Mikoto-sama, the eldest son of Masaaki-sama and Mami-okusama, started preschool this April. Congratulations on this wonderful milestone, Mikoto-sama. Still fresh in our memory is the moment Masaaki-sama spoke about Mikoto-sama’s entrance ceremony in his Sacred Word at the Easter Service—and now Mikoto-sama has begun attending preschool. Wishing to encourage Mikoto-sama as he embarks on this entirely new journey, Mami-okusama prepared a bento featuring his favorite Shinkansen (bullet train) and a smiling little bear. She shared that it was made with the thought, “I’ll always be cheering you on, no matter what.” For the first time, Mikoto-sama stepped away from his family and entered a group setting on his own. With the smiling bear waving from his favorite Shinkansen, and filled with the Christian vegan food he always enjoys at home, the bento must have been a moment of warmth and comfort—a reminder of Mami-okusama's deep affection. “The vegan fried rice is also part of Mikoto’s cheering squad,” said Mami-okusama. Her desire as a parent to make him happy with a bento filled with his favorite foods can be felt throughout. When Mikoto-sama returned home, he was overjoyed and shared that his friends and teachers had all said, “Cute!” and that the bento was quite the hit. I was deeply impressed to find simmered fuki (Japanese butterbur) in a preschooler’s bento—something that speaks to the uniqueness of Masaaki-sama’s household. I imagine that Mikoto-sama has been familiar with the pleasantly bitter taste of wild herbs from an early age. As we look forward to the day when Mikoto-sama’s friends and teachers, too, come to experience the boundless power of the Christian vegan diet, let us continue to share this salvation through the vegan diet with many people and broaden its reach. 【Bento contents received from Mami-okusama】＊30 percent polished rice cooked in a clay pot (250g) 🍚・Fried riceMade with ginger, green onions, onions, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and cabbage. Once you try it, you’ll be hooked.As Masaaki-sama has mentioned in his Sacred Word, wood ear mushrooms are something we would like to incorporate more actively into our cooking. ・The bearIts smiling face was created using nori. ・The ShinkansenMikoto’s favorite Shinkansen.The windows and other details were created using nori.The beginning of a wonderful journey! ＊Miso soupIn addition to seasonal vegetables and wild herbs, I always include seaweed as well. ＊Simmered kiriboshi daikon (dried shredded daikon radish)Kiriboshi daikon and carrots slowly simmered in a clay pot. A true taste of traditional Japanese food! A dish that brings a sense of comfort and ease. ＊Simmered hijiki and bamboo shootsPreviously shared on Instagram.Simmered in a clay pot, this too is a dish that warms the heart. It is finished with a sprinkle of freshly toasted sesame seeds. ＊Simmered fukiThe fuki was received as an offering from a member.I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the offering.A springtime delicacy slowly simmered in a clay pot.Garnished with sansho pepper leaves to add a touch of spring fragrance.I hope everyone will savor the pleasant bitterness unique to spring.※Fuki must be prepared properly before cooking to remove its bitterness. Rub with salt on a cutting board, boil in salted water, then soak in cold water. Mikoto-sama begins a new journey! Mami-okusama’s super cute vegan bento, no. 44Likes, saves, and shares are most welcome ✨ ***About Mami-okusama (Mami Okada)Mami-okusama was born in Aichi Prefecture and was raised in a farming household. Also known as Japan’s Vegan Beauty, she is the wife of and Aide to Masaaki-sama (Masaaki Okada), World Church of Messiah’s Representative of Kyoshu. She is a vegan recipe developer focusing on the Japanese vegan diet. She is the first to establish the “vegan deco ben” (vegan decorative bento) and “vegan kyara ben” (vegan character bento) genres. Not only are they beautiful to the eye, these bento are created entirely from plant-based ingredients, in line with what Masaaki-sama teaches on the truth of food, that seasonal and local eating rooted in the climate and terrain of Japan is the most beneficial for health and well-being, that is, to eat what grows in one’s local region. Through these and also through the creation of her many original recipes, she seeks to spread the Christian vegan diet—the true healthy diet. She graduated from University of Tsukuba. During her studies there, she became actively involved in volunteer activities such as refugee support. She was also repeatedly asked to participate in the Miss Tsukuba Contest and was approached by many modeling agencies, but she declined all of these offers as she wanted to focus on refugee support activities. In recognition of her efforts in refugee support, she received the University of Tsukuba President’s Award in 2012. She holds a license to teach English to intermediate and high school students. After graduating from university, she began working for World Church of Messiah in 2013. In 2014, she married Masaaki-sama, the great-grandson of the founder of World Church of Messiah, Meishu-sama (Mokichi Okada 1882–1955), and the representative and successor of Kyoshu-sama. On May 24, 2026, on the day of Pentecost, she assumed the position of Aide to the Representative of Kyoshu. Currently, while raising three children, she is working tirelessly unlike anyone else in the practice and spread of the Christian vegan diet as taught in Masaaki-sama’s revolutionary message: “Jesus Christ was the last and ultimate sacrifice—so it is no longer necessary to eat a diet that comes with the suffering of animals.”