In 1896, William Grainger became the first official Adventist missionary to Japan. He left his position as president of Healdsburg College (now Pacific Union College) to establish an English Bible school, which later led to the establishment of the first Adventist church in Tokyo.

It was a Japanese student named Teruhiko Okohira who persuaded Grainger to go to Japan. Okohira was part of a wealthy samurai family that sent him to California to study at UC Berkeley. While in the U.S., he heard the gospel and became a Christian. As a result, his family disowned him. However, he did not abandon his newfound faith in Jesus.

Later, Okohira learned that he could work at Healdsburg College in exchange for his education and began attending. There, he heard and accepted the Adventist message. During a Friday night vespers, Okohira appealed for someone to return with him to Japan to take the message to his people. Grainger and his wife were moved by the appeal and left for Japan.

Not long after the Graingers began their English Bible school, an army soldier named Hide Kuniya began attending. Convinced of the Bible truths he heard, he resigned from his military assignment to keep the Sabbath. Kuniya would later labor to establish Adventist work throughout Japan and even in Korea.

We are humbled to continue the gospel work of Okohira, Grainger and Kuniya. We know that God will be with us as He was with them.

Please prayerfully consider joining us through your prayers, monthly support, or serving as a missionary among the unreached Japanese people.

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