A priest discusses the faith with Tokashi Kishi before his baptism.

Since his school years, Tokashi has been practicing various kinds of martial arts. In the process he started to gradually realize that the knowledge of fighting techniques and methods alone could not satisfy his desire to become really strong. This made him wonder where the strength comes from and who grants it as he felt it is not just the result of training and exercise. Muscles only serve as a gateway for the power, but not its source, which rather lies outside a person. Tokashi turned to the study of traditional Eastern religions, especially Buddhism and its teachings about life as a kind of road. Where does this road lead a person, and where is he going to get the strength to complete the journey? Tokashi had many good Buddhists teachers, but he never received clear answers from them. He turned to Christianity, about which he had read much in high school. But Christianity seemed to be just another religious and moral teaching that only offers a set of rules. It seemed to be quite similar to Buddhism.

The baptism of Tokashi Kishi.

After returning to Japan, Tokashi learned more about the teaching of the Orthodox Church; he also read the Orthodox Catechism in Japanese. The desire to become an Orthodox Christian overwhelmed him and became even stronger. He realized that the Lord Jesus Christ is the God Whom he sought and that He came to Earth for the salvation of everyone, including him—Tokashi Kishi. He is his God and Father, He gives him the strength and the Source of his life, both this life and eternal life.

Tokashi Kishi.

Remarkably, the Japanese fighter’s Baptism took place just before the visit of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to Japan. The first person to preach the Orthodox Christian faith in Japan one hundred and fifty years ago was St. Nicholas of Japan.

Let us hope and pray that the light of the Christian faith will continue to enlighten the hearts of those who seek the true God in Japan and all over the world.

Translation by Ksenia Dolgova