I'm a bit late posting this story, but I just got the photos from Akiko Sato, the person who did most of the legwork for this project.
On December 17, I got an email from Mami Sato (don't know if she's related to Akiko. Don't think so) asking if I would be Santa Claus for her Happy Japan Project's Christmas Party for the mentally challenged children in an institution in Hino, a suburb of Tokyo. Of course I said, yes.
I met Mami earlier this year. She lost her leg below the knee to bone cancer when she was a sophomore at Waseda University. She's since become the record-holder for Paralympic broad jumpers and has represented Japan in the Paralympics. She aims to repeat and go to the Paralympics in London in 2012. She does a lot of volunteer work with children, and the facility in Hino is one of her projects. If you can read Japanese, her blog is at http://blog.livedoor.jp/mami_sato/
Mami Sato speaking to grammar school children
Mami and some of her friends formed the Happy Japan Project, which organized the Christmas Party. On December 23, a national holiday, HJP members met for a Christmas Party at an underground Italian restaurant in Tokyo's Yoyogi district. Each member was asked to bring a gift for the kids costing no more than ¥1,000. Mami said later than nearly 90 gifts came for the children.
I attended that party and modeled my Santa suit.
Charlie and Kazu with a Christmas cake for everyone at the HJP party
Mami and the HJP people entertained the children with Christmas songs (Kazu is a professional singer-songwriter) and games for nearly an hour. Then Santa arrived. Santa does not speak Japanese, so Akiko acted as interpreter and did a great job!!
Then Santa passed out small gifts to every child, many of whom wanted to shake hands with Santa.
Santa reaches into his bag for a present
The children were very excited to meet Santa, but they behaved very well. After the gifts were passed out and everyone joined in singing Silent Night, the children gathered with Santa for a photo op.
Children, HJP members, and teachers from the institution gather around Santa
What a wonderful way to spend Christmas. I'm sure we can do it again next year. Thank you Mami and HJP for the opportunity to share Christmas with these wonderful children.