AGAPE visited Japan!!

AGAPE WORLD is the Christian Group working for the reconciliation between the former Far East Prisoners of War,their families and the Japanese people.During this time,Keiko Holmes,the founder of AGAPE brought 2 of the POWs;Ken(92),Sam(92) and the POWs' families to Japan from the 14th to the 29th of October.
They visited Mie and Hiroshima prefectures as the British POWs' camps during the WW2 were there.Kiwa- cho in Mie prefecture is Keiko's hometown.There is a lovely cemetery there.The villagers have been taking good care of it and always put flowers on their graves as they still remember and respect the British POWs.
Keiko got to know about the fact that many British soldiers had worked hard in a copper  mine which is near to her place. The camp had shortage of food as same as Japanese miners   even though the treatment there  was better than  the other camps in Japan. .Unfortunately 16  POWs  ended  up lost among 300 people   .She came to know about the fact  after getting married to a British man.
During these 20 years,she has brought 400 British to Japan and their hatred towards the Japanese faded away after  visiting the cemetery  and also  mixing with the  local people.They fully  understood about POWs` sufferings.Hence,they prayed together in the church and listened to their sad stories  with sympathy.

My husband and I welcomed them at the hotel of Tokyo on the night of  24th of October.They had completed their mission of their trip to  of South East Japan.
Actually,I've just returned back home from London on the 22nd of October.Our daughter gave birth on the 1st of October.I took care of her family for 3 weeks.

We were so happy to show our guests around and attending the events.I can daringly say that we managed to spend some precious time with them.

They told their stories in Sophia University （上智大学) in Tokyo and also at the church in Yokohama.

They definitely looked happier compared to  during our first meeting.
After they had left for their homes,Keiko told me that Ken wants to learn the Japanese language and also wants to visit Japan after 2 years.I hope Ken will not have any more nightmares while Sam simply loves Japan very much as he has already visited our country 5 times!

                                          Oct.26    Keiko is speaking  in Sophia University

Ken proved his experience in Taiwan

                                          Oct 26  Tokyo Tower  Unfortunately  we could not see Mt.Fuji.

                                                                    Sam and Ken

                                           Oct.27    The cemetery in Yokohama

                                                    Ken , his daughter and son in law

Ken put ten crosses and flowers for his fellow soldiers

                                                              Kate and Sam

John

Oct.28   at the church in Yokohama Ken and Sam proved

                                                Kate told  her grandfather `s story in Shanghai

                                                  Jhon told  his father in law `s story in Thailand

The priest apologized to Ken

Oct 28 in Kamakura

Jhon is eating Japanese noodles(Udon) at a shopping area in Tokyo

                                           

http://macromacrobiyoko.blogspot.jp/2012/01/udon-japanese-white-noodles.html

(Udon )