Today’s Leader of Faith
TOYOHIKO KAGAWA
Home Call : 23 April 1960
Japan Evangelist, Missionary, Social Reformer, Activist, Pacifist
Toyohiko Kagawa (1888–1960) was a prominent Japanese Christian pacifist and social reformer, often referred to as the “Gandhi of Japan” for his unwavering commitment to nonviolence and social justice. Born into a difficult childhood, he embraced Christianity and dedicated his life to addressing social inequalities. He was deeply involved in labour and cooperative movements, advocating for workers’ rights, women’s suffrage, and peace. He worked tirelessly in impoverished communities, using his faith as a foundation for his activism. He founded the Japanese Federation of Labour and the National Anti-War League in 1928. After Japan’s surrender in World War II, he served as an advisor to the new Transitional Japanese Government. He co-sponsored the 1950-51 assembly that aimed to draft a world constitution. His literary works, over 150 in total, combined his theological insights with social critiques. His legacy as a social reformer who integrated Christian faith with active societal change continues to inspire both in Japan and around the world.
Toyohiko, born on April 10, 1888, in Kobe, Japan, was the son of a businessman and a concubine, both of whom died when he was young. He was sent to school, where he learned English from two American missionaries, Drs. Harry W. Myers and Charles A. Logan, who introduced him to Christianity. After converting, he was disowned by his family. Kagawa studied at Tokyo Presbyterian College and Kobe Theological Seminary, but found their focus on doctrine unsatisfactory, believing that Christianity should be practiced in action. He furthered his education at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he studied theology as well as science subjects like embryology, genetics, and paleontology.
In 1909, Kagawa moved into a slum in Kobe to work as a missionary, social worker, and sociologist. He studied poverty in the U.S. and published Researches in the Psychology of the Poor in 1916, revealing harsh realities of slum life. Kagawa was arrested twice in 1921 and 1922 for labor activism. After his release, he organized relief efforts after the 1923 earthquake, helped secure universal adult male suffrage in 1925, and focused on peace and women’s suffrage. In 1936, he addressed 100,000 people in the U.S. against Italian imperialism. In 1940, Kagawa apologized to China for Japan’s occupation, leading to another arrest. A prolific author, Kagawa wrote books and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature and Peace.
In March 1955, Kagawa collapsed due to his worsening heart condition and remained bedridden for two weeks. Despite concerns from his family and associates, he continued writing, preaching, and overseeing projects. His health continued to decline over the years, and in 1959, he was hospitalized for three months at Saint Luke’s Hospital. While mostly bedridden at home in Matsuzawa, his condition improved briefly in April before worsening again. On April 23, Kagawa fell unconscious for three hours, then awoke and smiled at his wife and others, offering his final words: “Please do your best for world peace and the church in Japan.
— John Michael, Rajahmundry