CHRIST AND JAPAN by TOYOHIKO KAGAWA Originally published in 1934. Translator's Preface: This volume contains penetrating insights and illuminating Interpretations of the Japanese mind and heart by one who has plumbed both and knows his fellow-nationals as few know them. The creative process back of this book opens a window into Dr. Kagawa's technique as a writer. Impaired eyesight, periodically bordering on blindness, makes both reading and writing impos sible. For six months, in the midst of a program which would drive most men to distraction, he somehow found time to mull over this production* and then, for ten terrific days and nights, with his whole personality aflame, he dictated it to his Japa nese amanuensis. The translator has striven to convey to the Eng lish reader the message and the mood o the author. The effort to lure the English language into giving adequate expression to the scintillating thoughts and the glowing soul of the writer, has been an agonizing yet fascinating task. Dr. Kagawa has ap proved of the English text in Its final form. WILLIAM AXLING. Contents include: CHRIST CLAIMS JAPAN: A Prologue 3 I. JAPAN AND THE JAPANESE 7 II. STRONG AND WEAK FEATURES OF JAPANESE CHARACTER 20 III. THE JAPANESE SPIRIT IN THE MODERN WORLD 42 IV. THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF THE JAPANESE 72 V. JAPAN NEEDS CHRIST 104 VI. GIVE CHRIST A CHANCE! 120 Index 143. Christ and Japan. Prologue: realm Inviolate. It Is an astounding story, but In Japan's centuries-long history not one of her myriad Islands has passed Into the possession of an alien hand or land. This genius for preservation has unfortunately Included the bad as well as the good. In the same careful way she has preserved theworld-wide system of public prostitution, the deadly syphilis brought by the Portuguese traders, the curse-laden liquor and the sin which has reigned since Adam's day. But must Japan preserve these vices forever? Must the sword which the samurai so proudly bore for ever be In evidence? Must the brothel, the saloon, the penitentiary, and oppressive police power for ever remain in the picture? O Japan! Eternal love keeps calling! Petulant Japan! Isolated Japan! Abandon your sulky mood and kneel before the God of Infinite love. In your effort to rid yourself of sin and to sanctify your soul you, too, must go by the way of the cross. Christ opened a way of salvation even for Japan. Yes! Though the whole wide world forsakes her, Christ, the reveal er of eternal love, will never cease to woo Japan until he wins, Japan Is famishing for love. Love, God's love, can only be found and fathomed in Christ. He has laid siege to Japan's soul, and she belongs to him. The cruelties which for three hundred years char acterized the persecutions under the Tokugawa Shogunate can hardly be paralleled in the history of mankind. Yet, when the Shogunate fell and the Meiji government proclaimed freedom for the propagation of the gospel, over twenty thousand Christians came triumphantly forth from hidden islands and secluded villages. Japan had not turned her back on Christ. Japan possesses a mysterious power of preserving values. Confucianism has all but perished In China, the land of Its birth. But, In Japan, it Is still a vital force. Buddhism has fallen into decay In India where It was cradled. With us It has flowered into new life. [ 3]

On Christmas Eve in 1909, twenty-one-year-old Kagawa Toyohiko (1888-1960) rented a room in K be's worst slum where, apart from two years of study in the United States, he remained with his wife and co-worker Haru for more than ten years. They engaged in pastoral work, evangelism, social reform movements, and literary activities, founding numerous institutions that are still in operation today. After publishing a best-selling novel in 1920, Kagawa began to draw the attention of people from around Japan and the world. His literary output was prodigious, amounting to more than 300 books. Often compared with his contemporaries Mahatma Gandhi and Albert Schweitzer, Kagawa was nominated twice for the Nobel Prize in Literature (1947, 1948) and three times for the Nobel Peace Prize (1954, 1955, 1956). Challenging the materialism of Charles Darwin and the claim of H. G. Wells that "we must give up any idea that evolution is purposeful," Cosmic Purpose draws on research in physics, chemistry, astrophysics, mineralogy, genetics, and biology to offer evidence of purpose in the vast span of evolutionary history from the atom to human consciousness. In his attempt to renew our sense of wonder at this process, Kagawa proposes a "logic of finality" that links life to purpose. "Not since the writings of Teilhard de Chardin has there been a book of such awe-inspiring depth and scope as Kagawa's. He has produced a magnificently sustained argument for purposefulness in the universe. It is a single-minded pursuit of one theme that brings together an amazing array of scientific discoveries and an original blend of the human and ethical dimensions." --Eric Scerri, University of California, Los Angeles "Cosmic Purpose is an extraordinary example of how religion and natural sciences complement each other. In its endeavor to provide a coherent answer to the question of whether the universe has a purpose, this book is sure to ignite theological and philosophical debate." --Luis X. Lopez-Farjeat, Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City "The history of science contains certain key books that stand above all others for their importance in shaping the public debate. One book of enormous intellectual beauty that until now has been unknown in Western circles is Kagawa Toyohiko's Cosmic Purpose, a monumental attempt to reconcile a respect for religion with a respect for science. The result is a deeply thoughtful and thought-provoking text, arguably even more relevant in the twenty-first century." --Michael Graziano, Princeton University, New Jersey "The book is nothing less than remarkable. Kagawa's work points forward toward features in contemporary scientific discussions about teleology, convergence, and various forms of selection, as well as opens up new discussions between science, theology, and philosophy on evil, salvation, and the nature and purpose of being human." --Jan-Olav Henriksen, Norwegian School of Theology, Oslo Thomas John Hastings is Senior Research Fellow in Science and Religion at the Japan International Christian University Foundation in New York City and Research Fellow at International Christian University and the Kagawa Archives and Resource Center in Tokyo. He was formerly Director of Research, Associate Director, and Houston Witherspoon Fellow in Theology and Science at the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton and spent twenty-three years teaching in Japan, most recently as Professor at Tokyo Union Theological Seminary from 1995 to 2008. He is the author of Practical Theology and the One Body of Christ: Toward a Missional-Ecumenical Model (2007) and numerous articles, chapters, and translations in Japanese and English."

Text extracted from opening pages of book: CHRIST AND JAPAN BY TOYOHIKO KAGAWA TRANSLATED BY WILLIAM AXLING FRIENDSHIP PRESS NEW YORK COPYRIGHT, 1934, BY G. Q. LE SOURD Printed in the United Slates of America Translator's Preface This volume contains penetrating insights and illuminating Interpretations of the Japanese mind and heart by one who has plumbed both and knows his fellow-nationals as few know them. The creative process back of this book opens a window into Dr. Kagawa's technique as a writer. Impaired eyesight, periodically bordering on blindness, makes both reading and writing impos sible. For six months, in the midst of a program which would drive most men to distraction, he somehow found time to mull over this production* and then, for ten terrific days and nights, with his whole personality aflame, he dictated it to his Japa nese amanuensis. The translator has striven to convey to the Eng lish reader the message and the mood o the author. The effort to lure the English language into giving adequate expression to the scintillating thoughts and the glowing soul of the writer, has been an [ v] Translator's Preface agonizing yet fascinating task. Dr. Kagawa has ap proved of the English text in Its final form. The translator wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to the Rev. K. Ogawa, who rendered invaluable assistance in the early stages of the translation, and to Miss T. lida for her painstaking stenographic services. WILLIAM AXLING TokyGf Japan January, [ vi] Contents CHRIST CLAIMS JAPAN: A Prologue 3 I. JAPAN AND THE JAPANESE 7 II. STRONG AND WEAK FEATURES OF JAPANESE CHARACTER 20 III. THE JAPANESE SPIRIT IN THE MODERN WORLD 42 IV. THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF THE JAPANESE 72 V.JAPAN NEEDS CHRIST 104 VI. GIVE CHRIST A CHANCE! 120 Index 143 Christ and Japan Prologue realm Inviolate. It Is an astounding story, but In Japan's centuries-long history not one of her myriad Islands has passed Into the possession of an alien hand or land. This genius for preservation has unfortunately Included the bad as well as the good. In the same careful way she has preserved the world-wide system of public prostitution, the deadly syphilis brought by the Portuguese traders, the curse-laden liquor and the sin which has reigned since Adam's day. But must Japan preserve these vices forever? Must the sword which the samurai so proudly bore for ever be In evidence? Must the brothel, the saloon, the penitentiary, and oppressive police power for ever remain in the picture? O Japan! Eternal love keeps calling! Petulant Japan! Isolated Japan! Abandon your sulky mood and kneel before the God of Infinite love. In your effort to rid yourself of sin and to sanctify your soul you, too, must go by the way of the cross. Christ opened a way of salvation even for Japan. Yes! Though the whole wide world forsakes her, Christ, the reveal er of eternal love, will never cease to woo Japan until he wins, [ 5] Prologue CHRIST CLAIMS JAPAN Japan Is famishing for love. Love, God's love, can only be found and fathomed in Christ. He has laid siege to Japan's soul, and she belongs to him. The cruelties which for three hundred years char acterized the persecutions under the Tokugawa Shogunate can hardly be paralleled in the history of mankind. Yet, when the Shogunate fell and the Meiji government proclaimed freedom for the propagation of the gospel, over twenty thousand Christians came triumphantly forth fromhidden islands and secluded villages. Japan had not turned her back on Christ. Japan possesses a mysterious power of preserving values. Confucianism has all but perished In China, the land of Its birth. But, In Japan, it Is still a vital force. Buddhism has fallen into decay In India where It was cradled. With us It has flowered into new life. [ 3]