matsumae Han, it became main stream force to control Hokkaido. In those Matsumae Han control, there was persecution starting from Kyoto area against Christians counted about 700,000 believers in early 1600s. Many of them escaped from the persecution to Hokkaido as pure laborer to wash for gold. It is recorded about 50 to 70 thousand Christians came to Hokkaido at that time. 106 Christians were martyred at that time.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. This town also had martyrs. Please, pray for the resurrection power to be manifested in this town to overcome the traditions and fear of persecution or fear of rejection from others if they believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
3. Pray that any Christian ministry would be started in this town and it will continue generations after generations to serve this historical town.

• Population:5283
• Kaminokuni used to be a west side of coast line facing Japanese sea. This name continued to be used for this town’s name.
• From the history, they had a small fortress and in it, there were Ainu living together in the fortress.
• The following video shows the brief history and events of Kaminokuni town:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. From the persecution, pray that their faith will bring fruits in this town.
3. Pray for God’s intervention to break the wall that has been built against Christianity in this town.

• Population: 4160
• We could feel the presence of Ainu much in this town.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray for the reconciliation between Ainu and Japanese. Forgiving spirit would fall up on this land.
3. Permanent workers are needed here generations after generations. Please, pray for the length of Christian ministries to be declared.

• Population: 3969
• Otobe town has 5 spring water for people to get the fresh water from them. They are natural fresh water tested by the town making sure they are drinkable. They were maintained and developed in case of earthquake. When Okushiri Island had tsunami attack, Otobe town delivered fresh water to the Okushiri island for emergency water supply.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Otobe town has springs of water. Pray that the Gospel preached would be spiritual springs of water for this town, where people are drawn to them.
3. Pray that the people who are called to this land would be refreshed living here.

• Population: 2852
• Okushiri is an island west of Iburi area. There was earthquake about 20 years ago. From that, they rebuilt the town, specially the southern part of the island.
• My policeman friend was stationed in this island. Many fishermen suffered from the earthquake.
• Uni(Sea Urchin) is the representative specialty food here. But Uni is not caught year round.
• They even have Uni Ice cream with sea weed spoon.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray for the openness of hearts for the Okushiri people towards the Gospel.
3. Pray the awakening and the break through for God to work among them.

• Population:1569
• Shimamaki village is very small fishing village. Usually a village is smaller than a town.
• They invite fishing fans to join their trout fishing tournament.
• The names of villages and towns are from Ainu language because Ainu was here before Japanese came to Hokkaido.

Here are pictures of fall leaves in Shimakaki village:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray for God’s supernatural leading people to the Lord.
3. Pray for the evangelists and pastors are raised up from this village.

• Population: 3018 as of Feb. 2016
• This town is nicely maintained town. The impression about this town was very clean and orderly.
• The formation of this town centers around Japanese beech forest. Japanese beech can grow unto this town as north point limit.

Intro Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X74tEkcJctU

The following video is the beautiful scenery of Kuromatsunai:

Diamond Dust is only seen in Hokkaido when it goes close to -20 degrees in celsius:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray that God will prepare the hearts of people when the evangelists arrive.
3. Pray that God will show strategic way to approach this town.

• Population: 4912
• Rankoshi town has rice with their name as a brand.
• Like any other small towns and villages, this town also struggling with young people leaving the town looking for jobs.

Here is a video of festival at one of the Rankoshi street in 2011:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray for the awakening for this town.
3. Pray for the openness to the Gospel from the people in this town.

• Population: 5028
• Niseko is very famous for skiing. The international skiing area becomes very international in the winter since many skiers from other counties come and stay here during the season.
• Currently the foreigners numbers to 265 as resident as of Feb. 2016.
• When the winter season is over, the regular season starts and the population drops a bit.
• Niseko is near Mt. Yotei which is considered as Hokkaido’s Mt. Fuji. It has very famous resort area.

Here is the testimony of the people who were sent by God:

The following video is long and you can just go through them for the pictures:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Because of the international setting, it would be easier to interact with foreigners who may have faith in Christ. Pray that through these interactions, there will be openings for the Gospel to be shared.
3. Please pray that the beauty of the nature would speak to the hearts of the people in the land.

• Population: 6181
• Kyowa town was started from a factory commissioned from Tokugawa Shogunate.
• Here is the URL for the town office: http://www.town.kyowa.hokkaido.jp/index.html (You can choose English)
• Melon or Watermelon are very popular produce from Kyowa town.

This town has a Hokkaido horse race in their festival:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray for my relative who is a melon farmer. His wife is a Christian and she is the only one we know for a Christian in Kyowa. Pray for her strong faith to be a witness in her family and around her.
3. As we visit the relative of 2 generations, please pray for God’s grace to be present. And hopefully, there will be a chance to share the Gospel to our relative. Pray also that this Christian lady will be a key to this town for the Gospel.

• Population: 1748 as of Nov. 2015
• Tomari village has the only nuclear power plant in Hokkaido. Since the nuclear power plant accident about 5 years ago on March 11th, 2011, there has been lots of conflicts whether they should keep the power plant running or not. For a while, the power plant was stopped for safety assurance process. Hokkaido Electric Company has raised the price several times since then. This year, there will be free market for electricity business, and now we have choice which company we are going to choose for our electric supply.
• Tomari village is a fishing village. The village population grew for herrings fishing. Now the herrings are not showing up much. Therefore, the number of fishermen has been drastically decreased.
• They also had coal mime. Coal was the main heating resources for a while before kerosene was introduced. When coal is no longer in need, the population dropped very quickly also.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. The town was relying on coal mime before, when nuclear power plant was suggested in the place of coal mime, even though there were lots of oppositions to have nuclear power plant in the village, the local government decided to have nuclear power plant so that it will generate finances for the town. Please pray that the fear of accident may lead people to the living God and Savior.
3. Please, pray for the wisdom for any Christian who are called to this village to overcome the current difficulties like Joseph in Egypt.

• Population:925
• Whenever we visit this place, we see the trace of Ainu tribal people here. Once we tried to find a hot springs, there was a sign in Ainu, and we knew there are Ainu population here.
• Many people here are fishermen by living near the ocean.

The following video is just a driving record going through the national road passing the village and stopping by the roadside station:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. There has been discrimination again Ainu people in Hokkaido. Please pray for the Ainu to turn to the living God who can give heart to forgive and reconcile.
3. This particular area is a remote area from the cities, and it was necessary for Ainu to live away from many people for a quiet life. Please, pray for the redemption message would reach the hearts of people in Kamoenai village.

• Population: 2256 as of Feb. 2016
• Kotan in Ainu means the village of Ainu. Therefore, it is very obvious that Ainu village was here before.
• There is a place called Cape Kamui. Kamui in Ainu means gods. There seems to be strong Ainu connection in many important place.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray for the 1st Nation ministry to the native Americans in Montana state in America. They want to minister to Ainu in Hokkaido. One of the Cherokee Native Indian descendant came to visit us last year for spying out the land.
3. As we see in the history, there were known and professed Ainu Christians before, pray that the revival would take place among the Ainu people.

• Population:3305
• Fishery is the main industry. Specially fish eggs are very popular.
• Shinto shirine has deeply involved with festivals.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Shintoism seems to be very strong for this town. Please pray that the living God and trusting in Christ Jesus can free from sin and brings hope for the future.
3. Pray that the strong attachment with Shintoism would be broken.

• Population: 3421
• Fruits from Niki town are very popular. You can find the fruits farms near the national road. During the season, you can pay to pick the fruits and keep them within certain amount.
• The town was started by Mr. Niki from Tokushima prefecture. After their settlement, other group of people came to settle from Hyogo prefecture and Yamaguchi prefecture. There three prefectures are where they came from.

The following video shows some of the high light of the town and its tourist attractions:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Fruits are the main theme of the town. Please, pray that the works of God would bear lots of fruits in this town.
3. The grapes are also part of the fruits. Please, pray for the abundant harvests for this town.

• Population: 1161 (Including 55 foreigners) as of Feb. 2016
• They have unique Japanese drums as a part of culture.
• The only resort business, called Kiroro, has supported the village.
• One of the most beautiful villages in Japan.

This is the video of Kiroro Resort Skiing Area:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. One of the problems in a small village like Akaigawa village, is that there is no successor. Therefore, older farmers or fisherman retires without successor. This leaves the farmer or fisherman empty nested. Please pray that God would fill this empty places with mission-minded people with vision and purpose.
3. Pray for the renewing of Holy Spirit wok in this town for awakening.

• Population: 3145 as of Feb. 2016
• This town is known for its great water. The spring water runs 24 hours per day at the park/roadside station area. It was selected one of the best 100 spring water in all Japan.
• This town is located around Mt. Yotei which is called “Hokkaido’s Mt. Fuji.” The view of Mt. Yoteizan is spectacular as you see it while you are driving.

Here is the springs of water in Kyogoku town.

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Ps. 42:1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. Please, pray that people in this town would have hunger and thirst towards God.
3. Pray that from the thirst and hunger, God would reveal Himself to those who seek His face.

• Population:2244 as of Feb. 2016
• Located near Mt. Yotei, the view of the town looks great.
• Kimobetsu town is known for its mushroom. They have a mushroom soup served at the Kingdom of mushroom.

The following video shows local udon noodle made from potato starch:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray for the innovative approach to evangelism.
3. Pray that God’s demonstration of who He is through the nature.

• Population: 2088
• This village focuses on Lily garden where they sell or make the village road with Lily on the sideway. They call it “flower road.” The roadside station is centered around flowers. Village development committee studies about how to develop the village for the better. One thing they found to be good was to plant lots of flowers. And Lily was one of their pick.
• At festival, they sell Lily with affordable price.
• There is springs of water coming from Mt. Yotei. Basically the water is from the melting snow from the winter.
• This village was started from people from Kagawa prefecture and Fukushima prefecture.

The following video is from the bus going through the central town in winter season:

The following video shows the flower road with yellow lilies on the side of the road:

Prayer Points:

1. Please, ask the Lord of harvest to send His laborers into this town. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
2. Pray that just as the springs of water giving life to receive it, people would receive Jesus, who is the source of all life, into their hearts.
3. Jesus is the Lily of the valley. Pray that Jesus would be the center of this village just as they put lily in the center of the village for their future development.