Healing Touch Japan has experienced exciting growth since the first Healing Touch Program class offered in August, 2010. Since then, six Level 1 classes and three Level 2 classes have been offered across Ja- pan to over 125 students. From northern Tokyo to the southern island of Japan, Healing Touch classes have been coordinated at multiple universities, community centers and youth halls across the country.

Over the past year, the number of classes offered, variety of locations, and number of students attending each class has grown exponentially. In August, 2010, Rumi Hashimoto taught the first Healing Touch Level 1 class (entirely in Japanese) to 12 students in Gunma, Japan. In March, 2011, we expanded our outreach by teaching 34 students in three classes (including the first Level 2 Class) in Saga, Japan. The most recent journey to Japan in August, 2011, provided an enthusiastic reception and an opportunity to celebrate the first year of Healing Touch Japan. Traveling over 14,000 miles in 25 days, we taught five Healing Touch classes (three Level 1 and two Level 2) in three cities and four locations to over 80 students.

As we reflect upon our first year of teaching Healing Touch in Japan, we have been provided with many lessons and experiences which have helped to guide our path. Teaching Healing Touch in a different language and culture has given us the opportunity to experience, first-hand, the universal nature of this work. As Japanese students embraced the work of Heal- ing Touch, we were reminded of the innate capacity for human kindness that we all hold within us. Our ability to respect and care for one another, transcends history, background, language and culture. Throughout Japan, we will continue to hold the space for students on their path of Healing Touch as we stay grounded and present to allow the energy to flow, to provide a nurturing environment for learning, and to “just do the work”.

Looking ahead to our second year of Healing Touch Japan, we move forward with great enthusiasm and hope for the future. More classes are scheduled in Kyoto, Japan for January and March, 2012, including the first Healing Touch Program Level 3 class to be taught entirely in Japanese. Hashimoto will also be representing Healing Touch Program at the International Hiro- shima Caring and Peace Conference next Spring.

In support of individuals and communities who have been effected by the devastating earthquake, tsunami and recent typhoons throughout Japan, the Hashiba Institute has recently begun a “Healing Touch Japan” t-shirt fundraiser. Our goal is to raise funds to support the effected areas through the work of Healing Touch.

It’s definitely an exciting time for Healing Touch Program in Japan. The energy is there to support us and we are dedicated to doing the work to spread the light of Healing Touch.