More than 60 years ago, Japan missionary Roy Oshiro led Tomiko to the Lord on the island of Okinawa. Salvation decisions in Japan are always reasons to celebrate. In Okinawa’s culture of ancestor worship, people are not taught there is a Creator God, let alone about sin and the need for redemption.

Tomiko joined the small but steadily growing number of born-again Japanese as God slowly built His Church in Okinawa. However, Tomiko married an unsaved man, Shigemitsu, and they moved to an island with no church. Sadly, Roy no longer heard from her. However, with the Lord a thousand years are as a day (2 Peter 3:8). God was patiently working out His plan for not only Tomiko but also for her family.

Quietly behind the scenes, God moved Shigemitsu and Tomiko’s daughter Norimi to Okinawa where she was saved through the ministry of a Bible-teaching church on another part of the island. Norimi had raised her sons in her church’s Christian school and had been praying for her father’s salvation ever since her own. In 2013, having heard the story of her mother’s salvation, Norimi visited Roy in the hospital, where he was in declining health. Norimi told Roy and his daughter Joyce (also a BMM missionary) how thankful she was that he planted the seed of the gospel in her family. Shortly afterward, she brought her parents to the hospital to meet Roy. Although Shigemitsu was still unsaved, Roy and Tomiko had a tearful reunion as they thanked the Lord for what He had done.

It was Norimi’s cancer—stage 4—that finally touched her father’s heart spiritually. During their more frequent trips to Okinawa to visit Norimi, her parents visited Gushikawa Baptist Church where Joyce was still serving. Shigemitsu finally opened his heart, and Norimi was able to lead him to Christ.

After graduating from a US Bible college, Norimi’s son became an Air Force chaplain and was transferred to Okinawa in 2025 so he could be with his mother for several months. He not only preached an evangelistic service at Gushikawa Baptist Church, but he also arranged for his grandparents to come to Okinawa to be baptized— the church’s second baptism service in a month. Four days later, Norimi entered heaven.

The wait was long, but the Lord did not forget about Tomiko. Now, three generations of her family have followed Christ and are being lights for Him in a country that greatly needs the Lord. More reasons to celebrate!