When he was a child, Toshiaki Hiwatari loved nature. "I was born in 1945 in Hyogo Prefecture," he said. "In my boyhood I spent a lot of time walking around Mount Rokko." Those were the years when there were far fewer alternative claims for the attention of young boys and girls. Nature was still evident, without the overlaying of concrete on riverbanks and seashores, and the penetration of new roads carrying heavy traffic. On Mount Rokko, Hiwatari found little-used footpaths where he roamed through quiet woods and over open hills. He grew up familiar with small creatures and birds, trees and the change of the seasons. His memories of being a boy in the country stay with him.

He loved history too. "I wandered around the temples in Kyoto and Nara," he said. "Their atmosphere then was peaceful. I used to think back over the centuries, and imagine the events that took place there."

During the summers of his high school years, Hiwatari joined archaeological groups. He helped on digs at the sites of old temples. "One of them was the excavation of a seventh century temple," he said. "We found that in structure it resembled the Horyuji Temple in Nara. Now the site has become the commemorative park of the remains of Itami Temple. When I had just turned 30, imagine my surprise when I suddenly received a letter of appreciation from the city of Itami for helping with the excavation. I treasure that letter. I was amazed that they kept records of all the people who had taken part in that excavation."

Hiwatari entered Tokyo University to study law. "In 1970 I finished my legal training and became a public prosecutor concerned with criminal investigation and trial," he said. "I wanted to right what I thought were the wrongs of the world." To him, wrongs involved the breaking of law. To right them meant punishment of the offenders. During his career Hiwatari served as chief prosecutor in a district office, Cabinet councilor in charge of the reform of the justice system, and director general of the Criminal Affairs Bureau. For a period he was assistant vice minister of justice in charge of the Immigration Bureau. This year he reached his present position, that of vice minister of justice.

By the time he was 50, Hiwatari was feeling his years were taking their toll. His natural inclination led him to investigate the yoga classes that were being held in the basement gymnasium of the Ministry of Justice. There he encountered the Ghosh Yoga Institute, which limits the number of admissions in order to give full attention to each one. He met the husband-and-wife teachers from Calcutta, Jibananda and Karuna Ghosh.

"The Ghosh Yoga Institute does not preach religion," Hiwatari said. "It has minimum requirements, and sets out to bring happiness to the body, the mind and the spirit. It is based on a system 5,000 years old which tries to relieve illness and stress. It recognizes the importance of correct breathing and fresh air, of relaxation and concentration. The institute devised for me an individual program which I practice every day. It includes several different techniques, and meditation and fasting. I am particularly interested in yoga postures." Linking his boyhood and his adulthood, Hiwatari carries his meditation habits with him. He said: "Even today, I still enjoy walking. When I come across a temple or shrine, I like to stop for a while and meditate."

Unlike many students of yoga, Hiwatari limits himself to yoga without going beyond it and embracing everything Indian. He says that Ghosh husband and wife were the first to introduce yoga to Japan. Their institute this year is celebrating 31 years of providing yoga practices and philosophies here. It maintains branches in Australia and Italy, as well as several in Japan. "It contributes to good relationships between India and Japan," Hiwatari said. "The late former Foreign Minister Yoshio Sakurauchi cooperated with the Ghosh couple in establishing the Indo-Japanese Association, Calcutta. He was also president of the Indo-Japanese Association Tokyo. These two associations promote the cultures of Japan and India in each other's country."

As one of several annual cross-cultural events, the Ghosh Yoga Institute Japan and the Indo-Japanese Association will hold a winter training session on Dec. 11 from 6 to 7 a.m. in Hanazono Park, Shinjuku. The event is without charge, and will be followed by a free breakfast for all participants.