Baptist Churches in Pre-WWII Imperial Japan
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This album highlights the Wada family Christian missionary work in Japan before 1930. The Wada family started and served at several churches in Northern Japan as well as the Tokyo and Hiroshima areas before the American Baptist Home Missions asked the family to come to the United States. After graduating with a law degree from Tokyo Imperial University, Rev. Wada continued his education by attending The Baptist Theological Seminary of Yokohama established by Albert Arnold Bennett, a missionary of the American Baptist Missionary Union (now called Kanto Gakuin University). It was in Yokohama that two Baptist missionaries Jonathan Goble and Nathan Brown established the First Baptist Church in Japan. The Yokohama Baptist theology was a more evangelical approach to Christianity. This probably explains Rev. Wada’s focus on evangelism and missionary work. One of its early leaders, Honda Yoichi, became the president of the YMCA’s governing body. Rev Wada went on overseas missionary trips to Japan occupied Manchuria, Korea and Siberia for the Japan YMCA.
Great Grandmother Kuni Anazawa Wada learned to speak and write the English language from Baptist missionaries in northern Japan. The missionaries were Rev. William and Lucinda Axling, who arrived in Japan in 1901. Some years later back in the US, William Axling presented Grandmother Mustu, the eldest daughter, a signed book with the title “ Japan at the Midcentury: Leaves from Life. The book cover was hand drawn by Rev. Axling. She also learned German from her piano teacher and French from attending a private French Catholic High School.
This album is just in its infancy, so check back for updates. There are hundreds of photos and documents of the Wada family missionary work in Japan, Manchuria, Korea, Siberia and other ares in Russia.
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Tono Baptist Church, Iwate-kenOne of the oldest Christian churches in Northern Japan. Modeled after the Baptist church in Morioka. American Baptist missionary Annie Buzzell is standing in front of the Tono Church. Rev. and Mrs. Wada built a Baptist church in Tono Iwate-ken. The Tono Kindergarten became famous in the area and is still … |
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Back of Tono Baptist church photoGreat Grandmother Kuni Wada grew up thinking her name was Sen which is what her father called her. She was to be named Sen, probably after her father Dr. Sentei Hara. But as a physician, he was away at the time of her birth. She found out her real name … |
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Tono Church Article - Annie Buzzell worked with Rev. M. WadaMrs. Annie Buzzell, a Baptist missionary, ran the Tono Sunday School and Mrs. Kuni Wada played the piano at the church. |
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Tono Baptist Church, 2006Visited the Tono Baptist Church, Iwate-ken in 2006. |
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Tono Baptist Church interior 2006The wood for the interior of the church was the wood originally used to build the original church purchased by Rev. Wada around 1910. |
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Baptism records: Rev. Wada - Rev. SawanoMy Great Grandfather saved his and Rev. Sawano's Baptist records |
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Baptism in Meiji-era JapanRev Wada's countryside Baptisms |
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Kamaishi Baptist Church, Iwate-ken - 1912The Kamaishi church was just to the east of the Tono Baptist church. The Wada family visited the church often. |
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Keijo City - Seoul KoreaThe Wada family served at a Christian mission in Korea where Uncle Michihiko "Mike" Wada was born in 1913. |
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Countryside evangelismRev. M. Wada speaking |
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Triennial Baptist ConventionJoint meeting of Northern and Southern Baptist missionaries in Japan. Rev. Masahiko Wada is seated in the 3rd row from the front and 2nd from the right. There are four Southern Baptist missionaries in the back row in this photo - George W. Bouldin (the tall one), Charles Kelsey Dozier, J. … |
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New Japan Baptist MissionariesThe family interacted with many Northern and Southern Baptist missionary families from 1900 to 1931 and kept up these relationships in the USA. |
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1918 Church service in Vladivostok, RussiaPossibly Vladivostok Russia. The Japan YMCA sent many missionaries to this region. |
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Christian mission with children in Russia, circa 1920sRev. Masahiko Wada's photo albums have many pictures of the Christian Far East missions in Port Arthur, Siberia, and the Russia Far East. |
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Russian ChurchMany Russian churches were converted to Christian missions. |
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Rev. Wada with Southern Baptist MinistersGreat Grandfather, Rev. Wada, 3rd row from the front 6th from the left next to Rev. Mutsuo Gotou. See next slide for list of names. Great Grandmother Kuni Wada, front row 3rd from the left |
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Rev. Wada with Southern Baptist Ministers descriptionInformation provided by Russ Borg, SBC Japan Missionary |
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Kure Baptist Church membersThis is an early photo of Kure Baptist Church. The church met in rented quarters (probably this house) until their church building was completed in 1922. So this is pre-1922, probably mid to late 1910s. Emma and Elizabeth Ray are the young girls. Standing next to Franklin Ray with … |
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Kure Baptist Church, Hiroshima-kenKure Baptist Church. The church building was constructed in 1922. The Wada family was at Kure Baptist Church from around 1923 - 1928. |
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Kure Baptist Church, Japan 1923From August 1923 to 1928, the Wada family lived in Kure, Hiroshima-ken, and attended a Southern Baptist Church. Evangelism brought two well known Navy officials to the church. One was the head of the Navy hospital and the other was the head of the ammunition factory. Many Ensigns from the … |
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Kure Baptist Church Nursery SchoolMrs. Kuni Wada taught at the church school. It was said that her bible lessons were often done in English, just as she learned them. This attracted many children as their families wanted them to learn English. |
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Kure Baptist Church Nursery School, circa 1924Yasushi Wada blurred in the front center |
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Kure Baptist Church Nursery School play timeUncle Yas Wada remembered playing with the other nursery school kids. The church was the largest in the area and many Baptist Women's Mission's teachers taught classes there. |
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Kure Church Missionaries - Rev. Franklin & Daisy RaySouthern Baptist Missionaries to the Hiroshima area. The families stayed in contact and also would serve in Southern California in the future. |
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Pastor M. Wada with Kure Japan MissionariesPastor Wada with missionary Daisy Ray and children Elizabeth, Emma, and Hermon. Hermon briefly returned to Japan as an SBC missionary with his wife from 1934 to 1937, after college and seminary. |
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Kuni Wada with Baptist missionaries in Seinan Gakuin Fukuoka City in 1932Corrected 2020: Many missionary families came to visit Kuni Anazawa Wada, seated in the front right. Southern Baptist Missionaries Rev. Charles Kelsey Dozier and Maude Burke Dozier are in back. Front Center: Maude Dozier’s mother – Delia T. Burke. Information provided by Mr. Russ Borg, SBC Japan missionary
Kuni Wada with Baptist missionaries in Seinan Gakuin Fukuoka City in 1932 |
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Kure Baptist Church in Hiroshima-kenColor lantern slide of Kure Baptist Church in Hiroshima-ken circa 1925 This item is based on another item which has been withdrawn by its contributor. |
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Kure Baptist Church, Hiroshima-kenAunt Midori Wada Murai, standing in the 2nd row far left, and Kuni Anazawa Wada standing in the back row 4th from the left. |
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Chofu Baptist Church JapanIn 1928, Rev. Wada accepted a position at a Baptist Church in Chofu. However, Rev. Wada was called to serve in the USA and left on Nov 12, 1928 on the SS “Taiyo Maru” NYK for San Francisco. After Rev. Wada left Chofu Baptist Church, Kuni Wada took care of … |
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Wada family with Chofu Baptist church membersMichihiko "Mike" (front row center), Kuni Wada, Midori in Chofu 1930 after Rev. Wada and eldest daughter Mutsu left for the USA. |
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30th Anniversary SBC in Japan (VI) - Japan Missionaries30th Anniversary of Southern Baptist Convention work in Japan
30th Anniversary SBC in Japan (VI) - Japan Missionaries |
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30th Anniversary SBC in Japan - Rev. Sato & Fujinuma30th Anniversary of Southern Baptist Convention work in Japan
30th Anniversary SBC in Japan - Rev. Sato & Fujinuma |
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SBC 30th Anniversary |
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Kokura Baptist Church |
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Moji Baptist Church |
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Yawata Baptist Church |
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First Y.W.A. conference in Kokura, Japan.Baptist missionaries are attending the service. Grandmother Mutsu Wada Homma attended and wore her dark colored kimono (justright of center). July 21-26 1926. Missionary Maggie Lee Bouldin is in the upper left-hand corner. She served as 院長 or president/principal of Seinan Jo Gakuin from 1925-1927. Information provided bt Russ Borg, … |
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Church playOutreach with the use of church plays was very popular in the Wada's churches. |
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Ten Commandments Lantern slideOne of many of the Wada family's lantern slides. They were used in the Sunday schools in Japan as well as in the USA. |
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David & Goliath lantern slideOne of many of the Wada family's lantern slides. They were used in the Sunday schools in Japan as well as in the USA. |
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The Last PrayerPart of the Wada family's lantern slide collection used in their ministry in Japan and the USA. |
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Abraham and Isaac Bible StoryPart of the Wada family's lantern slide collection used in their ministry in Japan and the USA. |
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American Baptist Japan Missionaries, June 1929American Baptist Japan Missionaries, June 1929. Japan Baptist Mission Convention Gotemba. |
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Japan Baptist Convention 1930At Gotemba Japan |
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Pastor Goto funeral in 1928Pastor Goto was one of the first Japanese pastors to work with Southern Baptist missionaries in West Japan/Kyushu. Great Grandfather Rev. Wada is seated in the front row 2nd from the right of center. |
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Rev. Wada speaking - Event was called a “shinsei undou” translated “New Life Movement”Rev. Wada speaking - Revival event called a “shinsei undou” translated “New Life Movement”. Mrs. Kuni Wada was often asked to help interface with the new missionaries and guests. She was brought up in missionary schools in Morioka and spoke English, French, and German in addition to Japanese. |
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Makiki Christian Church in Honolulu, HI USASince 1904, Makiki Christian Church has been the home of a prayerful, worshiping community.
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Amache Stories and Memories
The Schmoe House, Houses for Hiroshima Project, Grand Opening Ceremony - Hiroshima, Japan
May 2011 Japan Tsunami Relief Mission trip & Follow up visit in Oct 2012
Baptist Churches in Pre-WWII Imperial Japan
Moneta / Gardena Valley Baptist Church (1930-1940)
Heart Mountain Photos from Michihiko Wada
Incarceration Years: Lordsburg/Santa Fe, Seagoville, Amache Camp Photos and DOJ Documents
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