May 31 - Pioneering Faith in Japan

Hiizu Kuniya was one of the earliest Japanese Seventh-day Adventist ministers. The start of Adventist work in Korea began in 1904 when Kuniya shared the Sabbath truth with two Korean Christians. He later went to Korea and was ordained as one of the first Japanese Adventist ministers.

Hiizu (Hide) Kuniya

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

Kuniya was born in Japan in 1872.

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

In the military, he was led
to become a Christian

through the influence of a friend.

Then he met an intern military doctor
named Mokutarou Kawasaki.

Kawasaki attended English Bible studies
presented by William Calhoun Grainger,

the first official Seventh-day
Adventist missionary to Japan.

Kawasaki invited Kuniya
to attend the studies with him.

Kuniya accepted the invitation.

Studying the Bible fervently,
he became convinced

that the Adventist message
was the biblical truth

and that Jesus was coming soon.

Soon, he and Kawasaki were baptized.

Following his baptism,
Kuniya became engaged in outreach.

He preached on the street,
began colportering,

and helped with the editorial work

of the first Seventh-day Adventist
Japanese language periodical.

In the summer of 1900,

Kuniya supported the opening
of the small "Kobe Sanitarium"

for poor Japanese people.

This led the way
for a church to be planted.

According to Kuniya,

although the establishment
of the church had growing pains,

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

In 1904, Kuniya met two Korean Christians.

He told them
about the Seventh-day Sabbath,

and they accepted
the biblical truth and were baptized.

This became the first Adventist work
for Korean people.

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

In 1907, he was ordained

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

Kuniya attended
the 1909 General Conference Session

and reported about his ministry
and experience in Japan.

Like the Apostle Paul,
Kuniya had a conviction

that it was his mission

to proclaim the gospel
in unreached places.

While doing colporteur work,

he established churches
in many Japanese cities.

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

As a result of his ministry,

the church grew significantly
in this capital city.

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

including Kuniya.

He was incarcerated for about six months

when it was discovered
he had both kidney and heart disease

and was sent to a hospital.

Fortunately, he recovered
from his health ailments.

Kuniya was exempted
from prosecution and went free.

After the war,
he immediately began visiting

scattered believers and seekers
in local regions to encourage them.

Pastor Hiizu Kuniya died in 1962.

His faithful service to God
laid a solid foundation

for the Seventh-day
Adventist Church in Japan.

For more stories
about pioneer missionaries,

visit encyclopedia.adventist.org