大好きな2人のこと、記念にここで少しだけシェアさせてください。

私の父は、コワモテでやくざみたいな外見で、空手が強くて、とっても頭がいい、尊敬する父です。

正義感があって、理不尽なことと、弱い立場の人が虐げられることが大嫌いだから、

力があって不正を行う人や、困っている人・弱い立場の人を顧みない人とは、よく闘っていたと思います。

父は発展途上国に行って工業面で人々を助けたい夢がありましたが、祖父が建て上げた建材会社を手伝って欲しいと言われて、その夢を手放し大学を中退しました。そして、その会社はバブルの崩壊で倒産の危機に遭い、多額の借金を背負いながら父がその会社を引き継ぐことになりました。1人で関係各社に頭を下げて周り、どんなに苦しくても、いつも社員の給料を最優先にして、公明正大を貫く姿勢を覚えています。神様の恵みのストーリーがここでもたくさんあります。雪の降る季節は早朝に起きて、ショベルカーで近所の高齢者の家や教会、バス停の雪を掻き、見えないところで働いてくれていました。

苦労人の父は、突然病に倒れてしまいました。

晩年の彼の夢は、苦労した地を離れて、穏やかに農業や釣りをして生活することでした。

私の友人は、油絵の画家で、優しくて芯のある性格が、その絵にも表れていました。

いつも他の人のことを気にかけてくれて、穏やかで、笑顔がキラキラして、時々面白いツッコミを入れてくる素敵な子。

彼女の夢は、聖書の風景を描いて、その絵に聖書の言葉を添えて、愛する神様の世界観を伝えるために用いられることでした。

しかし、2人とも突然にがんの宣告が告げられて、闘病生活が始まりました。

大好きな2人を思いながら、祈る日々の中で、あるメッセージを聞きました。

私たちの周りには、まるで蛇のような問題や病、死に直面することがあって、それがかみついてくるような時があります。しかし、そんな状況の中で、神が求めておられることは何か。それは、「神を見上げること」です。

旧約聖書に書かれた「燃える蛇」は、新約聖書で「イエス・キリスト」のことだと解説されています。

イエス・キリストは、すべての人々の痛みや傷、病、罪と死をその身に負って十字架に架けられ死なれました（イザヤ書53章）。

そのイエスを見上げるとは、その方を信じ、その方に、その事実に希望を持つことです。

このメッセージを聞いてできた曲が青銅の蛇です。この曲は、父が天に召される前日に完成しました。

その１週間前、レコーディングの日に突然私の体調が悪くなり、Friends Church Internationalの皆さんにお祈りしていただきながら、咳をしながらも録音の1時間だけ奇跡的に咳が止まって、ようやく録音したものでした。

とても苦労した父は、イエス様に「おつかれさま。よく頑張ったね。ゆっくり休みなさい。」と労われていると思います。

友達はその2ヶ月後に、天に召されました。彼女の笑顔を時々思い出しては、優しい気持ちになります。

私もいつか天でみんなに会うその日を楽しみにしながら、

今生かされている恵み、この命をイエス様と共に、精一杯感謝して生きたいと思います。

父の葬儀の日の朝、澄み切った空でした。父の会社の前にて。

“The Bronze Serpent” — A Song from My First Solo Album

Please enjoy the beautiful violin performance by Aika Ōshima, whom I met through the Hello Jesus Festival — the encounter that led to the creation of this song.

This time, I would like to share the story behind the song.
It was written as I prayed for my father and a dear friend, both of whom were battling illness.

I would like to share a little about these two precious people in memory of them.

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About My Father

My father had a stern look — almost like a yakuza — but he was strong in karate, extremely intelligent, and someone I deeply respect.
He had a strong sense of justice and couldn’t stand unfairness or seeing vulnerable people being mistreated.
Because of that, he often stood up to powerful people who acted unjustly or ignored those in need.

He once dreamed of going to developing countries to help people through industrial work.
However, when my grandfather asked him to help with the family construction materials business, he gave up that dream and left university.
Later, the company faced the collapse of Japan’s economic bubble and severe financial difficulties, and my father inherited the business along with a heavy debt.

I remember how he went around bowing to partner companies, prioritizing his employees’ salaries above his own comfort, and staying upright and honest no matter how hard things got.
Even there, God’s grace was always at work.
During snowy seasons, he would wake up early to clear snow from elderly neighbors’ homes, our church, and bus stops with a shovel car — quietly serving behind the scenes.

After a life full of struggles, my father suddenly fell ill.
In his later years, his dream was to leave behind his difficult past and live peacefully, farming and fishing.

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About My Friend

My friend was an oil painter — gentle yet strong in spirit, something that shone through her art.
She always cared for others, had a bright, sparkling smile, and occasionally made funny comments that lightened every conversation.
Her dream was to paint biblical scenes, add Scripture verses to her works, and express God’s love and beauty through her art.

Then, both my father and she were suddenly diagnosed with cancer, beginning their battles with the disease.

As I prayed daily for these two beloved people, I heard this message:

The Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.”
— Numbers 21:8

There are times when we face problems, sickness, or even death — as if we are bitten by serpents.
But in those moments, what God asks of us is simple: to look up to Him.

The “bronze serpent” in the Old Testament points to Jesus Christ in the New Testament:

“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
— John 3:14–16

Jesus Christ bore all human pain, wounds, sickness, sin, and death upon Himself on the cross (Isaiah 53).
To “look up to Jesus” means to believe in Him, to trust in His truth, and to find hope in what He has done.

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The song “The Bronze Serpent” was born from that message.
It was completed the day before my father went to heaven.

A week earlier, on the day of recording, I suddenly became ill.
While my friends at Friends Church International prayed for me, a miracle happened — my coughing stopped just for that one hour of recording, allowing me to finish the song.

On the morning of his passing, my sister played the completed track beside my father’s ear.
I believe that Jesus welcomed him with the words:

“Well done. You’ve worked so hard. Now rest in peace.”

Two months later, my dear friend also went to heaven.
I still think of her smiling face from time to time — it always fills me with warmth.

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Neither of them experienced physical healing on this earth,
but because they believed in Jesus, they received eternal life.
Now they are both with Jesus in heaven.

As for me, I look forward to the day when I can see them again.
Until then, I want to live this life — this precious gift from God — with gratitude and with Jesus by my side.

The morning of my father’s funeral — the sky was perfectly clear.
Taken in front of my father’s company.