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Hiizu (Hide) Kuniya

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was one of the earliest Japanese[br]Seventh-day Adventist ministers.

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Kuniya was born in Japan in 1872.

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When he turned 20, [br]he was called for military service.

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In the military, he was led [br]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 [br]named Mokutarou Kawasaki.

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Kawasaki attended English Bible studies[br]presented by William Calhoun Grainger,

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the first official Seventh-day[br]Adventist missionary to Japan.

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Kawasaki invited Kuniya [br]to attend the studies with him.

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Kuniya accepted the invitation.

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Studying the Bible fervently,[br]he became convinced

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that the Adventist message [br]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, [br]Kuniya became engaged in outreach.

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He preached on the street,[br]began colportering,

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and helped with the editorial work

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of the first Seventh-day Adventist [br]Japanese language periodical.

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In the summer of 1900,

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Kuniya supported the opening [br]of the small "Kobe Sanitarium"

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for poor Japanese people.

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This led the way [br]for a church to be planted.

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According to Kuniya,

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although the establishment [br]of the church had growing pains,

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

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In 1904, Kuniya met two Korean Christians.

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He told them [br]about the Seventh-day Sabbath,

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and they accepted [br]the biblical truth and were baptized.

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This became the first Adventist work [br]for Korean people.

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Kuniya went to Korea and engaged[br]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[br]Adventist Japanese official ministers.

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Kuniya attended [br]the 1909 General Conference Session

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and reported about his ministry[br]and experience in Japan.

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Like the Apostle Paul,[br]Kuniya had a conviction

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that it was his mission

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to proclaim the gospel [br]in unreached places.

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While doing colporteur work,

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he established churches [br]in many Japanese cities.

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In 1918, Kuniya was called[br]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 [br]in this capital city.

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During World War II, the police arrested[br]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 [br]he had both kidney and heart disease

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and was sent to a hospital.

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Fortunately, he recovered [br]from his health ailments.

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Kuniya was exempted [br]from prosecution and went free.

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After the war, [br]he immediately began visiting

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scattered believers and seekers [br]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[br]laid a solid foundation

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for the Seventh-day [br]Adventist Church in Japan.

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For more stories [br]about pioneer missionaries,

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visit encyclopedia.adventist.org