Toyohiko was a great evangelist and social reformer. He came from a wealthy family and attended classes in English from a Christian mission in the city of Tokushima. The text book was Luke's gospel and he found the love of Christ increasingly attractive. He was 15 years old when he committed his life to the Lord. His prayer: “O God, make me like Christ.” His baptism brought disinheritance by his family.

Kagawa went to a Presbyterian theological college in Kobe, where he became aware of the appalling social conditions of so many Japanese. Christmas Day 1909 he moved into Shinkawa, a slum area of Kobe. He lived in a room 2m² with no window. His daily food was 2 bowls of rice gruel. Anything else given to him he gave away. He became the acknowledged guide and leader of the countless poor there. He preached, taught and lived love, peace and social justice. “If we could learn to love one another,” he said, “it would be a solution to our problems.” But, he insisted, the way of love is the way of the cross. “The knowledge of the Love of God comes only by way of the Bloody Cross; he who fears to bear it cannot know the Love of Christ.”

In 1914, with help from some churches, he went to Princeton University, USA and spent 3 years studying social problems. In 1917 returning to Japan, he devoted his efforts to improving conditions for the poor and worked on bringing trade unions to Japan. This brought him into conflict with the government, and he was on the list of dangerous radicals, watched by police. Yet, in 1923 the government called on him to lead the work of reconstruction after a huge earthquake levelled Yokohama and Tokyo.

An evangelist, in 1930 he began the Kingdom-of-God Movement traveling extensively overseas to preach and teach. Such was his fearlessness and strength of purpose, he given witnessed to the Japanese emperor sharing with him the gospel of peace. A pacifist from his youth, Kagawa had founded the National Anti-War League in 1928. He denounced Japan and the allies for WWII, but in its aftermath was again called on to lead the reconstruction work. He became a leader in Japanese moves towards democracy.

An outstanding writer both in fiction and religion. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1947 and 1948, and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and 1955. He was postumously awarded the 2nd highest honor of Japan, induction in the Order of the Sacred Treasure. The claim of Christ upon his life, love and service was his guiding principle.

BORN:10 July 1888, Kobe, Japan

DIED:23 April 1960, Matsuzawa, Japan.