Bro Dominic Savio Dao An Phuoc, OMI – My name is Dominic Savio Dao An Phuoc. I am a Vietnamese seminarian of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. My journey with Japan began ten years ago, when I first came here as a technical intern trainee. Ten years later, God gave me the opportunity to return to Japan, this time as a seminarian.

During this one year in Japan, I had many opportunities to study Japanese, live with the Oblate community, meet many people, and learn from different experiences. Looking back on this year, I can see many ways in which God has guided and blessed me. In this article, I would like to share some of my experiences and memories from this special year in Japan.

Part 1: Returning to Japan After Ten Years

Ten years ago, I first came to Japan as a technical intern trainee. During those three years, while working, I also served at Mass at Minami Kasuya Church and Yoshizuka Church. I lived my faith together with the people in the churches. At that time, Father Bernardo and Father Furukawa were serving in these two churches.

Every Saturday and Sunday, the priests invited me to Yoshizuka Church. I helped at Mass and spent time with the people in the church. These moments are still precious memories in my heart.

A little before I finished my technical internship, Father Bernardo looked for information and the address of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Vietnam and introduced the congregation to me. About four months after I returned to Vietnam, I joined the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Then, I studied philosophy for three years.

After finishing my philosophy studies, I asked my provincial superior for permission to do an internship in Japan. My request was accepted, and I was able to come to Japan again.

Ten years ago, I came to Japan as a technical intern trainee. This time, I came back to Japan as a seminarian. With gratitude for the wonderful way God has guided me, I began a new year of formation and experience in Japan.

Part 2: Six Months in the Koga Community

The first place where I lived in Japan was the community in Koga City, Fukuoka Prefecture. In this community, I lived with six brothers from five different countries.

The community leader was Father Bradly from Sri Lanka. The other members were Father Bernardo from the Philippines, Father Maher from the United States, Father Samith from Sri Lanka, Seminarian Prasanna from Sri Lanka, and me, from Vietnam.

Every evening, I went for a walk along the beach with Father Samith and Prasanna. While walking, we talked about our countries, cultures, and daily lives. It was a very enjoyable and warm time.

We came from different countries and cultures. However, as members of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, we shared the same mission and lived together with the same spirit.

The time I spent in this community was a very important part of my life. I will always keep these memories in my heart.

Brother Yagi, the provincial superior, made a one-year plan for me. During the first six months, I studied Japanese at a language school. During the next five months, I visited different communities and lived together with the Oblate priests and brothers.

During the first six months, I studied Japanese at Fukuoka International Language Academy. I studied together with Seminarian Prasanna from Sri Lanka.

Every morning at 6:45, I joined Mass in the community. After Mass, I had breakfast and prepared to go to school. Every morning, I went to school by train with Prasanna.

There were fifteen students in my class. They came from different countries, such as Nepal, China, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Among them, there were many students from Nepal.

Studying Japanese was not easy. However, with the help of my teachers and classmates, I was able to learn little by little, day by day.

These six months were very important to me. I learned Japanese and became able to communicate with people in Japanese. I also had time to prepare for my visits to the different communities.

At the same time, by living together with the Oblates in Japan, I learned more about the spirit of the congregation through daily community life.

Part 3: Five Months Visiting Different Communities

During my one-year internship in Japan, I spent the first six months studying Japanese at a language school. During the next five months, I visited different communities.

In each community, I experienced the work and activities of the priests and brothers.

Toyohashi Community

The first community I visited was Toyohashi. Toyohashi City is in the southeastern part of Aichi Prefecture.

There were three members in the Toyohashi community. The community leader was Father Jude from Sri Lanka. The other members were Father Howard from the Philippines and Father Samith from Sri Lanka, who had recently come to the Toyohashi community.

Many foreign Catholics come to Toyohashi Catholic Church. In particular, there are many people from Vietnam, Brazil, and the Philippines.

Father Jude is a very cheerful and friendly person. While I was there, I helped take care of the garden and plant trees. I also cleaned a storage room together with people from Brazil and spent time with young Vietnamese people.

After dinner, we often watched TV together and talked about what happened during the day, our work, and our plans for the future. It was a very enjoyable and memorable time.

One day, Father Jude told me, “English is a language that is widely used around the world. If you work in Japan again in the future, I am thinking about sending you to the Philippines or Sri Lanka to study English.”

There are many foreign Catholics at Toyohashi Church. Therefore, Mass is celebrated in different languages on Sundays, such as Japanese, English, and Portuguese.

Once a month, a Vietnamese priest also comes to the church and celebrates Mass in Vietnamese.

Naruto Community

The next community I visited was Naruto. Naruto is a quiet city in Shikoku. It is famous around the world for the Naruto whirlpools.

The whirlpools are a natural phenomenon that can be seen in the Naruto Strait.

There were three members in the Naruto community: Brother Yagi, the delegation superior, Father Steve from India, and Father Tharanga from Sri Lanka.

While I was there, I helped clean the garden and cut tree branches.

Father Steve takes care of Anan Church and a kindergarten. Anan is a little far from Naruto, and it takes about one and a half hours by train.

Sometimes, I went to Anan Church with Father Steve and helped clean the garden.

The weather was very hot, but working together and talking with each other was a very good experience for me.

In Tokushima, Brother Yagi also took me to many different places. One of the places that impressed me most was a museum about Awa Indigo.

Awa Indigo is one of the traditional crafts of Tokushima Prefecture.

While looking at the old tools and exhibits, Brother Yagi explained many things to me. I learned that making beautiful indigo-dyed cloth takes a lot of time and effort. First, people grow and harvest the indigo. Then, they make the dye and use it to dye the cloth.

Every step requires patience, careful work, and love for the work.

One experience that I remember especially well was making my own handkerchief with indigo dye. With the help of a staff member at the museum, I dyed my own handkerchief.

When I opened it and saw the blue and white pattern, I was very happy and moved.

That handkerchief was not only a souvenir. It became a very special memory that I will never forget.

Brother Yagi also took me to a special place where I could feel God’s presence more deeply. It was Jintsu Waterfall.

Jintsu Waterfall is a beautiful waterfall surrounded by the rich nature of Tokushima. The water falls about 30 meters into a clear pool below. The place is very quiet and cool.

When I stood in front of this beautiful nature, my heart became peaceful, and I felt very relaxed.

The sound of the waterfall and the quiet forest gave me time to stop and think. In the middle of my busy days, I could quietly feel the beauty of the world created by God and His presence.

I spent one month in the Naruto community. After that, I went to the next community and continued my internship.

The next community I visited was Itami.

Itami Community

In Itami, I was happy to meet my close friend, Seminarian Prasanna, again.

There were two priests in the Itami community: Father Wency from the Philippines and Father Iru from India.

Father Iru is pastor and also takes care of a kindergarten in Itami.

Every morning, I went to the kindergarten with Prasanna. I played with the children and experienced the daily work of the kindergarten.

After dinner, we often went for a walk together. We talked about what happened in the communities we had visited and shared the things we had enjoyed.

It was always a very enjoyable time.

Finally, I visited the Kochi community.

Kochi Community

Kochi is a beautiful city surrounded by mountains and the sea. It has a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

Kochi is famous for a local food called “Katsuo no Tataki,” a dish made from lightly grilled bonito.

There were three priests in the Kochi community: Father Furukawa, Father Hiran from Sri Lanka, and Father Novotny from the United States.

Father Novotny taught at Kochi University. He is now involved in the Pro Life Ministry and lives in a house near the university.

Father Furukawa takes care of a kindergarten in Kochi. Every morning, I went to the kindergarten. I played with the children and ate lunch with them.

The children were very cute. When I spent time with them, I felt as if I had become a child again.

Father Novotny took me to some places of traditional culture in Hidaka Village.

First, we visited a traditional blacksmith’s workshop. They make traditional tools such as knives, scissors, hoes, and sickles.

After that, we visited Kiriyama Tea Farm. There, I learned about growing, processing, and roasting tea. I also had the chance to make my own paper tea box, roast tea, and taste the tea. The tea box I made myself became a special souvenir for me.

Then we visited a traditional Japanese paper workshop in Ino Town.

To make beautiful Japanese paper, people remove the bark from trees, put it in water, boil it, wash it, make it white, and take out the fibers. I learned that only about four percent of the best fibers are used to make the Japanese paper. I also had the chance to make Japanese paper myself.

Father Novotny then took me to Nagoe Chinkabashi Bridge.

This low, narrow, concrete bridge is built on rivers, so when the water level becomes high during a typhoon, water can flow over the bridge. It is designed in this way so that it is less likely to be damaged by heavy rain or floods. There are over 90 of these in Kochi Prefecture’s many rivers.

Part 4: Looking Back on One Year of Internship

After finishing my one-year internship in Japan, I am deeply grateful to God for His great blessings.

Ten years ago, I came to Japan as a technical intern trainee. This time, I was given the opportunity to live in Japan again as a seminarian.

Although it was the same Japan, I experienced my daily life with a completely different heart from ten years ago.

Every meeting and every experience became a precious gift from God.

I was able to study Japanese and live together with the priests and brothers in many different communities. In every community, I was warmly welcomed, and I learned many things.

Through Japanese culture and my meetings with many people, I was also able to learn little by little what is important for me as a missionary.

During this year, there were not only happy and enjoyable moments. There were also some difficult times.

In particular, studying Japanese was not easy. However, with the support of many priests and brothers, teachers, and friends, I was able to move forward step by step.

I am sincerely grateful to all of them.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Brother Yagi, the delegation superior, all the priests in the communities, my teachers, and everyone I met during this year.

Thank you very much for supporting me throughout this internship in Japan.