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Hiizu (Hide) Kuniya was one of the earliest
Japanese Seventh-day Adventist ministers.

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Kuniya was born in Japan in 1872.

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When he turned 20, 
he was called for military service.

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In the military, he was led 
to become a Christian

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through the influence of a friend.

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Then he met an intern military doctor 
named Mokutaru Kawasaki.

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Kawasaki attended English Bible studies
presented by William Calhoun Grainger,

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the first official Seventh-day
Adventist missionary to Japan.

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Kawasaki invited Kuniya 
to attend the studies with him.

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Kuniya accepted the invitation.

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Studying the Bible fervently,
he became convinced

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that the Adventist message 
was the biblical truth

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and that Jesus was coming soon.

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Soon, he and Kawasaki were baptized.

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Following his baptism, 
Kuniya became engaged in outreach.

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He preached on the street,
began colportering,

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and helped with the editorial work

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of the first Seventh-day Adventist 
Japanese language periodical.

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In the summer of 1900,

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Kuniya supported the opening 
of the small "Kobe Sanitarium"

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for poor Japanese people.

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This led the way 
for a church to be planted.

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According to Kuniya,

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although the establishment 
of the church had growing pains,

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for a while it was the center
of the Japanese missionary work.

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In 1904, Kuniya met two Korean Christians.

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He told them 
about the Seventh-day Sabbath,

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and they accepted 
the biblical truth and were baptized.

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This became the first Adventist work 
for Korean people.

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Kuniya went to Korea and engaged
in the missionary work there.

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In 1907, he was ordained

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and became one of the first Seventh-day
Adventist Japanese official ministers.

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Kuniya attended 
the 1909 General Conference Session

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and reported about his ministry
and experience in Japan.

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Like the Apostle Paul,
Kuniya had a conviction

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that it was his mission

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to proclaim the gospel 
in unreached places.

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While doing colporteur work,

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he established churches 
in many Japanese cities.

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In 1918, Kuniya was called
to advance the missionary work in Tokyo.

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As a result of his ministry,

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the church grew significantly 
in this capital city.

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During World War II, the police arrested
42 Japanese Seventh-day Adventists,

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including Kuniya.

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He was incarcerated for about six months

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when it was discovered 
he had both kidney and heart disease

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and was sent to a hospital.

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Fortunately, he recovered 
from his health ailments.

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Kuniya was exempted 
from prosecution and went free.

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After the war, 
he immediately began visiting

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scattered believers and seekers 
in local regions to encourage them.

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Pastor Hiizu Kuniya died in 1962.

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His faithful service to God
laid a solid foundation

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for the Seventh-day 
Adventist Church in Japan.

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For more stories 
about pioneer missionaries,

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visit encyclopedia.adventist.org.