1 00:00:01,001 --> 00:00:11,010 to achieve my goal, I decided to take the plunge and use everything I had. 2 00:00:11,010 --> 00:00:13,512 So I jumped into the sex industry. 3 00:00:13,512 --> 00:00:16,978 Title "Japanese ex-sex industry worker finds Jesus and new life" 4 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,020 Can I ask you about your childhood? 5 00:00:22,020 --> 00:00:24,395 What kind of child were you? 6 00:00:24,482 --> 00:00:30,488 When I was a child, I think I was kind of shy, and quiet. 7 00:00:30,488 --> 00:00:32,490 However, 8 00:00:32,490 --> 00:00:34,909 I have been dancing since I was little, 9 00:00:34,909 --> 00:00:39,039 so when I went to perform dance presentations on stage 10 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:42,083 I was really excited to dance in front of people, 11 00:00:42,083 --> 00:00:48,423 I love to express myself in front of other people 12 00:00:48,423 --> 00:00:52,927 I think I was a child who enjoyed it and did it with enthusiasm. 13 00:00:53,511 --> 00:00:55,346 That's good. 14 00:00:56,181 --> 00:01:00,101 When you became an adult, you moved to Tokyo 15 00:01:00,143 --> 00:01:08,234 What prompted you to work in the sex industry? I heard that you were working in the sex industry during that time. 16 00:01:08,234 --> 00:01:11,154 Can you tell me about that? 17 00:01:11,196 --> 00:01:13,156 After graduating from university, 18 00:01:13,198 --> 00:01:20,163 I really wanted to work on the stage and become an actor , so I decided to move to Tokyo. 19 00:01:20,205 --> 00:01:25,126 while I was going to school and living life, 20 00:01:25,126 --> 00:01:28,171 working at normal Izakaya or cafes, 21 00:01:28,213 --> 00:01:35,178 it was quite difficult financially, time wise and salary, when I did the economic calculations. 22 00:01:35,220 --> 00:01:46,064 to achieve my goal, I decided to take the plunge and use everything I had. 23 00:01:46,064 --> 00:01:48,274 So I jumped into the sex industry. 24 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:56,436 You then had a turning point later, 25 00:01:56,436 --> 00:01:59,147 can you tell me what happened? 26 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:04,249 The stage director of the play was a Christian, 27 00:02:04,290 --> 00:02:08,530 and also there was another Christian in the play too 28 00:02:08,545 --> 00:02:14,509 and at the beginning of the rehearsal, we all gathered together and started with a prayer. 29 00:02:14,676 --> 00:02:16,678 It was quite shocking to me. Because 30 00:02:16,719 --> 00:02:25,687 in the stage world, you rely on your own abilities and try to make a name for yourself. That's what I thought, 31 00:02:25,728 --> 00:02:30,675 so I realized it is okay to ask for help, rely on God. 32 00:02:30,692 --> 00:02:36,072 Around that time, I was a bit deceived by the pornography agency I was working at, 33 00:02:36,072 --> 00:02:40,118 and my salary wasn't paid. 34 00:02:40,118 --> 00:02:43,580 So I went through some tough times. 35 00:02:43,997 --> 00:02:50,086 It was a really difficult time in my life and I would've probably been diagnosed with depression at the time, if I had to visit a hospital. 36 00:02:50,128 --> 00:02:55,091 The Christian person came to mind and I thought, 37 00:02:55,133 --> 00:03:02,098 "I want to share with them what I am going through” and so I made the call. 38 00:03:02,140 --> 00:03:08,104 The person said “Okay, let's meet" and we met right away and he listened… 39 00:03:08,146 --> 00:03:10,106 and when I calmed down, 40 00:03:10,899 --> 00:03:15,278 he told me that if I wanted to then we could go to a church together which was nearby. 41 00:03:15,278 --> 00:03:18,198 I was surprised "Church?!" 42 00:03:18,198 --> 00:03:22,011 but I maybe felt that something attracted me 43 00:03:22,011 --> 00:03:25,121 and he took me to church right away on the same day. 44 00:03:25,246 --> 00:03:32,086 When I got there, there was a female missionary from the United States who was visiting. 45 00:03:32,086 --> 00:03:41,095 I didn't tell her about my life or things I was going through 46 00:03:41,095 --> 00:03:47,826 but she asked"Can I pray for you? I feel like God wants me to pray for you”. 47 00:03:47,852 --> 00:03:53,441 I said "Yes please pray for me” and she prayed for me. 48 00:03:53,441 --> 00:04:01,616 Her prayer made me wonder how she knew some things about me, as I didn't tell her anything. 49 00:04:02,116 --> 00:04:16,005 She said "you may not know God yet. But God has always been with you and still He is" 50 00:04:16,047 --> 00:04:20,134 "So don't worry, you'll be ok.” 51 00:04:20,134 --> 00:04:24,347 I felt so relieved. 52 00:04:24,347 --> 00:04:32,939 Even though I had done so many embarrassing things in life, 53 00:04:34,107 --> 00:04:37,610 Someone told me; “you are fine.” 54 00:04:37,610 --> 00:04:40,038 That night when I went home 55 00:04:40,038 --> 00:04:44,784 I was able to sleep peacefully for the first time in a while. 56 00:04:44,826 --> 00:04:47,120 I had a dream 57 00:04:48,121 --> 00:04:52,750 something I experienced for the first time 58 00:04:52,750 --> 00:04:54,168 I didn’t see Jesus 59 00:04:55,753 --> 00:04:59,549 but I saw this warm glowing orange light surrounding me 60 00:04:59,549 --> 00:05:07,181 and I felt warm, I felt safe I felt a sense of security. I still remember 61 00:05:07,181 --> 00:05:13,062 after waking up, "I don't know much, I don't know the Bible, 62 00:05:13,062 --> 00:05:17,108 I don't know anything about Jesus, but I felt like I need to become a Christian,'' 63 00:05:17,108 --> 00:05:22,697 I called the person who took me to church 64 00:05:22,697 --> 00:05:27,368 and asked him how I could become a Christian. 65 00:05:27,368 --> 00:05:33,624 He told me that if you accept Jesus and get baptized, you can become a Christian. 66 00:05:33,624 --> 00:05:38,129 Anyone can become a Christian! then 67 00:05:39,007 --> 00:05:46,679 So, I decided to become a Christian, and that's how I started the church life. 68 00:05:47,889 --> 00:05:52,226 After that, I heard you decided to quit working in the sex industry. 69 00:05:52,226 --> 00:05:56,440 What made you change your mind? 70 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:02,027 The biggest change was definitely through reading the Bible. 71 00:06:02,027 --> 00:06:06,029 At some point, I started thinking, even though I was going to church, 72 00:06:06,039 --> 00:06:10,826 I was still working in the sex industry 73 00:06:10,826 --> 00:06:15,831 So while attending services, listening to messages, and reading the Bible, 74 00:06:15,831 --> 00:06:24,880 I started to wonder if maybe God wasn’t pleased with the work I was doing. 75 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:34,222 At church, I was taught to truly cherish myself. 76 00:06:34,222 --> 00:06:43,105 And as I kept going to church, my heart started to soften. 77 00:06:43,105 --> 00:06:47,025 Gradually, my stubbornness and preconceptions faded away. 78 00:06:47,025 --> 00:06:56,909 Then, I began to truly desire a life that pleases God. 79 00:06:56,909 --> 00:07:04,415 That change in mindset led me, step by step, to the decision to quit. 80 00:07:04,415 --> 00:07:09,003 Of course, I believe many people at church were praying for me. 81 00:07:09,003 --> 00:07:12,005 That was probably the biggest factor. 82 00:07:12,005 --> 00:07:22,014 I also had a strong realization—this God was different from the one I had known before. 83 00:07:22,014 --> 00:07:25,851 I even had a dream about it. 84 00:07:25,851 --> 00:07:32,440 I knew with certainty that this God would never abandon me. 85 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:42,032 That was the biggest realization for me. 86 00:07:42,032 --> 00:07:49,371 Before going to church, I had this rigid image of it — 87 00:07:49,371 --> 00:07:54,334 I thought it was all about rules and strictness. 88 00:07:54,334 --> 00:08:02,341 I believed it was a place only for serious, pure, righteous people. 89 00:08:02,341 --> 00:08:08,305 But when I actually went, it was completely different from what I expected. 90 00:08:08,305 --> 00:08:15,269 It was a warm, welcoming place where I felt safe. 91 00:08:15,269 --> 00:08:23,401 My impression of church changed drastically. 92 00:08:23,401 --> 00:08:27,947 So, how has your life changed since then? 93 00:08:27,947 --> 00:08:32,951 It has been nine years since I became a Christian. 94 00:08:32,951 --> 00:08:39,290 After quitting my previous job, I got my first daytime job. 95 00:08:39,290 --> 00:08:42,710 I was finally able to work in a normal setting. 96 00:08:44,712 --> 00:08:50,592 Then, I met my husband at church. We got married, 97 00:08:50,592 --> 00:08:54,929 and three years ago, we were blessed with a daughter. 98 00:08:54,929 --> 00:08:59,099 I initially moved to Tokyo alone, but now 99 00:08:59,099 --> 00:09:02,060 I have a family of three. We have a family, and are living happily together. 100 00:09:03,103 --> 00:09:07,899 That’s wonderful. 101 00:09:07,899 --> 00:09:16,031 If someone going through a similar experience is watching this video, 102 00:09:16,031 --> 00:09:18,992 what would you like to tell them? 103 00:09:22,036 --> 00:09:27,416 I truly believe it’s never too late. 104 00:09:27,416 --> 00:09:35,256 So if you are struggling—thinking, "I want to quit this job," or 105 00:09:35,256 --> 00:09:39,260 "Maybe what I’m doing is wrong," or regretting your choices— 106 00:09:39,260 --> 00:09:43,138 please pause for a moment. Take a step back 107 00:09:43,138 --> 00:09:49,602 and try to love yourself. 108 00:09:49,602 --> 00:09:52,646 If you think, "I’ve done terrible things, 109 00:09:52,646 --> 00:09:58,610 I’m ashamed, I have no worth," 110 00:09:58,652 --> 00:10:03,656 please know—that is not true at all. You are loved. 111 00:10:03,656 --> 00:10:10,662 Even if the people around you don’t understand, 112 00:10:10,662 --> 00:10:15,625 God loves you, no matter your mistakes or failures. 113 00:10:15,625 --> 00:10:20,588 That’s what He taught me. 114 00:10:20,588 --> 00:10:24,549 I truly hope you can meet God. 115 00:10:24,549 --> 00:10:26,635 You are not alone. 116 00:10:26,635 --> 00:10:33,432 No matter where you are, you can always start over. That's what I've experienced so far. 117 00:10:33,432 --> 00:10:42,440 If you can pause, take a deep breath, and change direction, I would be so happy. 118 00:10:42,482 --> 00:10:50,405 There is a Bible verse that has encouraged me so much: 119 00:10:50,405 --> 00:10:58,371 "“You are my child, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) 120 00:10:58,412 --> 00:11:03,333 This verse saved me. 121 00:11:03,333 --> 00:11:12,008 I used to believe that I am not loved someone like me—who had sold her body, — didn’t deserve to be loved. 122 00:11:12,008 --> 00:11:17,012 But when God told me, "I love you," I was so glad to hear. 123 00:11:17,012 --> 00:11:23,017 it meant everything. That’s what I want to share. 124 00:11:23,017 --> 00:11:29,273 Thank you so much for sharing your story. 125 00:11:29,273 --> 00:11:30,107 Thank you. [Music]