On the 50th Episode of Life in Japan, the girls kick off 5th grade under new guidelines,

Sarah goes to her very first day of Japanese Elementary School

and all while Japan goes into stricter forms of lock down.

But it's not just any Friday today,

it's Good Friday — a day millions all around the world celebrate and remember.

Stay tuned for a super special edition of Life in Japan!

I love the Sakura blossoms. They are a sign of hope like nothing else I know.

And a super special part of living in Japan is seeing these come out every Spring.

Look who's awake today!

What's happening today Sarah?

I'm going to Shyogako (Elementary school)

You're going to shyogako!

Your first day in first grade!

Oh my goodness!

Wow! Are you excited?

Yes, so excited.

That's exciting.

A hundred percent excited.

A hundred percent excited.

My girls are heading off for their first day of 5th grade.

Is that correct? Five- for one hand.

That's right — a whole hand.

This is the last year you can show what grade you're in with one hand, right?

Next, six.

That's right! Or like six.

Wait, six!

Look, one hand!

And this is the new way of going to school, isn't it? Mask.

Those girls are more than excited to be getting off to school after so many days cooped up

But it's only for a little bit, and then they have to wait 2 more weeks until they go back again.

Do I look so cute?

You look so cute!

You are adorable!

For my work, it's not very often I need to wear a suit,

But we got a suit on today for Sarah's nyugakoski

Going into first grade.

Is that your randoseru?

Oh! Oh! Oh!

Ooooh yes!

Oh, you are an adorable 1st grader!

Actually stand right here.

No turn around. No look at mommy.

One, two, three.

Well Sarah, here we go! We're walking to your first day of school, huh — in elementary.

How precious. Look at how cute you look.

Let me see again.

This is the first day back to school in, how long? A month?

But, it's only to go and meet their teachers, and that sort of thing.

Everyone's getting their camera's out. Here come the kids. It's time.

There she is.

So it was very interesting to see how they did the whole ceremony.

We were spaced quite far apart, which was really good,

Everybody had masks on, of course.

So they did the ceremony, and they did it much faster than normal.

So that once it was done, we could go and be on our way.

Well hello! Hello!

Welcome back!

How was your first day of class? Good.

Did you get lots of books? Yeah.

What else happened? Tell me.

Well, we took a picture.

You took a picture? Yeah.

And then the teacher talked with us.

Did you understand some of what the teacher said?

No. No?!

You will by the end of this year already.

I got a dangomushi (bug). Oh, ok, good for you.

Where's Joshua? Hi Joshua.

When I go like this, and close it, if they're moving around it tickles so bad that I laugh.

We're eating already.

I want to ride on this one (hammock). Yo!

Hey yo! Hey yo! Hey yo!

Get off!

Thank you!

There's four. Oh, there's four of 'em?

Aw! They're so beautiful.

Mommy!

Oh my, Mommy! Oh my, honey!

How are we going to do this? How are we going to do it?

We're going to do a step.

Sarah look — a big step, that's it.

So word is that they're about to declare a state of emergency here in Japan

So I'm getting a jog in just in case jogging is taboo in some way, shape or form

Friday is one of my favorite days,

One of the things I love to do every Friday is launch this video.

I know it brings joy and hope to so many of you,

And it brings so much joy and hope to me as well, as I'm able to read the comments,

Interact with each and every one of you.

It's a highlight of my week.

And today, especially, is a special day,

A special friday: Good Friday.

You may have heard of it before,

But it's a day that Christians all around the world celebrate as they remember Jesus' death on the cross.

Now this whole weekend — Good Friday starts it and then Sunday is Resurrection Sunday.

Easter Sunday, which you've probably heard as well.

And sometimes you'll see chocolates or Easter bunnies, that sort of thing.

But the real meaning and purpose behind this whole weekend has to do with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This single event has changed history more than perhaps anything else, expect for maybe the creation of the world.

So — what is so great about Good Friday?

It's kind of funny, if you think about it, because it's the day that the Lord Jesus died,

but we call it "Good" Friday. Why would we call it Good Friday?

It's kind of like this season we're living in right now.

With everything that's happening in the world, it hardly seems like good times, in fact they are very bad times right now.

People losing their jobs. People in depression or locked into different ways and habits.

You know, I've read about domestic violence that's happening as people are together,

they can't handle the pressure of being locked inside their homes and that sort of thing.

Somebody asked me, "Why are you so happy all the time?"

"Why do you have so much hope? How do I get that?"

And the real answer is because of Good Friday.

It's because of what Jesus did on the cross. And it's because of Resurrection Sunday.

When He rose again, triumphant over sin, over death, over disease.

The reason we have so much hope is because our hope is not in the economy,

Our hope is not in the school system,

Our hope is not in our bank account,

Our hope is not even in our own health.

But our hope is in Jesus Christ, and our hope is in God, that He has an eternal home planned for us.

This kind of joy: when you have Jesus,

When you have His love in you, when you believe in Him and you've received His love, it changes everything.

And it can make even the worst times...

You can have peace and you can prosper even in difficult times.

What is going on here? We're having a picnic in the balcony.

Wow! With the stuffed animals!

We have quite a crew here.

Who do you have there, Becca?

Oh, I see. I have Mario!

What about you, Anna? The triplets and Yoshi.

Ahhh ha ha ha!

Awww! Daddy, you didn't ask me!

Who do you have?

Um, Peach and — what's her name? Unicorn?

Nope — Bec! Bec and I don't know who she is. Bec?!

And then the Jasmine.

Oh cool! Is that "Bec" like as in "Becca?"

Yeah. Oh, how cute Becca! She named one of her animals after you!

That's cute!

During this time that we're going to be shut inside, the videos may be a little different,

I have some throwback videos that I'm will be sharing here in the next couple of weeks,

and some other fun things, so make sure you subscribe

We'll continue to put out things that will make your day,

Thanks so much for liking, watching and subscribing. We'll see you next time on Life in Japan. Bye bye.