Arriving from Spain, Saint Nicholas and his companion Black Peter made the rounds in Tokyo. St. Nick, the Santa Claus of the Netherlands and the patron saint of sailors in bygone days, visits all Dutch homes each Dec, 5th bearing gifts for those children whose behavior has been satisfactory in the preceding 12 months. In Tokyo, St. Nick visited the first St. Francis children's home in Kugaharam suburb of Tokyo where he distributed chocolate, cake, dolls and candy. These traditional gifts were transported to Japan via KLM.

About 80 children who are accommodated at St. Francis Children's home are orphans and they are extremely happy about this sudden visit of St. Nicks and Black Peter though St. Nicholas was played by Mr. H.S. Jonker, a local Dutchman and Black Peter was played by a local Japanese gentleman. According to Dutch tradition they arrive on the evening of Dec. 5 each year. Then according to legend, St.Nick peers down the chimney of each home to see that all is well before leaving his gifts. Dutch children believed very strongly in St. Nick and are on their best behavior when the time for his annual arrives.

Mr. H.S. Jonker will visit this Children's home every year from now on and Dutch will continue the presents from Holland.