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A Short Visit to Japan

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 14, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 15.

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A Short Visit to Japan

By E. H. WILBUR

E. H. WILBUR
On Friday, February 4, my wife and I and two children sailed from Hongkong for Seattle, on the steamship "Minnesota." Our first stop was at Nagasaki, Japan, where we arrived on the morning of the eighth. Here we found Brother Walter Foster and family, and their sister, Miss Cornish, who are hard at work studying the Japanese language. We also met Brother M. Tsukamoto, who has had considerable experience as a teacher. We were glad to find our workers there of good courage. Brother Foster reports that he has gained twenty-five pounds in weight during his stay of a year and a half in Japan.
Nagasaki is a beautiful city, situated on the hillsides around the harbor. It is the coaling station for many large Pacific steamers, and is the terminus of a railroad. It is also quite a missionary and educational center. We have had a church organization there for several years, but, unfortunately, have no church house as yet. We never had a European laborer working there until a few months ago, when Brother Foster moved there.
On Friday morning, February 11, we arrived at Kobe, where we were hospitably entertained at the home of Brother John Herboltzheimer. That evening we attended prayer-meeting in our own neat little church. About thirty were present. I was pleased to notice that, while the congregation was gathering, those present occupied the time in the study of the Sabbath-school lesson. The prayer-meeting was conducted by the elder, Brother K. S. Noma. Several took part in prayer and testimony. I could not understand what was said, but it was evident that the Spirit of the Lord was present. They sang such familiar tunes as "The Gate Ajar," "This Is My Story."
On Sabbath morning, at half-past nine, the brethren and sisters met for Sabbath-school. Brother Fukaziva is superintendent, and Sister Fukaziva, organist. They use the same lessons as are used in America; although one quarter late, on account of having to print them in Japanese. One noticeable feature was the almost complete absence of children, the little ones having their school at 4 P. M. At 10:45 A. M. the writer gave a talk upon the progress of the message in China. One of the brethren acted as interpreter. All seemed much interested to hear. On Sunday evening I was privileged to speak to them again, the subject being the state of the dead.
On Sunday afternoon, in company with Brother Herboltzheimer and family, we were invited to dine with Brother and Sister Noma at the Japanese Sanitarium, or Kobe Eisein, as they pronounce it. The dinner was vegetarian, hygienically prepared, and served in Japanese style. We met Dr. Noma more than seven years ago, on our way to China. She then had a small hospital in Nagasaki. Then, we had no church or sanitarium in Kobe; now, although the sanitarium for Europeans has been closed, yet this institution for the Japanese, which is operated by them, seems to be doing excellent service. A nurses' training-school is operated in connection with it. There is a liberal patronage. I could not help wishing that we had such institutions in China, and I have faith that we shall have erelong.
The following Tuesday, at noon, our ship sailed out of Kobe harbor. At 10 A. M. the next day we sighted the beautiful snow-capped Mt. Fuji, which is 12,370 feet above the sea-level. At 4 P. M. we arrived at Yokohama. Dr. and Mrs. W. R. Dunscombe kindly came to meet us, and I returned to Tokyo with them the same evening. The following morning I went to Brother W. D. Burden's home, several miles distant, in another part of the city. A part of their house is used by the mission, for school and chapel and publishing purposes. We found a Bible school in progress, with about twenty men and women in attendance. Besides Elder Burden and family, we were pleased to meet Elders F. W. Field, H. Kuniya, and T. H. Okohira. These brethren are laboring hard to establish the truth in this important center. They are anxious to open treatment-rooms, and to erect a church, and surely should have these buildings.
I was astonished at the size of Tokyo. It extends over a large territory, and has a population of 1,818,655. It is about eighteen miles from Yokohama, with which it is connected by steam and electric cars. The railroad depot reminds one of some of our union stations in America. There are many electric lines crossing the city in various directions. They have broad business streets, with modern buildings.
Thus we had the privilege of meeting all our European missionaries in Japan, except Brother and Sister H. F. Benson. While we were glad to see so good a company of representatives of the message, yet this is but a handful, comparatively, for a land having nearly half as many people as the United States.