The Broken Leaf: Meditations on Art, Life, and Faith in Japan

by Roger W. Lowther

The Broken Leaf invites you to explore the beauty and gospel images found in Japanese art and culture. Through ten short meditations, discover for yourself just how God might be revealing his story in the everyday objects of your life whenever and wherever you may be.

Genres: Christian Living, Art, Japan

64 pages, Paperback

Published November 27, 2019

About the author

Roger W. Lowther is founder and director of Community Arts Tokyo, assisting church planting through the arts. Roger is also director of faith and art at Grace City Church Tokyo and coordinator for the MAKE Collective, a global network of missionary artists. He has been serving with Mission to the World in Japan since 2005. Roger received degrees from The Juilliard School and Columbia University and is currently studying at Reformed Theological Seminary. He lives in downtown Tokyo with his wife Abi and four boys.

Reviews

[Katie Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so fun to read the history behind and the spiritual significance we can draw from things pieces art and culture of Japan. I was familiar with a few, but not all of these before so it was a delight to learn more and be reminded of how the Gospel can intersect with all of life.

[Zachary Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a wonderful little book. Full of Gospel insight. Will be re-reading again many times over.

[EA Kellogg · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this in jan, but never posted. rich, insightful & sweet. praise God for His unique love for the gospel in japanese culture

[Brian Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brokenness is central to Japanese culture and to the Gospel. "A broken world is healed by a broken Christ on a broken tree."

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short book, the story of Christ appears in so many ways and forms and the author does a great job in connecting Japanese art and Christian faith. I'm not sure how I feel about the term "God's brokenness" that he uses.

[David Clouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and short easy read detailing different aspects of Japanese culture and art that entail some type of breaking or suffering and then a respective way that relates to the Christian life. There were some cool illustrations or connections but I thought the author could have gone a bit deeper or drawn more parallels throughout Scripture.

[Ann Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and enjoyable. It's a book I could easily reread.

[Roger Lowther · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is hope in this broken world!