メリディアン
日本語
帰還宣教師から
From Returned Missionaries
アンドラス伝道部長
04/03/2008
Wade.
You are welcome to put what I wrote on the website. Also I have written a number
of articles on my experiences in Japan and you are very welcome to put some or
all of these on your website if you would like to. For starters you might be
interested in an account of Elder Jeaune Iwaasa and I reopening the work in
Hokkaido in 1949 after the church had been closed there since 1924. I recently
wrote up this account at the request of President David Iwaasa now presiding
over the Japan Fukuoka Mission who is the nephew of Elder Jeaune Iwaasa now
deceased. Attached I am sending you a copy in case you might like to put it on
your website. Aloha, Paul.
Dear President Iwaasa:
In accordance with your request I have read over my old missionary journal regarding your Uncle Jeaune and I reopening the church in Hokkaido in 1949 and I am pleased to send you some information.
As you are aware, the first missionaries to Japan arrived on August 12, 1901. The church remained in Japan for 23 years with branches in Tokyo, Osaka, Kofu, and Sapporo. The mission was closed and the final missionaries sailed for home from Yokohama on August 7, 1924.
After World War II, President Edward L. Clissold was called as President of the Japanese Mission and arrived in Japan on March 6, 1948. The first group of missionaries, Elder H. Ted Price, his younger brother Elder Raymond C. Price, Elder Wayne McDaniel, Elder Koji Okauchi, and myself arrived in Japan on June 26, 1948. Additional groups of missionaries arrived regularly thereafter and in one of those groups was your uncle, Elder Jeaune Iwaasa. Unfortunately I do not know the exact date of his arrival.
Sister Tamano Kumagai joined the church in Sapporo before the mission was closed and remained faithful over the ensuing 25 years. President Clissold contacted Sister Kumagai in 1949 and made arrangements with her for missionaries to be sent to Sapporo to reopen the work there. Sister Kumagai made reservations for two missionaries at the Yamagataya Japanese Inn in Sapporo and promised to assist the missionaries in getting settled after their arrival.
President Clissold assigned me and Elder Iwaasa to reopen the work in Sapporo and we departed Tokyo for Sapporo from Ueno Station on a third class railroad car in the evening of March 28,1949.
President and Sister Clissold and their daughter Carol drove us and Elder Raymond Price and Elder Koji Okauchi who were returning to Takasaki, to Ueno iStation in the mission station wagon, a 1948 Jeep station wagon.
We had a spectacular sendoff. A group of about 25 members and investigators gathered on the platform at Ueno Station by the window of our car and sang hymns until our train pulled out. The platform was crowded with relatives and well wishers of the other departing passengers but only our group was singing hymns and made quite a stir among those nearby.
In the aftermath of World War II, transportation was very difficult and all trains were extremely crowded. We were traveling by third class car because the entire train was made up of only third class cars. The only transportation available to Northern Honshu in those days was by third class railroad cars. In our car all seats were taken and people were standing in the aisles. Everyone was carrying their own baggage which made the congestion almost unbearable. Old men, old women, young men, young women, children and mothers carrying babies were crowded around our seats headed for destinations in Northern Honshu and Hokkaido. All seats were wooden benches with rigid straight backs and were very uncomfortable.
Soon after our departure Elder Iwaasa and I gave our seats to some old women who were standing in the aisle. We spent the remainder of the night standing in the aisle or sometimes on the platform between the two cars where it was less crowded but where it was also very cold. We passed the time telling people about the church and discussing religion with them. I had a lengthy conversation with a college student who knew nothing about Christianity and told me his understanding was that Jesus Christ was born in India and established Christianity there in India.
At 2 AM the next morning we arrived at Aomori. By this time the train was much less crowded. Also at Aomori a sleeper car was attached to our train and we were able to purchase two berths. Our entire train was then taken aboard a large ferry boat which carried us across the Tsugaru Straits to Hakodate in Hokkaido where our train was taken off the ferry and we continued on in luxury to Sapporo.
Thirty six hours after our departure from Ueno Station we arrived in Sapporo at 6 AM on Saturday April 30,
1949. President Clissold had assured us that Sister Kumagai would be on hand to meet us at the train station and take us to our hotel but there was no one on hand to meet us on the arrival platform nor outside the train station. After a few minutes waiting outside we were about to depart for the Yamagataya Inn by ourselves when we were suddenly approached by a very young and energetic lady who called to us in a loud voice saying, "Morumon Kyokai no senkyoshi desho! Watakushi wa Kumagai Desu!" Sister Kumagai had arrived! We were astonished at her youth and energy because President Clissold had told us she was about fifty years old so we were astonished because she looked and acted like someone about thirty years old.
Sister Kumagai was emotionally grateful for the return of the missionaries after 25 long years. She was overjoyed to see us and we were very happy to meet her so we rejoiced together in front of the Sapporo Train Station on this historic occasion. Sister Kumagai then escorted us to the Yamagataya Inn.
Sister Kumagai was a
reporter for the Sapporo newspaper and as soon as we had checked in to
the inn she got on the telephone in the lobby where we were seated and
called up the editor and said in a loud voice, "Sensei! Dainews ga
okorimashita! Morumon Kyokai no Senkyoshi ga Sapporo ni modotte
kimashita!! She so impressed the editor that he sent over a reporter and
a cameraman to interview us and take our picture and a very nice article
with our picture came out the next morning in the Sunday paper. I still
have a copy of that newspaper article and will send a copy to you later
on. Unfortunately I do not have a scanner at the present time or i would
send a copy of this newspaper article to you now.
Sister Kumagai spent the entire day with us. She took us to visit a Brother Sato at the school where he teaches and he invited us to dinner at his home that evening. After leaving Brother Sato's school we by chance bumped into Brother Ono another member of the church on the street. Sister Kumagai then took us to visit another member of the church, Brother Soman, at the factory where he works. Sister Kumagai then treated us to a delicious lunch. In the evening Sister Kumagai took us to Brother Sato's home where we met his family and enjoyed a sumptuous Japanese dinner. After dinner we walked with Sister Kumagai back to the Yamagataya singing and talking on the way.
Sunday, May 1, 1949, at 1 PM Elder Iwaasa and I conducted a a Sacrament Meeting in the dining room of the Yamagataya Inn. In attendance were Sister Kumagai, Brother Sato, Brother Ono, and a Brother Oyama who had seen the newspaper article that morning. We enjoyed a wonderful spiritual meeting together as we all bore our testimonies and sang together.
Sunday evening Sister Kumagai took us to visit one of her influential friends, an old man by the name of Kinoshita, who promised to help us find a suitable place to hold our church meetings.
Monday, May 2, 1949. We spent the morning writing in our journals and writing letters home. In the afternoon Sister Kumagai came to the Yamagata Inn and took us to visit her cousin and his wife and family of six beautiful children. They served us a delicious dinner after which the family sang to us and we showed some church slides.
Tuesday, May 3,1949. This morning we studied Jesus The Christ by Elder James E. Talmadge before breakfast and after breakfast we spent the morning looking at five different possible places to rent for a meeting place.
Today Sister Kumagai was going to take us to visit the father of Takeo Fujiwara but we missed the train and returned to the Yamagataya disappointed. Takeo Fujiwara attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, in the 1930s and then after his return to Japan was called and set apart as the Presiding Elder of the church in Japan. He served enthusiastically and well but became ill and died shortly thereafter.
This afternoon three students we met on the streetcar last night called on us at the Yamagataya and we enjoyed a good gospel discussion with them. They are intelligent and seem very interested in learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, May 4, 1949. Elder Iwaasa and I spent the entire day walking the streets of Sapporo to visit five or six schools inquiring about the possibility of renting for our church meetings.
Sister Kumagai invited us to her home this evening and treated us to a sumptuous Japanese dinner. Sister Kumagai reported that she is diligently looking for a place for us to stay and also for a place for us to hold meetings.
Thursday, May 5, 1949. This morning we visited the US Army Information and Education Office and presented them with a Book of Mormon in English for their library. We met a Major Hanson and a Lieutenant Powers who said they would be happy to use their influence in finding living quarters and a meeting place for us.
We then went with Sister Kumagai's friend, Mr. Kinoshita to look at a house for rent but were disappointed when he took us to see an old rundown and dirty house not suitable for us. Mr Kinoshita is a lawyer and apparently has considerable influence in the community. He seems to be sincere in his efforts to help the church out in Sapporo.
Later in the day we went out to Camp Crawford which is an American military base on the outskirts of Sapporo. We previously met a Brother Cook who is in the US Army stationed at Camp Crawford so we went to visit him but he was out. We then went to the Base Chapel and met chaplain Reynolds who treated us cordially. We then went back and found Brother Cook and went with him and found six more members of the church. We hope to be able to start holding meetings with these LDS servicemen at Camp Crawford.
Friday, May 6, 1949. This morning we visited Major Hanson who suggested we call on a Presbyterian Missionary by the name of Dr. Chapman. We did go see Dr. Chapman but he was of no help to us. We then went to the Prefectural Office Building and then to the Sapporo City Hall but the people there were of no help.
This afternoon a Mr. Hosaka came to see us at the Yamagataya. He said he had seen the article in the newspaper about us and offered to be of service in any way he can.
After Mr. Kinoshita departed Brother Cook and Brother Phelps, soldiers stationed at Camp Crawford came to see us and offered to help in every way they can.
Sister Kumagai also came to see us at the Yamagataya. She is diligently trying to find us a place to live and a place to hold church meetings.
This evening we ate at the Grand Hotel which has been taken over by the US Army. We are not authorized to eat there but just got in line and went through without incident. I feel that my three and a half years of service in the US Army Air Corps including combat against the Japanese in the Philippines qualifies us to eat there even though we are not authorized to do so. The food was delicious.
Saturday, May 7, 1949. We visited Lieutenant Powers this morning and learned he has heard of nothing for us. We also visited Major Hanson who provided us with a map of Sapporo.
Mr. Hosaka tokk us to see a house for sale which is not suitable.
This evening I wrote a long letter to President Clissold bringing him up to date on the happenings of our first week in Sapporo.
Sunday, May 8,1949. We had no meetings scheduled and spent the day in our room at the Yamagataya Inn
From this time on Elder Iwaasa and I spent our days walking the streets of Sapporo and going house to house and building to building searching for living quarters to rent in a Japanese house and a meeting hall to rent in a Japanese building. Mostly Sister Kumagai but also other old members were helping all they could and took us to look at many possible homes and buildings.This was difficult and disappointing work but after over a month we finally were able to move out of the Yamagataya Inn and into the Nakatsui home as boarders. About the same time we were able to make arrangements to hold church meetings every Sunday in the Sapporo Keizai Koto Gakko. We acknowledge it was the hand of the Lord which made it possible.
Wednesday, May 11, 1949. This was a very good day for us. We again called on Lieutenant Powers who introduced us to a Mr. Nose who works in the same office and to our great joy Mr. Nose said he has a large home and is willing to rent two rooms to us. We immediately began planning to move out of the Yamagataya Inn
Today we also had a good visit with our members at Camp Crawford. We made arrangements to hold a meeting this coming Sunday at Camp Crawford with our LDS servicemen who are stationed there. We met with Brother Lawrence, Brother Erskine, Brother Grames, and Brother Hasselman who all said they would attend our meeting on Sunday.
Thursday, May 12, 1949. This morning we went over to Lieutenant Powers office to meet Mr. Nose and go look at his two rooms he has offered to rent to us. We were expecting to see two excellent rooms but Mr. Nose showed us two very dirty rundown rooms not fit for human habitation and told us these were the only rooms he has available. We were very disappointed. It seems to us that Mr. Nose has many excellent rooms and that he intentionally lied to us about having two suitable rooms for us. Maybe he hates Americans and intentionally deceived us. It seems to us that for some reason unknown to us Mr. Nose either changed his mind about renting to foreigners or he intended from the beginning to deceive us. We left with very unkind feelings for Mr. Nose.
We spent the afternoon going house to house in the Maruyama part of Sapporo searching for a room to rent and even though we visited many houses we were unsuccessful in finding any with a room to rent.
In the evening we visited Mr Hosaka who is looking for a house for us to rent or buy. He says he will search the Maruyama area and take us to see what is available. Mr Hosaka is not a member of the church and while working with him we have enjoyed some good gospel conversations with him.
Friday, May 13, 1949. This morning we went with Mr. Hosaka to look at houses in the Maruyama area but the houses he showed us were not suitable as living quarters and as a meeting place.
This evening we were invited by Sister Kumagai to her home for dinner followed by our first Cottage Meeting in Sapporo. Sister Kumagai is very diligent. She had eighteen people in attendance and we enjoyed a terrific meeting. We feel that many of these people Sister Kumagai is introducing to us will eventually become members of the church.
Sunday, May 15, 1949. We do not have a place to hold meetings with our Japanese members so we did not meet with our Japanese members today. In the afternoon we went out to Camp Crawford to conduct the meeting we had scheduled there in the Base Chapel. We expected a good turnout but were disappointed that only two showed up. Nevertheless we enjoyed a good spiritual meeting after which we enjoyed eating dinner with these two servicemen before returning to our room at the Yamagataya Inn.
In the evening we were visited by two students, Ikenaga-san and Takata-san. with whom we held a lengthy discussion about the word of wisdom. Just after they left Brother Cook and Brother Brae from Camp Crawford stopped in to see us and while they were visiting with us Sister Kumagai also came by and joined us.
Today was a very beautiful spring day in Sapporo so we enjoyed the weather immensely but we feel very frustrated that we have not been able to find living quarters nor a place to hold meetings.
Monday, May 16, 1949. After our regular gospel study class, breakfast, two hours of Japanese study, a two hour visit with Mr. Hosaka, we departed with Sister Kumagai for Garugawa which is about five miles from Sapporo. In Garugawa is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fujiwara, parents of Takeo Fujiwara who was the Presiding Elder in Japan until the time of his death. While on the train Sister Kumagai recognized one of Takeo's brothers who was returning to Garugawa from Sapporo. He took us immediately to his father's house where we met Takeo's father, mother, and two of his sisters-in-law. We stayed for about three hours during which we were able to secure a list of the members in Japan, some early publications of the church in Japan, and we learned the date of Takeo's death. We were greatly impressed by the life of this good man. He was certainly an outstanding human being and was blessed with many talents. I am convinced he was a noble servant of the Lord right up to the time of his early death.
Takeo Fujiwara was born the fourth son in a family of twelve sons. His childhood was spent in and about Sapporo where he received education in the public schools.He was an outstanding athlete and student, participating in tennis, baseball, football, and he was school champion in judo and kendo. His scholastic standing was high, fifteenth in his class in high school.
Takeo met the missionaries in October of 1923 and was particularly associated with Elder and Sister Glover and Elder Mauss. Of a large initial attendance at an English gospel class all stopped coming except Takeo and he was eventually converted. Before joining the church and while he was investigating the gospel, he met opposition from his family, particularly his grandmother and his oldest brother. His schoolmates ridiculed the teachings of Christianity such as prophets communing with God. The Principal of his high school forbade him to attend Christian meetings. However, his mother and father consented to his joining the church---his mother being the first to give her permission. she was impressed with Takeo's change in temperament since he began studying the gospel.
Sometime after joining the church Takeo met President Harris of the BYU who was visiting Japan and in about 1927 Takeo went to America to study at the BYU. He graduated and also earned his Master of Arts degree. Before returning to Japan he was set apart as Presiding Elder over Japan. He was conscientious and energetic in magnifying this calling. In 1935 he contracted tuberculosis and died in Garugawa on January 27, 1936 at the age of 31. He was not married. His body was cremated and his ashes are in the Buddhist Shoryuji temple in Garugawa.
This evening after returning to Sapporo Elder Iwaasa and I visited Major and Sister Hasselman and their daughters at the Dependent Housing Area at Camp Crawford. We enjoyed a delicious supper, a ride around Camp Crawford, and a movie at the Base Theater.
Thursday , May 19, 1949. Today Elder Iwaasa and I fasted all day for the purpose of drawing nearer to the Lord so that we will be able to locate and rent living quarters for ourselves and a meeting place for our church meetings.
Friday May 20, 1949. Sister Kumagai came to our room early this morning with the news that she had just learned of a place that might serve as living quarters and a meeting place so we departed immediately to take a look at this place. We were delighted to find a large residence now unoccupied which would suit our purposes very well. However when we attempted to rent it we learned to our great disappointment that someone had just rented it three days ago. So our hopes rose and fell in one day.
This evening we held our second cottage meeting at the home of Sister Kumagai. We enjoyed a wonderful meeting with 20 people in attendance including 12 college students.
Saturday, May 21, 1949. Today Elder Iwaasa and I were invited to speak at a meeting of the Japanese who are employed at Camp Crawford. After talks there was a time devoted to open discussion and questions.
All in all this meeting went very well.
Sunday, May 22, 1949. Even though we are not able to hold meetings with the Japanese on Sundays, we are enjoying some success in holding meetings on Sunday Afternoons with the LDS Servicemen at Camp Crawford. Brother Cook is very diligent in scheduling and promoting these meetings. We enjoyed an excellent meeting this afternoon with eight people in attendance.
Monday, May 23,1949. We spent another day searching for living quarters and a meeting place to no avail.
We called on the Hokusei Jogakko which has wonderful facilities but we were again turned down.
We are running low on money and this morning when we ate breakfast at the Grand Hotel we were asked for the first time if we are authorized to eat there so it looks like we soon will be prevented from taking our meals there. It was another discouraging day.
Tuesday, May 24, 1949. this morning we called on another private school but were angrily rebuffed by the Principal who emphatically stated his school facilities could not be used for religious purposes.
We next visited the Sapporo Keizai Koto Gakko and were kindly received by a young and friendly Principal by the name of Ashiba who said he could not promise us today but he would let us know in three days whether we could use his school for our Sunday Meetings. This was encouraging because it was the first time we had not been refused outright.
Elder Iwaasa and I spent the rest of the day searching for living quarters to rent but with no success.
Wednesday, May 25, 1949. Once again today we spent six hours straight walking the streets of residential areas in Sapporo canvassing house by house in search of living quarters. We visited a large number of houses and spoke with a large number of people most of whom turned us away but we did meet a Mrs. Yamamoto who was very sympathetic and said we could move in to her home, but unfortunately it was a very small room and very inconvenient and unsuitable for us to live in.
Today Sister Kumagai introduced us to her friend Mrs. Nakatsui who is also well acquainted with Brother Ono. Mrs. Nakatsui kindly expressed her desire to help us find living quarters.
Thursday, May 26, 1949. Early this morning Sister Kumagai phoned with the great news that Mrs. Nakatsui has agreed to let us move into her home!! This evening we went to Mrs. Nakatsui's home and finalized the arrangements. Mrs. Nakatsui agreed to rent us a very nice tatami room and she also agreed to provide our meals. What a relief! And what a blessing! How grateful we are to the Lord for answering our prayers. Of course it was through Sister Kumagai we were able to make this arrangement with Mrs. Nakatsui.
During the day Brother Kenzo Ono came to visit us great excitement. Some time ago Brother Ono asked us to help him prepare his talk for an English speaking contest. He won first place and excitedly came to thank us.
Friday, May 27, 1949. This evening Elder Iwaasa and I held our weekly cottage meeting at the home of Sister Kumagai. Elder Iwaasa gave a wonderful lesson and those in attendance listened very attentively and asked many questions. We feel that many of those who attend our Cottage Meetings will be converted and come into the church.
Saturday, May 28, 1949. This morning when we went to the Grand Hotel for breakfast we were approached by a Captain Greer who asked us to show him our written authorization to eat there. Of course we are not authorized to eat there so he informed us that we could no longer do so. This was a disappointment but miraculously, the timing could not have been better because we now will be able to eat Mrs. Nakatsui's house! Again we acknowledge the hand of the Lord in this blessing.
Brother Kenzo Ono took us with him to the Hokkaido Benron Taikai speech contest. Brother Ono did very well and took third place among contestants from all over Hokkaido.
Sunday, May 29, 1949. We had a good meeting at Camp Crawford Post chapel today. Our attendance dropped on down to seven but there new faces and we enjoyed a good meeting. We ate supper at Camp Crawford with Brother Cook and Brother Bray. We also met Brother Phelps and Brother Michile. The latter two brethren come from Mormon families but have apparently strayed from the teachings of the church.
In the evening Elder Iwaasa and I showed the colored film "In the Tops of the Mountains" to a group of Japanese who work at the Hokkaido Prefectural Office in Sapporo. Corporal Bray accompanied us there. Those people showed great interest and we had a good gospel presentation and discussion with the 14 people in attendance.
Monday May 30, 1949. This morning we were at last able to move out of the Yamagataya Inn and into our new quarters in Mrs. Nakatsui's house. Brother Ono and Brother Hosaka came and helped us move. The money we have been expecting from mission headquarters in Tokyo has not arrived and so we were unable to pay our bill at the Yamagataya. We are very pleased with our new home with the Nakatsuis.
Tuesday, May 31, 1949. Today our prayers were again answered when we visited Mr. Ashiba, Principal of the Sapporo Keizai Koto Gakko, and he agreed to let us rent his school buildings to hold our Sunday meetings!
In the evening we went to the Nogyo Gakko Ryo and made a slide presentation of "In the Top of the Mountains" followed by a good gospel discussion. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meeting and warmly invited us to come back again.
Wednesday, June 1, 1949. Now that we are living in the Nakatsui home we are eating only regular Japanese food prepared by Mrs. Nakatsui. She is an excellent cook but we are not familiar with some of the foods she serves up for us and we are still adjusting to the change in diet.
This evening Elder Iwaasa and I visited the home of Brother Soman but found him not at home. We did speak with his family but they seemed very uncomfortable in our presence.
Monday, June 5, 1949. Today we met with Mr. Ashiba, Principal of the Sapporo Keizai Koto Gakko and finalized arrangements to hold meetings in his school buildings beginning next Sunday. Unfortunately Sister Kumagai and Brother Ono will both be out of town on business so Elder Iwaasa and I will have to conduct our meeting without their help. I feel my inability to adequately express myself in Japanese very keenly, I have been diligently wrestling with the language for almost a year and it is discouraging to not speak and understand better than I do.
Sunday, June 12, 1949. This was a historic day for the church in Hokkaido. For the first time in over twenty five years the church began holding regularly scheduled Sunday Meetings in Sapporo. A heavy rain was falling which we felt would hold down attendance, but to our great delight fifty two people showed up and we enjoyed a wonderful meeting. There was not one of the old members of the church in attendance. Sister Kumagai, Brother Ono, Brother Oyama, and Brother Sato were all out of town on business. Nevertheless Our Father in Heaven blessed us so that our first regular Sunday Meeting was a great success.
In the evening we went out to Camp Crawford for our regular meeting in the post chapel with our LDS Service members. Brother Cook is in the hospital and could not meet with us. Brother Bray came and the three of us enjoyed a good meeting. I am disappointed that more of our members who are stationed here do not seem to take the church seriously enough to come to these meetings regularly. We are doing what we can.
Within a few days I was transferred back to Tokyo and another missionary came to Sapporo to work with Elder Iwaasa. Unfortunately I do not remember the name of Elder Iwaasa's new companion and I did not record it in my journal. Elder Iwaasa took over as Presiding Elder when I left and to him and his new companion goes the credit for building up the church again Sapporo.
Through the blessings of the Lord and the untiring help of Sister Tamano Kumagai, Elder Iwaasa and I were successful in reopening the work and getting it started but Elder Iwaasa and his companion and those who followed carried on in building the church and making it strong in Sapporo.
President Iwaasa, this article would not be complete if I didn't point out that after Elder Iwaasa completed his mission and returned to his home in Raymond, Alberta, Canada, he came back to Japan and made arrangements to marry the daughter of Mr. Ashiba, the Principal and owner of the Sapporo Keizai Koto Gakko who so kindly allowed us to rent his school buildings to hold our Sunday Meetings. She is your Aunt and she can fill you in on the details. I trust that she is well. Please give her my regards.
Aloha, Paul C. Andrus. Kaneohe, Hawaii. May 5, 2007.