Japan: Chronology

August 12, 1901 • Yokohama, JapanThe first group of Latter-day Saint missionaries arrived in Japan.

Missionaries at the dedication site of Japan

September 1, 1901 • Yokohama

Heber J. Grant dedicated Japan for the preaching of the gospel.

March 8, 1902 • Ōmori, JapanHajime Nakazawa became the first convert to the Church in Japan.

April 28, 1902 • Tokyo, JapanThe first meeting of the Church was held in the home of Nakazawa.

August 17, 1902 • TokyoThe first Sunday School in Japan was organized. Early meetings were held in English.

August 20, 1902 • TokyoJapanese scholar Takahashi Goro published his book Morumon kyō to Morumon Kyotō (Mormonism and Mormons).

October 11, 1903 • TokyoThe baptism of Kenzo Kato was performed in Japanese; this was the first time any ordinance was performed in Japanese.

October 16, 1903 • Hojo, JapanThe first Sunday School conducted in the Japanese language was organized.

January 1904–September 1909 • TokyoAlma O. Taylor oversaw the first translation of the Book of Mormon into Japanese.

October 6, 1909 • TokyoThe first copies of the Book of Mormon in Japanese were printed and bound.

July 3, 1910 • TokyoThe first Mutual Improvement Association (MIA) was established in Japan. Takeshiro Sakuraba was called as president.

May 30, 1917 • TokyoThe first Relief Society in Japan was organized.

January 1923 • JapanFujiya Nara was ordained presiding elder of the Church in Japan.

May 26, 1924 • Washington, D.C.The U.S. Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1924, barring immigration from the Asia-Pacific Region to the United States.

June 9, 1924 • TokyoDue to rising tension between the United States and Japan, Heber J. Grant, President of the Church, discontinued the Japanese Mission.

January 1, 1925 • TokyoThe first issue of Shuro, a newsletter intended to provide continued communication among the branches in Japan, was published.

1926–38 • Salt Lake City and JapanThe First Presidency asked Alma O. Taylor to continue corresponding with Japanese Saints. Taylor provided regular reports on the activities in Japan to the First Presidency.

November 1926 • Tokyo, Osaka, and SapporoFranklin S. Harris, president of BYU, visited the branches of the Church and more formally organized the MIA. Fujiya Nara was called to preside over the MIA in Japan.

December 1927 • Salt Lake City and TokyoIn a letter from the First Presidency, Fujiya Nara’s appointment as presiding elder was reaffirmed.

July 7, 1934 • Salt Lake CityTakeo Fujiwara was set apart by Heber J. Grant as “presiding elder and special missionary” to Japan.

July–December 1934 • Tokyo, Osaka, Kofu, and SapporoTakeo Fujiwara organized branches in Tokyo, Osaka, Kofu, and Sapporo.

April 28, 1935 • KofuTakeo Fujiwara presided over the first sacrament meeting held in Japan since the closure of the mission. Muraji Yoneyama was called and sustained as branch president.

May 19, 1935 • TokyoTerutake Ishikawa and Kyoko Mochizuki were baptized and confirmed; these were the first priesthood ordinances since the mission closure.

January 27, 1936 • TokyoTakeo Fujiwara died of tuberculosis. No official call was issued naming a replacement as presiding elder in Japan.

1937–45 • Honolulu, HawaiiThe Japanese Mission oversaw the affairs of the Church in Japan from its headquarters in Honolulu.

April 1939 • Osaka, Tokyo, and SapporoHilton A. Robertson visited the Saints throughout Japan, baptizing eight new members and ordaining one an elder.

October 30, 1945 • TokyoNara Fujiya responded to Edward Clissold’s advertisement in a local newspaper seeking contact with all members of the Church in Japan.

October 22, 1947 • Salt Lake CityEdward L. Clissold was called to reopen the Japanese Mission.

March 7, 1948 • TokyoClissold attended the Japanese Sunday School and junior Sunday School conducted by Nara Fujiya.

July 17, 1949 • TokyoElder Matthew Cowley prophesied that the Church would build many buildings and “even temples” in Japan.

1952–53 • JapanVinal Mauss, president of the Japan Mission, started the Servicemen’s Missionary Fund. Hide Kishigami became the first missionary called from Japan to teach the Japanese people.

1955 • TokyoThe Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price were published in Japanese for the first time.

April 26, 1964 • TokyoThe Tokyo North Branch meetinghouse was dedicated; it was the first Latter-day Saint meetinghouse constructed in Asia.

July 1965 • Japan and HawaiiMembers made the first of many temple excursions to the Laie Hawaii Temple to participate in temple ordinances.

1965 • JapanAdney Y. Komatsu was called as president of the Northern Far East Mission, the first person of Japanese descent to preside over the mission in Japan.

March 15, 1970 • TokyoThe first stake of the Church in Asia, the Tokyo Stake, was organized with Kenji Tanaka as president.

March 15–September 13, 1970 • OsakaThe World Exposition was held in Osaka.

1972 • TokyoThe Church Educational System organized the first seminaries and institutes in Japan.

April 4, 1975 • Salt Lake CityAdney Y. Komatsu was called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve, becoming the first General Authority of Japanese descent.

August 9, 1975 • TokyoSpencer W. Kimball, President of the Church, announced that a temple would be built in Tokyo.

October 1, 1977 • Salt Lake CityYoshihiko Kikuchi was called as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He was the first native Japanese member to serve as a General Authority.

October 27–29, 1980 • TokyoSpencer W. Kimball, President of the Church, dedicated the Tokyo Japan Temple; this was the first temple in Asia.

March 31, 1990 • Salt Lake CityChieko Okazaki was called as First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency. She was the first woman of Asian descent to serve as a General Officer of the Church.

June 11, 2000 • Fukuoka, JapanGordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church, dedicated the Fukuoka Japan Temple.

March 2011 • JapanIn the wake of the magnitude 9.0 Tōhoku, or Great East Japan, earthquake and tsunami, the Church distributed 180 tons of emergency supplies.

August 21, 2016 • SapporoPresident Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Sapporo Japan Temple.