Letter from the Community Editor

Community. The word could cover everything, from tales of individuals weathering Typhoon Hagibis, to commentaries on issues within wider society itself. There are many articles I could have chosen to represent my section, but I have decided on two that reflect a more unorthodox side of Japan, about lesserknown groups that may surprise the reader: “Bad Guys Doing Good” and “In Jesus’ Name, (R)Amen.”

What would you do if you found out that your ALT was secretly a Stormtrooper from a galaxy far, far away? That is exactly who the villainous Mark Christensen—a.k.a. TB-21427—is in his spare time, raising money for charities and visiting children in hospitals. Members of Legions around the world build their own filmgrade Star Wars costumes from scratch, and Tokyo has a branch of its own. This article represents the community spirit at its finest—helping others. Follow Mark as he brings his volunteering efforts from the US to Japan, with and without a white helmet.

The second article explores a minority religion in Japan: Christianity. Erica Park gives us a crash course on the religion’s tumultuous history in the east, from merchants to martyrs, and finishes with an interview with a modern-day Japanese Christian. The anonymous interviewee relates the prejudice she faces because of her religion, both from her own family and complete strangers. But there is hope—slowly, her family and friends begin to understand, and the article concludes with them attending her Christian wedding. The bridging of cultural and religious differences is usually the domain of foreigners living in Japan, and vice versa, but Erica’s article reminds us of the other minorities in Japan who are often left out of the big picture. Community encompasses us all.

One of the ways we can form ties across our cultural differences is through sport, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed CONNECT’s Sports section every month. “The Longest Cross-Country Ski Race in Japan” follows a lone ALT overcoming the odds on the longest ski race of her life. Despite the language and cultural differences between her and her fellow racers, she felt united in the struggle and was urged onwards by kind race wardens, cheering spectators, and passing contestants. I was completely drawn in by her physical and mental journey, and almost fancied joining her on the icy Hokkaido tracks—almost.

Clare Braganza (Fukushima)