By Fr. Andrew Chang, SDB

Tokyo, Japan, 31 August 2016 -- It's very exciting to climb the highest peak and sacred mountain of Japan, Mt. Fuji (3776 m). Thanks for the initiative of our extraordinary visitor three confreres of Tokyo - Chofu community (Cl. Joseph Hoa, Br. Joseph Takeshita and Fr. Andrew Chang) accompanied Fr. Klement on this carefully prepared adventure on August 30-31.

In spite of the passing typhoon n. 10 (international standard name: Lionrock) we went ahead with out plan: morning Eucharist celebrated in Yamanaka, FMA retreat house with 15 sister (location just at the foot of Mt. Fuji) and then started the ascent to the 5th Station (2300 m) by car (Br. Takeshita) and then by bus. First day evening we reached 8th Station (3400 m) before night spent in the mountain lodge of Ganso Muro. In the early morning next day we climbed up to the top of the sacred mountain but due to very strong wind (150 km/ hour) and ice cold weather we started almost immediately our return back to Yamanaka and Tokyo. Since the main climbing season is almost ended, there were not the usual crowds on the Yoshida trial, only smaller groups of Japanese and US or Canada climbers mixed with very few Chinese and Korean couples.

According our Extraordinary Visitor this climbing of the Japan Sacred Mountain Fuji (Fuji-San), a World Heritage Site, was meant as a pilgrimage at the beginning of the Visitation with a special intention to pray for Salesian consecrated vocation in Japan, especially for the Salesian Brothers.

Beyond the fantastic natural beauty of the dormant volcano mountain, the climbing experience for our small group was a good time of prayer, quite deep sharing-on-the-road and praising the Lord for the sun, for the wind and the clouds that we have seen not from below but 'from above' when walking beyond the 3500 meter altitude.

The climbing the sacred mountain and admiring the sunrise at Fuji-San (Mt. Fuji) is a one-for-life special experience. We give thanks to God and all who make this experience possible. And we continue to pray for Salesian consecrated vocation in Japan - especially for the Salesian Brothers!

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