In the aftermath of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, music had a healing power never dreamed possible. An electrifying sense of hope, almost tangible, wafted through the air. In those moments, beauty won over fear and despair.
“In what will remain one of the most significant firsthand accounts of 3/11 and the aftermath, Roger captures the residue of hope arising out of trauma.”
—Makoto Fujimura, artist
After a tsunami strikes the city of Kamaishi, Japan, a church finds their beloved piano upside down and covered in a big pile of mud and debris. Rather than throw it out, they decide to spend the enormous amounts of time and money necessary to fix it.
“Pippy will make you cry and smile all at the same time. A true story and a touching read. Don’t miss this one!”
—Byron Spradlin, president of Artists in Christian Testimony International
The Broken Leaf invites you to explore the beauty and gospel images found in Japanese art and culture. Through ten short meditations, discover for yourself just how God might be revealing his story in the everyday objects of your life whenever and wherever you may be.
“The Broken Leaf is a gem of a book. It shines the light of the gospel through different facets of Japanese art and culture. It is in itself a work of art.”
—Lloyd Kim, coordinator, Mission to the World
COVENANT
Symphony No. 5 in D Major ……………………………. Ludwig von Beethoven
Ruska (Colors of Autumn) ……………………………. Eicca Toppinen
Toccata & Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 ……………………………. J.S. Bach
Pastorale in F Major, BWV 590 ……………………………. J.S. Bach
Prelude & Fugue in E Minor, BWV 548 ……………………………. J.S. Bach
Fugue in G Minor, “Little” BWV 578 ……………………………. J.S. Bach
Chaconne in D Minor, BWV 1004 ……………………………. J.S. Bach
ROGER W. LOWTHER
Founder & Director, Community Arts Tokyo
International Coordinator, MAKE Collective
Director of Faith & Art, Grace City Church Tokyo
In 2011, Roger experienced first-hand the power of the arts to heal and build community in response to the triple earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Japan. The following year he started Community Arts Tokyo. Community Arts Tokyo hosts conferences, festivals, artist gatherings, performance parties, book and movie discussions, art exhibits, talks, panel discussions, and many other events.
Roger, Abi, and his four children live in a forty-story apartment building in downtown Tokyo. He has degrees from The Juilliard School and Columbia University and is pursuing a MA in Theological Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary. In his spare time, Roger loves to run, compete in shinkyokushinkai karate, backpack, make beer/cider/mead, and write.
