Meet Our Elders

Administration Team

President - Catherine Sasanuma

  • Catherine is from Seattle WA. Catherine's love of Christ grew from her elementary school years. She attended Calvary Temple, Assembly of God, through college. At Calvary Temple, she taught junior high Sunday school and drove a school bus for the youth outings as well. Later she joined University Presbyterian Church and served meals to homeless youth. After college she went to L’Abri in Switzerland, founded by Francis Schaefer, to contemplate her faith in Christ.

    In 1993 Catherine married Taisuke Sasanuma and moved to Japan. She found Tokyo Union Church and for decades God has used people at TUC to help her faith grow. Taisuke and Catherine have two sets of twins, Julia and Andrew, who are 24 and Sasha and Christopher, who are 21. Raising them in the knowledge of God at TUC has been central to Catherine’s time in Japan. TUC’s confirmation process and youth service trips have been keys to building their faith. Catherine loved teaching Sunday school and working with the hospitality team to make delicious and merry events happen. She served as elder of Children, Youth and Women for 5 1/2 years, and chaired the Associate Pastor search as well. She also worked on the team that renovated the Fellowship Hall.

    Catherine graduated from Seattle Pacific University (Methodist) and from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Prior to moving to Japan, she worked for government and for NGO’s. In Japan, she serves on the Asian University for Women Support Foundation, the Portland Japanese Garden International Board of Advisors and as a Trustee for the American School in Japan and has fundraised for several of these organizations. Catherine loves travel, art, arranging flowers, good food, aqua aerobics, walks, watching movies and tennis.

Treasurer - Brad Schmidt

  • Brad was born in Japan to Missionary parents and got baptized in the cold Hokkaido ocean when he was 16. He has been a High School Sunday School teacher and Evangelism elder at TUC over the last 10 years, and you will occasionally see him playing bass / drums in the Union Praise Team.

    His career has been spent improving operations in various industries and he is a business owner in Japan.

    Brad loves hearing how people came to know the Lord and is excited when he discovers a truth in the Bible he did not know before.

Clerk - Ji Mu

  • My name is Jimu. I was born and raised in China. I came to Japan as an exchange student eight years ago.

    After graduating from Nagoya University, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, I started my career at Kurita Group, a Japanese water treatment company.

    I’m from a Christian family. It was Chinese churches’ “golden time” when I was a child, so that church is a natural part of my life. From 2015 to 2021, I studied in Mie and Nagoya. I had a chance to learn more about

    Christianity with a local Japanese church. That turned my faith from a family thing to my own experience. When I moved to Tokyo, I visited 5, or 6 churches, then decided to come to TUC regularly because of its diversity and inclusiveness.

    Running Alpha with Jackie and others in 2022 has helped me to know more people here and make many meaningful connections in Christ. Serving as a member of the A/V team gives me a place to contribute.

    I would like to serve as the administrative clerk mostly because I heard God’s call. I also look forward to serving TUC from a broader perspective through this role.

Council Members

Children, Youth & Families - Naomi Kakinuma

  • I grew up in a Christian family (The United Church of Christ in Japan) in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, and attended a church and Sunday School since kindergarten to junior high school. I fondly remember the pastor, his wife, and the Sunday School teachers who showed genuine kindness and compassion. While I appreciated the biblical teachings, as a child I found it challenging to fully grasp their meaning, and they felt like fairy tales from faraway lands. Reading the bible in Japanese, full of complex expressions for a child to teenager, also made it feel somewhat distant from my daily life. I stopped attending church in my youth as I became busy with school, then left my hometown for university and later studied abroad, but I feel truly blessed to have had Christian friends at various stages of my life sharing their faith. In my 30s, I reconnected with my faith through a Christian friend who supported me during a difficult time and introduced me to an English-speaking congregation. The simple message "God loves you" displayed on a screen resonated deeply with me, making the Gospel's simple yet powerful truth finally click in my heart. I began to attend TUC and was baptized in 2013. Since then, I have been assisting the Children’s Ministry and helping to organize Christmas presents for children at Bott Memorial Hall as part of Outreach Ministry activities.

    I work as an English-Japanese translator in the business field. I have a family with a husband and two daughters (14YO and 4YO). Based on my own experience, I am interested in helping children develop their biblical understanding and personal faith, beginning by reading Bible stories with my preschooler while engaging in conversations with my teenager about how biblical teachings can be applied to her daily life and challenges.

Community Life & Hospitality - Ulrike Hougaard

  • I grew up in a Christian home in the Dutch Reformed tradition and was baptised as a baby. I attended Bible school and confirmation class but didn't engage in campus ministry at university. I studied Japanese at university and decided to come to Japan to improve my Japanese and teach English at the same time. I love the language, and I have seen a lot of Japan on TV. I wanted to experience the culture, scenery, and people for myself.

    I did not join a church after arriving in Japan. However, during COVID-19 lockdowns, I felt the need to reconnect with my faith and community, so I read the Bible and prayed more. In February 2021, God graciously led me to a church where I started attending International services. I also started attending a missionary couple's home church on Saturdays. I was baptised at the missionary’s newly planted church on July 12, 2023. This baptism was significant because I could show that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Through my experiences with the missionary family, I learned the importance of actively living out my faith within my Christian community.

    I first found Tokyo Union Church during COVID-19 while searching for an online church, However, TUC wasn't accepting online members then, so I could not join. Eventually, I met Linda Hirata through the missionaries’ home church gatherings in Nagasaki. On my first Sunday in Tokyo, September 3rd, 2023, I attended church with Linda, who introduced me to many members. It was a warm and welcoming experience that I will always cherish.

    Since then, I have been actively involved in the hospitality team, helping prepare food and clean up. I also established a Line group for team communication. I contributed to the New Membership team by communicating with the attendees and doing other admin-related tasks.

    I enjoy watching Bible Project videos and podcasts, riding trains, going to gardens, taking photographs, listening to music, and learning Japanese. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as an elder, which will challenge and grow my faith. With the LORD’s help, I will walk in humility and use my skills to glorify Him and bless others as He has blessed me.

    “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Evangelism - Kanehira Mitani

  • I started attending TUC in 2007, along with my sister Rio Mitani and brother Christian Martinu as they have been searching for a vibrant, English-speaking congregation. I have served at the AV Team, and since 2015 have been running a grass-roots ministry of providing live Japanese text translations of the pastor’s sermons through a LINE group for anyone who requires help with English.

    One turning point for my involvement with TUC has been the talk event with director Martin Scorsese for TUC’s 150th Anniversary event in April 2023. I was a regular church-goer but less involved in ministry activities. Organizing this event has opened me up to the possibility of serving more at the church, and allowed me to engage more with the congregation at large.

    I have recently gotten married at TUC in October 2024, and am expecting my first son due February 2025. Outside of church I enjoy videography, watching movies, squash, reading, and taking long walks.

Nominating - Martha Gomez

  • Martha Gomez, a devout Catholic from Mexico, has been a member of Tokyo Union Church since 2022. Baptized at a Catholic Church in her native language, Spanish, Martha has dedicated 28 years to attending church services. Martha has been correspondent for CNN in Spanish and radio media for Mexico. She also was a Spanish teacher at Aoyama Gakkuin for six years.

    Martha has faced the challenge of losing her husband five years ago. During this difficult period, the compassionate community at TUC played a pivotal role in providing solace and comfort to her, particularly during the coffee hours. This underscores the importance of community support and the role that Tokyo Union Church plays in fostering connections and offering emotional sustenance.

    It's noteworthy that Martha actively contributes to the church as a hospitality team member, showcasing her commitment to service within the church community. Through her experiences and active involvement, Martha's journey at TUC reflects a profound connection to faith, community, and the support that comes with being part of Tokyo Union Church.

Nominating - Russell Gesling

  • Prior to coming to Tokyo, I was a member of Reid Uniting Church in Canberra Australia. I grew up in a Christian family and was raised in the Methodist Church. When the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches joined together in 1977, my confirmation class elected to become members of the new church, the Uniting Church in Australia. During my teenage years I was heavily involved in the Presbytery Youth Council, and attended numerous Easter Camps and National Christian Youth Conventions. I also have been a lay preacher both in Australia and on occasion at TUC.

    After getting married in 1989 my wife Anita and I moved to Japan in 1991 where we started attending TUC in late 1992 and became members shortly thereafter attending continuously since then. We have three children, Daniel, Leah and Sarah – all born in Tokyo who have grown up in Japan, and at TUC, and who all still live and work in Japan.

    I am currently actively involved in Men’s Ministry, serve on the Finance Team and the TUC Foundation. I have previously served the TUC Council in various roles, President, Treasurer, Fellowship, Worship and Music, Finance, TUC Shukyo Hojin, several Pastor Search Committees over the years and as a member at large on Nominating. TUC is at the core of our Christian life in Tokyo although we still maintain active ties with our home churches and denomination in Australia.

    I was born in Canberra, Australia and have, apart from a short stint in Adelaide and a year in Sioux City Iowa as an exchange student, lived all my life in either Canberra or Japan. Outside of work and church, I'm an active reader, casual cyclist and walker, and enjoy puzzles and games.

Personnel - Alison Harada

  • Alison Harada has been a member of Tokyo Union Church since 1997. Both of her children were Baptized and Confirmed at TUC and spent many happy years in Sunday School and the Youth program. After five years spent in Hong Kong, she moved back to Japan in early 2022 and is currently splitting her time between Tokyo and Fukuoka. Alison is a ‘cradle Christian’, raised in the Episcopal church. She previously served as the Children’s Ministry Elder from 2011 to 2012 and the Personnel Ministry Elder from 2012 to 2017. During her time in Hong Kong, she served on the Council of St. John’s Cathedral and was the Warden of St. Stephen’s Chapel, a daughter church of the Cathedral. She is honored to rejoin the TUC Council as a mid-term appointment and looks forward to continuing to serve the Council, Congregation and staff of TUC as PMT co-Elder.

Personnel - Jackie Militello

  • The daughter of a Presbyterian minister, Jackie was born and raised in the Presbyterian church. God, faith, and Christian community have been constants in her life and sources of love, comfort, guidance, and ideals for living.

    She has lived in Japan for over 20 years. This is her second time at TUC. At different times, she taught the Sunday school 2nd grade class, oversaw the nursery, ran the Sunday school program, ran Alpha, was a member of the Stewardship committee, and served on the Pastor Search Committee.

    After several years in St. Louis at a Catholic Church with her husband and family, she moved to Hong Kong where she attended Hong Kong Union Church and London where she attended St. John’s Hoxton, part of the Holy Trinity Brompton network, home of Alpha. She returned to Tokyo March 2022, and spurred by the powerful invitation of Catherine Sasanuma Waters, returned to TUC. Outside of church, she is a hiker, a sociolinguist at the University of Hong Kong, and in Japan, a lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University.

Property & Technology - Ikuko Omori

  • Ikuko was born and raised up in Tokyo. Being married to Seijiro Omori, they moved to NYC where they had a son, Dai and a daughter, Hana. They ran their cooperate office interior design firm there mostly for Japanese corporations for more than ten years. After coming back to Japan Ikuko joined TUC and baptized there by Pastor Jeff Powell. She served as a Property and Use ministry elder (then) from 2006 to 2012. She worked for a major interior renovation of TUC building on 2007. She is one of the oldest members of Onigiri project serving for 25 years.

Spiritual Formation - Peter Mathies

  • Peter has been living in Japan since 1991 but was born and raised in a Christian home in Vorarlberg, Austria. He is married to Amy Tomita and father to two daughters, Kaye and Lynne. A scientist by training, he retired from a multinational pharma company after 28 years of service, mostly in the Japanese affiliate.

    From 2013, Peter attended a contemplative seminary at the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and completed a Professional Coaching Certification Program with New Ventures West. He is now engaged as an independent Executive/Life Coach.

    Peter remembers memorizing prayers in the Latin language and serving as an altar boy. During his time in the Catholic Youth movement, he was able to breathe the fresh air from the Second Vatican Council. Meeting Amy in Switzerland, he joined the ecumenical Basel Christian Fellowship. Peter and Amy joined TUC in 2003, soon after they moved from

    Kobe to Tokyo. Peter has served in Youth Discipleship and Spiritual Formation, Outreach, and Strategic Planning Taskforce, as Website manager, Vice President, and President of the Congregation.

    A more recent interest is in different expressions of the Christian faith.

Worship & Music - John Inagaki

  • I was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1948.
    I attended the American School in Japan (1954-1967) and then studied at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.

    My father’s family lineage is a Presbyterian, and I have been coming to TUC since my childhood days. During high school, I have worked for TUC, delivering church pamphlets to many of the hotels in Tokyo to make TUC known to the foreign people that came to Japan.

    I have been baptized at TUC in 1972 by the then Pastor Erwin R. Ruklic and was married at TUC the same year. I have three children who are all living in Tokyo.

    I have worked most of my life with an Oklahoma, U.S.A. based Petroleum company and have been living in Oklahoma and Japan off and on.

    After my retirement, I have been operating a private company, manufacturing welding equipment and servicing the Japanese welding industry.

    I am a jack-of-all-trades (mon) when it comes to hobbies which include country guitar playing, mountaineering, rock climbing, cycling, golfing and swimming.

    I confess that during much of my younger years, I came to TUC to be served but now I have heard the call to serve.

Council Vacancies

Shukyo Hojin Officers

  • Mary became a Christian at TUC in 1999. She has served three terms as Clerk of the Congregation and was coordinator of the Prayer Chain and Prayer & Healing Ministry for several years. She was also a member of the Strategic Planning Task Force. She has occasionally served as a liturgist and is an active member of Christian education classes. She works as a Japanese-to-English translator in Tokyo.

  • Jody moved to Tokyo in 1993 and began attending worship services at TUC in 1994. She grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota. She is baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Jody attended Gustavus Adolphus College majoring in Church Music and Music Education. Jody has been teaching music education to children since 1982 in Minnesota, Germany, Jordan, Pakistan and currently at the American School in Japan.

    Tokyo Union Church is an important part of Jody’s life here in Tokyo and she has served the church in many capacities. Jody believes that service is a privilege for each of us as members of Tokyo Union Church and she is interested in finding new areas to serve humbly, learn more, and grow her faith in Christ.

  • Alison Harada has been a member of Tokyo Union Church since 1997. Both of her children were Baptized and Confirmed at TUC and spent many happy years in Sunday School and the Youth program. After five years spent in Hong Kong, she moved back to Japan in early 2022 and is currently splitting her time between Tokyo and Fukuoka. Alison is a ‘cradle Christian’, raised in the Episcopal church. She previously served as the Children’s Ministry Elder from 2011 to 2012 and the Personnel Ministry Elder from 2012 to 2017. During her time in Hong Kong, she served on the Council of St. John’s Cathedral and was the Warden of St. Stephen’s Chapel, a daughter church of the Cathedral. She is honored to rejoin the TUC Council as a mid-term appointment and looks forward to continuing to serve the Council, Congregation and staff of TUC as PMT co-Elder.

  • Rika was born in a Christian home in Tokyo. She was raised in Japan and has lived in the U.S. for her undergraduate / law school studies and for work. Her faith grew stronger during her law school years, where she was baptized at the Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. She started to attend TUC after her husband passed away in 2006. She is a mother of two boys, Takeshi and Teruaki. She is a New-York qualified attorney and currently works in the legal department of a U.S. - based technology company. In her spare time, she likes playing board games with her boys, traveling, doing yoga / cycling, and helping her friends and family with their legal problems.

  • Junko grew up in downtown Tokyo in a family that valued Japanese lifestyle and culture. Her father’s family had served as a head of Jodo Sect Buddhist temple for generations.

    Junko met Methodist and Lutheran missionaries, was saved and became a member of TUC. She has served TUC in various ministries: as an Elder of TUC Preschool, a member of Pastor Search Team and as member-at-large of the Nominating Ministry team. Currently, she serves as a counter with the Finance team 2 Sundays a month.

    Junko retired last June from Christian Academy In Japan (CAJ) with a Career Service Award from Association of Christian Schools International. At the present she is working as a temporary Guidance counselor at CAJ. She also works as a Tokyo Metropolitan Special Needs Classroom Traveling consultant. She is presently taking care of both her mother and her mother in law.

  • Ikuko was born and raised up in Tokyo. Being married to Seijiro Omori, they moved to NYC where they had a son, Dai and a daughter, Hana. They ran their cooperate office interior design firm there mostly for Japanese corporations for more than ten years. After coming back to Japan Ikuko joined TUC and baptized there by Pastor Jeff Powell. She served as a Property and Use ministry elder (then) from 2006 to 2012. She worked for a major interior renovation of TUC building on 2007. She is one of the oldest members of Onigiri project serving for 25 years.