Japan

Founded

1901 August 12

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Missionaries, under the leadership of Heber J. Grant, arrived in Japan on 12 August 1901. A few weeks later, on 1 September, President Grant dedicated the country for the preaching of the Gospel. Work continued until June 1924 when the First Presidency decided to close the mission. The mission president was released 31 July 1924 and the last missionaries departed on 7 August. The mission reopened in 1937 with headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii.

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Heber Jeddy Grant Called as President

1901 July 18 – 1903 September 18 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1901 July 18

Set Apart

On 1903 September 18

Arrived at Home

Mission Founded

1901 August 12

Missionaries Arrive

1901 August 12

The first group of missionaries arrive in Japan.

The mission home was located at No. 16 Kasumigao Kamachi, Yotusya, Tokyo, Japan.

Horace Samuel Ensign, Sr. Called as President

1903 September 8 – 1905 July 8 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1903 September 8

Called

On 1905 July 8

Departed from Field

Alma Owen Taylor Called as President

1905 July 8 – 1910 March 30 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1905 July 8

Called

On 1910 March 30

Departed from Field

Book of Mormon Printed

1909 October 6

The first copies of the Book of Mormon in Japanese were printed in Tokyo.

Elbert Duncan Thomas Called as President

1910 January 1 – 1913 April 22 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1910 January 1

Called

On 1913 April 22

Arrived at Home

Headquarters Move

1910

The mission home was located at 81 Yakuojimae, Machi, Ushigome, Ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Heber Grant Ivins Called as President

1912 October 24 – 1915 July 24 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1912 October 24

Called

On 1915 July 24

Departed from Field

Joseph Henry Stimpson Called as President

1915 February 15 – 1921 February 18 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1915 February 15

Set Apart

On 1921 February 18

Departed from Field

Lloyd Oscar Ivie Called as President

1921 January 18 – 1924 January 22 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1921 January 18

Set Apart

On 1924 January 22

Departed from Field

Hilton Alexander Robertson Called as President

1924 January 22 – July 31 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1924 January 22

Called

On 1924 July 31

Released

Mission Closed

1924 June 12 – August 7

On 12 June 1924 the First Presidency published an announcement in the Improvement Era that the Japan Mission would be temporarily closed. Two weeks later a cablegram was received at mission headquarters stating that all missionaries were to withdraw from Japan temporarily. The following day a letter was received confirming the cablegram.

Most missionaries had been officially released by the end of July, with mission President Hilton A. Robertson being released 31 July. He then departed with the last group of missionaries on 7 August 1924.

Date Details

On 1924 June 12

On 1924 August 7

Mission Reopened

1937

The Japanese Mission was opened with headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii, to proselyte to Japanese-speaking people in the islands.

Hilton Alexander Robertson Called as President

1937 January 29 – 1940 September 5 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1937 January 29

Set Apart

On 1940 September 5

Released

Jay Clair Jensen Called as President

1940 August 12 – 1943 January 31 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1940 August 12

Departed from Home

On 1943 January 31

Departed from Field

Edward La Vaun Clissold Called as President

1944 April 13 – May 14 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1944 April 13

Set Apart

On 1944 May 14

Released

Vinal Grant Mauss Called as President

1949 August 4 – 1953 September 10 See Missionaries

Date Details

On 1949 August 4

Set Apart

On 1953 September 10

Released

Media

Japanese Mission Home in Hawaii, 1938 December

Japanese Mission Home in Hawaii, 1938 December

Japan (1901 - 1924) Profile

First Mission Home in Japan

First Mission Home in Japan

Opening the Japan Mission

Opening the Japan Mission

Missionaries in Yokohama

Missionaries in Yokohama

Japan Dedication Site

Japan Dedication Site

Missionaries in Tokyo

Missionaries in Tokyo

Missionaries in Japan

Missionaries in Japan

First Missionaries to Japan

First Missionaries to Japan

Missionaries in Japan

Missionaries in Japan

Missionaries in Japan

Missionaries in Japan

Sources

"A Brief History of the Church in Japan," Global Histories, Church History (website), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

"A Brief History of the Church in Japan," Global Histories, Church History (website), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Andrew Jenson, "Japan Mission," Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1941), 373-74

Andrew Jenson, "Japan Mission," Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1941), 373-74. Transcript for Andrew Jenson, "Japan Mission," Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1941), 373-74

Japanese Mission history, 1901-1955, Church History Library

Japanese Mission history, 1901-1955, Church History Library.

Mormon Newsroom Facts and Statistics: Japan

Mormon Newsroom Facts and Statistics: Japan.

Murray Leo Nichols, "History of the Japan Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1901-1924," Master's thesis, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 1957

Murray Leo Nichols, "History of the Japan Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1901-1924," Master's thesis, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 1957.

Reid L. Neilson and Van C. Gessel, eds., Taking the Gospel to the Japanese: 1901-2001 (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 2006

Reid L. Neilson and Van C. Gessel, eds., Taking the Gospel to the Japanese: 1901-2001 (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 2006.

Reid L. Neilson, Early Mormon Missionary Activities in Japan, 1901-1924 (Salt Lake City: The University of Utah Press, 2010

Reid L. Neilson, Early Mormon Missionary Activities in Japan, 1901-1924 (Salt Lake City: The University of Utah Press, 2010.

Reid L. Neilson, "Strangers in a Strange Land : The Rise and Demise of the early LDS Japan Mission, 1901-24," Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2006

Reid L. Neilson, "Strangers in a Strange Land : The Rise and Demise of the early LDS Japan Mission, 1901-24," Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2006.

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