Skip Tanaka performs his take on a favorite traditional Japanese worship song, Hana Mo (Even the Flowers)

A spring of water shall well up, when we get through a
time of tears. Eventually it shall bear fruit, and we will be
filled with laughter.

The flowers, clouds, winds, and oceans let’s sing about Jesus together!
O my soul, sing His grace, let it resound to the skies!

Behold, heavens shall open and we shall see:
soon the flowers bloom and the Lord of Glory comes!

The flowers, clouds, winds, and oceans let’s sing about Jesus together!
O my soul, sing His grace, let it resound to the skies!

From Skip: I am always looking for Japanese worship songs to learn and sing. My good friend, O Chan (Haruaki Odate) a musician and pastor, who lives in Chiba (greater Tokyo area) pitched the song to me. Since I do not speak Japanese, the songs must have simple lyrics. I liked the song immediately! This is a popular worship song with Japanese people. The version I heard was by a choir, but I made it my own. I played piano, acoustic and electric guitars, bass and programmed the drums.

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Skip Tanaka is a thirdgeneration Japanese American.

Skip didn’t grow up in the church and considered himself an atheist in high school, but all of that changed when a friend invited him to attend her worship service at her church. “I didn’t enjoy or understand most of the service, but I returned anyway!” he joked. Six months later, he became a Christian and has been following the Lord ever since. “It’s a miracle that I became a follower of Jesus!”

Skip moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1975 where he ran his own business as a insurance broker and later sold in 2014. Skip lives with his wife of 50 years. They have two children and three grandchildren and another one on the way.

Now in retirement, Skip is able to devote more time to his family and his passion for making a difference in the church using music.

While Skip’s Japanese language is limited, he says, “I understand the challenge of combining two cultures and the challenge of speaking English as a second language.”

Music Performed, Recorded and Produced by: Skip Tanaka
Lyrics by: MEBIG

Video Performance Filmed and Directed by: Seán Louis Silva
Additional Footage by: Dean Nester
Produced by: Erich Boileau