“Kokoro Gospel: NEW SEASON” will take place on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Nakano ZERO Small Hall. Doors are scheduled to open at 6:30 PM, with the performance beginning at 7:00 PM.
The event will feature performances by Ai, Lumiere, Spring of Life, TrueVine, Gospel Seed, Plaisir, and Noah, presenting a program centered on gospel music sung in Japanese.
A paid online livestream of the concert is also planned. Further details and viewing tickets are available at the link below:
Thank you very much for your continued warm support and prayers.
We are planning a temporary return to Japan this July for Ms. Rutsu Maeda, a local staff member of the Cornerstone Cambodia Orphanage.
For this purpose, we need approximately ¥700,000 to cover expenses such as airfare, about one month of domestic living costs, and transportation. We would sincerely appreciate your generous support and prayers.
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How to Donate ▶︎ If you would like to support, you may donate via Congrant or transfer to the account below.
When making a donation, please kindly notify the Cornerstone Orphanage Office by email with the note: “For Ms. Rutsu Maeda’s temporary return”: (ishizue@athena.ocn.ne.jp）
Bank Transfer Mizuho Bank, Gotanda Branch Ordinary Account No.: 2069305 Account Name: Cornerstone Orphanage (NPO) If donating via bank transfer, please also send an email with the note above.
Postal Transfer Account No.: 00130-5-24249 Account Name: Cornerstone Orphanage (NPO) If using postal transfer, please write “For Ms. Rutsu Maeda’s temporary return” in the message section. ishizue@athena.ocn.ne.jp )
The winners of the “Kaze no Hibiki Vol. 13” Praise Song Awards have been announced as follows:
Grand Prix (Overall Winner) Shoko Sato
Best Praise Song Award Shoko Sato – No. 61 “Behold, a Door Standing Open in Heaven”
Outstanding Praise Song Award Shoko Sato – No. 12 “Proclaim the Good News”
Congregational Praise Song Award David Maeda – No. 7 “Sing to the Lord, All the Earth”
Excellence Awards (Praise Songs) Elisa Ota – No. 21 “We Give Thanks,” No. 3 “Praise Resounding in Heaven,” No. 10 “Jesus, You Alone” Shoko Sato – No. 2 “The One Who Comes After,” No. 40 “Offer Everything to the Lord,” No. 42 “The Word of the Lord Is with Us” David Maeda – No. 1 “In the Love of the Lord,” No. 19 “Before the Throne”
Israel (Migiwa) – No. 17 “This Battle Belongs to God” Noah (Terumi) – No. 43 “As a Witness” Kyoko Sada – No. 11 “The Glory of Revival”
Special Psalm Award Shoko Sato – No. 73 “Psalm 122”
Best Lyrics Award Shoko Sato – No. 12 “Proclaim the Good News”
Excellence Awards (Lyrics) Shoko Sato – No. 61 “Behold, a Door Standing Open in Heaven,” No. 20 “Stars in the Night Sky,” No. 40 “Offer Everything to the Lord,” No. 42 “The Word of the Lord Is with Us” David Maeda – No. 7 “Sing to the Lord, All the Earth,” No. 19 “Before the Throne” Elisa Ota – No. 21 “We Give Thanks,” No. 3 “Praise Resounding in Heaven,” No. 10 “Jesus, You Alone” Kyoko Sada – No. 15 “The Lord Is My Shepherd” Miyoko Kayano – No. 5 “Welcome Home”
On April 26, Ayu, Lumiere, and Joshua performed gospel music at a birthday celebration held at a nursing home in Tokyo. Approximately 70 people attended, including residents and their family members.
At the venue, flyers for the upcoming “Kokoro Gospel” concert on May 1 were distributed in advance to residents and their families. During the preparation time, video footage from the Kichijoji J.GOSPEL FES was also shown.
As the performance began, many in the audience listened with tears, deeply moved by the music. An encore—though not originally planned—was requested and performed. The organizers also expressed interest in hosting the event again in the future.
The Kichijoji J.GOSPEL FES 2026 was held at the outdoor stage of Inokashira Park on Saturday, April 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
A total of twenty teams belonging to The Vision took part in the event.
Blessed with beautiful weather, many people visited the park. Not only did people sit on the benches and listen, but many also stopped to listen to the gospel songs.
The event reached its peak during the finale song, “God is Love.” After the finale, there was a special time of praise by members of the Taiwan team, which drew even more people.
A staff member from the park management office also came to watch and said, “It was very lively. When will the next event be?”
The next event is scheduled to be held in November, when the autumn leaves are at their best.
In addition, many Kokoro Gospel flyers were distributed, and many people showed interest.
The exchange during the Taiwan mission team’s visit to the Miaoli County Government Civil Affairs Bureau on April 23 was posted on the bureau’s official Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17DmUSpPKW/
Once the singing began, the whole place fell silent— this was not a performance, but an encounter that touched the heart.
Yesterday in Miaoli, we experienced something truly special and moving. If you had been at the county government, you too would have stopped in your tracks, just as we did, drawn by the singing.
A pastoral team led by Paul Akimoto from Tokyo Antioch Church in Japan visited, and under the warm hospitality of Vice Magistrate Lai Hsiang-ling, a sincere and heartfelt time of fellowship began.
This was not merely a courtesy visit, but a blessing that went beyond language and national borders.
At first, we thought it would be a formal meeting, but what moved us the most were the two songs of praise you offered there.
Even without lighting or stage effects, once you began to sing, the entire space fell silent.
Your pure and powerful voices were clear, harmonious, and reached straight to the heart. It made us wonder, “Is this really live singing?” It is no exaggeration to say that you were truly professional.
At that moment, the difference in language no longer mattered. The music had already firmly connected Japan and Taiwan.
The most memorable part of this exchange was not its formality, but moments like these.
People from different cultures and backgrounds come closer through faith and goodwill, sharing moments that leave a lasting impression on their hearts.
In 2027, the Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held in Miaoli.
In our hearts, a small but sincere hope has begun to grow. Someday, we would love to welcome the members of Tokyo Antioch Church back to Miaoli, and on an even greater stage, share your beautiful songs with many more people, so that they may come to know your presence and be touched by your voices.
We are sure it will be another wonderful encounter.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who came from afar. You have brought great blessing and deep inspiration to Miaoli.
Some voices, once heard, remain in the heart for a long time. We sincerely look forward to seeing you again in the near future.
