Tokyo, Japan | Northern Asia Pacific Division (NSD) On October 22-25, 2017 the Japan Union Conference sponsored a NEWSTART Experience Program in the Gunma Prefecture of Tonegun Minakami City. The beautiful Japanese hot spring and delicious vegetarian meals attracted dozens of participants. Despite the threats of a hurricane weather heavy rain stopped, and the group enjoyed the beauty of Autumn leaves. Dr. Miyagi Shizen, Health Promotion Department Director at Tokyo Adventist Hospital, was the speaker and shared the latest information on preventive medicine. The program ended on a high note with a special baptism ceremony for one of the participants and many attendees shared their testimonies of how blessed they were to be there. Yamaji Hiroshi, Director for the Japan Union Conference Health Department, shared that “this program is easy for people to invite their non-Adventist friends. They are eager to retreat to God’s natural environment from their busy and crowded city life in order to experience rest and restoration.”