Nature heals cancer 56

Erica's mother determined that she did not want to take Chemotherapy. Due to Erica's connections her mother's treatment began being supervised in early July by a natural medicine doctor who had practiced it for over forty years.
He checked the condition of her blood and her vital organs. They gave advice about the food she should eat and how to eat it. The food consisted of brown rice, natural salt, miso, soy sauce,vegetables and fermented food. She was instructed not to eat meat, oils, fish, sugar, eggs, or animal protein. The food she was instructed to eat was organic with no chemical additives . She was told to chew each bite of food at least two hundred times before swallowing. They also instructed her to continue with the various compress treatments.
After she saw the doctor she became enthused and hopeful about her condition. In two weeks she became increasingly independent taking more care of herself without Erica's assistance in administering the various compress treatments.
She takes sauna three times per week. She walks regularly and her condition is improving. In her last check up with the doctor, she was told that her condition is improving steadily. You can see this improvement in her energy level, the almost complete removal of pain related to rheumatism (she no longer takes medication for rheumatism) and in the complete disappearance of her cough. The doctor reports that her vital organs are strengthening. She will continue on with these treatments. We are please for the natural way she is being healed. We applaud her for her courageous choice not to have chemotherapy. She reports that this is the happiest time of her life. She is thankful for the cancer because it has changed her lifestyle and her world view. According to the western doctor's predictions she should now be preparing to die. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Nature heals cancer 55

In April of 2008 Erica's mother, Akie Shinya was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma. She was told by doctors trained in western medicine, that if she did not take chemotherapy treatment she would only live for six months. If she took the chemotherapy therapy she had a fifty percent chance of living for another five years. The lymphoma had spread to her lungs and esophagus resulting in a nagging cough. She had also taken rheumatism medication for five years to reduce its pain.
On the 23rd of May Erica traveled from the states to Hiroshima where her mother lives and began to do natural therapy with her mother. It included natural or healthy eating and several specific natural treatments to strengthen her mother's vital organs. This included yam and ginger compresses, Japanese medlar or loquat and heat compress. At the same time she began to gradually reduce her rheumatism medication so as to be free of chemicals in her body.
Three weeks later her coughing began to change and increasingly became less frequent. Still she had severe pain in her body brought on by the reduction of rheumatism medication. Here you see Erica(right) her sister(left) with her mother in the center in early June of 2008 .

Aikido 54

What was amazing was the gentle approach of the the restraint. With just a flick of the wrist a young child could throw an adult! Below, Miwako is thrown to the floor in effortless fashion.
In so many ways the Japanese are concerned with the method or the "right way" to do things. I was impressed with their ability to find "the right way" to subdue. As Morihei Ueshiba, a master of Aikido stated, "to control aggression without causing any injury is the art of peace." This is the art of Aikido

Aikido 53

I had the honor of meeting my friends Hero and Miwako with their daughter Naomi. They took me to their Aikido class. There I was able to watch and learn about this Japanese martial art form.
Aikido is a martial art that does not damage or kill. It is not violent. It simply restrains and focuses on peace and harmony. Here the teacher is about to demonstrate a technique.

Masanobu Kimura 52

One of the great joys of my time here in Sapporo was meeting Japanese composer, Masanobu Kimura. He lives here in Sapporo and is a university professor who teaches composing. He is a very active composer and I now have several of his CDs. He has already collaborated with Erica and has turned one of her poems into a beautiful song.
He has also arranged three concerts for me and has assisted me in connecting to concert venues in other parts of Japan. His calm gentle manner is refreshing. His wisdom and musical expertise is impressive and his kindness to people, animals and the earth is instructive.

After concert fun 51

After the concert we were served various fruits and beverages and had informal conversations with each other. Music brought us together and deepened our connections with each other. Here you see the ones who stayed to the very end of the evening. I am looking forward to my next concert at Mahoroba scheduled for Saturday September 13, 2008

Concert at Mahoroba 50

We sang to a sold out crowd. As a result I have been invited to return to sing another concert on September 13.
It was a very moving event. I have never sung a concert where there were so many tears. The music connected across culture and language and touched our hearts. It once again confirmed my inner sense about the power of music.
We need more places like Mahoroba where people come together to learn how to live more meaningfully, spiritually and responsibly.

Making contact 49

Erica( on the right) assisted greatly by translating for me. I spoke and sang at this event. Here in these pictures I am singing a call and response song that involves the audience.
They were engaged and enthusiastic singers.

Akiko Watanabe 48

I had the honor of meeting pianist Akiko Watanabe when I heard her play in downtown Sapporo. I was so impressed that I asked her to accompany me on the concert at Mahoroba. She plays the piano with great care and sensitivity. I was fortunate to have found her.

Mahoroba 47

On August 23rd. I had the pleasure of singing a concert at Mahoroba in Sapporo. Mahoroba means a land filled with peace and bliss. Mahoroba is a comprehensive organic store that serves as a community center. They offer classes, workshops lectures and concerts to the public. I was honored to be invited there by Shuhei Miyashita who is the chief executive officer. Here you see Shuhei at his desk along with a picture of Mahoroba.