Hiroyoshi IgakiPastor of Karuizawa Kogen Church

As a pastor of a church I can return to at any time

I was appointed as the pastor of Karuizawa Kogen Church in the spring of 2008. Until then, I had been a pastor at churches in Tokyo and Kanagawa, but when I found myself thinking about my future, I learned that this church was looking for a pastor. This church has a strong history, having been founded as a result of the "Art Freedom Education Seminar" by Kitahara Hakushu and Shimazaki Toson, and has ties to the Christian thinker Uchimura Kanzo, and I learned that they expected me to play various roles, including Sunday worship. So I decided to take the plunge and move here to be looked after.

What I found unique after actually working there was the role of the "parsonage." A parsonage generally refers to the house where the pastor lives and the study where the pastor works, but at Karuizawa Kogen Church it is a little different. It is a place to communicate the history and activities of the church, and also a place of reunion for those who have been married at the church to reflect on their important day.

Karuizawa was once discovered by missionaries as a summer resort, and even today there are many churches scattered around. Tourists who enjoy touring the churches come to visit Karuizawa Kogen Church. I also greet them when I do so, and we talk about various things. It is truly an open place where anyone can gather and talk, regardless of ideology or religion. I really like this way of being.

The most memorable experience of "enjoying and learning about the forest" in the Karuizawa Hoshino area

To tell the truth, I studied forestry at the Faculty of Agriculture in my student days, so I have a little knowledge about forests, but the forest that spreads out on the hill where Karuizawa Kogen Church stands is a mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest, with a rich vegetation and a variety of creatures that you can encounter.

Karuizawa Kogen Church also holds evening weddings called "candle weddings," and one night this happened.

As I officiated as usual, the bride and groom seemed somehow unsettled. The guests were also restless, and their attention was not on the altar where the main character was, but on something higher up. Above the altar there was a large glass window cut to follow the shape of the roof, and beyond that was a lush expanse of greenery. Apparently, they saw a flying squirrel flying there. The flying squirrels in Karuizawa are big, and their flying scenes are very dynamic. Churches at night are usually enveloped in a solemn atmosphere, but on this occasion there were cheers and the atmosphere was peaceful.

We will continue to be a place of celebration together with the Hoshino area.

As the Karuizawa Hoshino area celebrates its 110th anniversary, I once again feel that I want the view of Karuizawa Kogen Church standing on top of a hill bathed in sunlight filtering through the trees to remain for a long time to come.

This church, with over 100 years of history, has been loved by people for creating bonds between generations, including holding weddings here for three generations. Although new facilities have been added to the area, we want to continue to bless people and be a weight that provides a source of comfort for people. We are always ready to welcome you, while preserving our history and traditions as an open church.