She and her husband and family of two adult sons live in Yokohama, which is a major industrial city one hour by express train from Tokyo. In fact, it is now part of the major, huge, crowded urban spread that covers the business area of that part of Japan.
They are part of the Shoskin Baptist Church in Yokohama where Toshimi serves as the Church librarian. The Library is a major part of the church's outreach as the church has a focus on education.
In fact, it runs three schools, along the lines of the American education system that was instituted in Japan after World War II. There is a Junior High School (up to year 9), an Elementary School (equivalent to Australian Primary School) and a Kindergarten (equivalent to an pre-school in NSW, or a kindergarten in some other Australian States).
Apart from their Church activities, Toshimi Arai is involved in a family company that makes a wide variety of travel bags, including shoulder strap bags that are often hand-outs at conferences. She noted that their bags are similar to those presented to each delegate at the Baptist World Congress, but these which were donated by a Baptist family from India.
Toshimi also commented on world economic realities, when she mentioned that some years ago, their factory was relocated from Japan to the city of Shinto in China, because it was getting too expensive to manufacture the various types of travel bags in Japan. This necessitates numerous trips each year to China.
This Toshimi Arai interview consists of two components – Toshimi first answers in English and then repeats her answer in Japanese.
It may be viewed on the Australian Missionary News ITP at either tv.bushorchestra.com/BWC/videopages/toshimi_arai.html or www.safeworlds.net
