# Japan Will Turn Ablaze!

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-23 — 1 clipping.*

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Abdu'l-Bahá, Japan Will Turn Ablaze!, Tokyo: Bahá'í Publishing Trust of Japan, 1992, bahai-library.com.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> Japan Will Turn Ablaze!
> 
> Abdu'l-Bahá
> Shoghi Effendi
> Universal House of Justice
> 
> Barbara R. Sims, compiler
> 
> Tokyo: Bahá'í Publishing Trust of Japan, 1992
> 
> single page
> 
> chapter 1
> 
> (click for larger image)
> 
> Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Letters of Shoghi Effendi and the
> 
> Universal House of Justice, and Historical Notes About Japan
> 
> (Revised Edition)
> 
> © Copyright 1996 by Barbara R. Sims
> 
> Digital text © 1999 by Barbara R. Sims and
> 
> the Bahá'í Academics Resource Library
> 
> First Edition 1974
> 
> Reprinted 1975
> 
> Revised Edition 1992
> 
> Contents
> 
> Introduction.............................................................5
> 
> PART I
> The Epoch of `Abdu'l-Bahá's Ministry
> 
> 1. Miss Agnes B. Alexander..................................................9
> 2. Dr. George J. Augur.....................................................17
> 3. Mr. Kanichi Yamamoto....................................................20
> 4. Mr. Saichiro Fujita.....................................................26
> 5. Tablets to Japan........................................................29
> 6. `Abdu'l-Bahá Speaks to a Japanese Audience..............................42
> 7. Excerpt from a Tablet of `Abdu'l-Bahá...................................49
> 8. `Abdu'l-Bahá Meets President Naruse of Japan Women's College............50
> 9. Excerpt from The Chosen Highway by Lady Blomfield,
> Concerning `Abdu'l-Bahá and the Japanese Diplomat (1912)................51
> 
> PART II
> Letters of Shoghi Effendi and Communications
> From the Universal House of Justice
> 
> 10. Letters and Cables to Miss Agnes B. Alexander, 1923-1957.................54
> 11. Letters and Cable to the Bahá'ís of Japan in the Early Days, 1922-1931...73
> 12. Letters and Cables to Administrative Institutions........................80
> 13. Letters to Individuals..................................................101
> 14. Shoghi Effendi Writes to Emperor Showa of Japan.........................110
> 15. Message from the Universal House of Justice to the North
> Pacific Oceanic Conference, Sapporo, Japan, September 1971..............111
> 
> Afterword...............................................................113
> Bibliography............................................................114
> 
> Hand of the Cause Miss Agnes B. Alexander (Circa 1900)
> 
> "Your name will forever remain associated with the rise of the Faith and
> its establishment in Japan and the record of your incessant and splendid
> endeavors will shed on its annals a lustre that time can never dim." (Shoghi
> Effendi, June 8, 1933)
> 
> 4
> 
> Introduction
> 
> As early as 1903 and for years thereafter, `Abdu'l-Bahá urged
> Bahá'ís to travel to Japan to spread the Message of
> Bahá'u'lláh. On occasion He said He Himself would like to go to
> Japan, and also to some other countries.
> 
> In 1908 `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote to an American believer, Mr. Howard
> McNutt*, "A trip of the believers of God to the Orient is of the utmost
> importance and it will become the cause of great connection between the two
> regions... Perchance, God willing, in Japan, you may lay the foundation for the
> Kingdom!"
> 
> In 1910 He said to the first two Bahá'ís to visit Japan,
> "Blessed results will appear from the Holy Cause established in that land. I
> have sent your letter regarding the work in Japan to Mr. McNutt in New York,
> that he may spread the word for some of the American Bahá'ís to
> go to Japan, and there serve and teach the Cause. It is very good for teachers
> to travel, and, through the love of God, give life to the people. American
> Bahá'ís should go to Oriental countries as teachers."
> 
> The first Bahá'ís to make the long voyage, Mr. Howard
> Struven** and Mr. C.M. Remey, 1909; Mme. Aurelia Bethlen, 1911; Mr. and Mrs.
> Dreyfus-Barney, 1914, stayed for brief periods of time and continued around the
> world. Dr. George Augur and Miss Agnes Alexander both arrived in 1914 — Miss
> Alexander shortly after Dr. Augur. They sailed to Japan with the intention of
> residing there for some time. All these believers traveled in response to the
> wishes of `Abdu'l-Bahá. Besides Japan, He also encouraged travel in
> those early days to China, India, Persia and other Asian countries.
> 
> In the Tablet of the Divine Plan written to the Bahá'ís of
> the United States and Canada, Japan is mentioned six times and the Japanese
> language itself once. In those Tablets `Abdu'l-Bahá again urged travel.
> "How good would it be were there any possibility of a commission composed of
> men and women, to travel together through China and Japan..."
> 
> In 1919 `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote to Mr. Roy Wilhelm*, "Attach great
> importance to the Japanese people. Mrs. Magee should continually communicate
> with them." And again, later in the year to the same believer, "Convey to Mr.
> Nasu***, the Japanese, my greeting and say: The world of nature is darkness but
> the heavenly Sun dissipates by its light this darkness that prevails over the
> world. Likewise the world of mind and of souls is a dark one and nothing will
> illuminate it save
> 
> __________
> 
> * Mr. McNutt, Mr. Wilhelm and Mr. Randall were staunch and devoted American
> Bahá'ís who tried to help the Faith in Japan as it was
> `Abdu'l-Bahá's wish.
> 
> ** Mr. Struven was designated as Herald of the Kingdom by
> `Abdu'l-Bahá.
> 
> *** Mr. Shiroshi Nasu, a professor of Tokyo Imperial University, was a friend
> of Mr. Wilhelm.
> 
> 5
> 
> the rays of the Sun of Truth. My hope therefore is that thou mayest
> be the cause of the shining of the Divine Teachings in Japan, that thou mayest
> vivify the dead. The people of Japan are intelligent but they are in need of a
> leader that he may awaken them. I hope that thou mayest be the cause of their
> awakening and may vivify them."
> 
> To Mr. William Randall*, in 1920, He wrote, "The association which has been
> formed for promoting the relationship and love between America and Japan, will,
> God willing, be confirmed and assisted. This association is important. It will
> unquestionably, bring forth great results."
> 
> *** *** ***
> 
> "These are His very words, that still keep ringing in my ears: 'Japan will
> turn ablaze!'"
> 
> The title of this book was taken from `Abdu'l-Bahá's prophecy of the
> spiritual future of Japan as quoted by Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the
> Bahá'í Faith, in his first letter to the Bahá'ís of
> Japan, January 26, 1922.
> 
> *** *** ***
> 
> We have taken the liberty of adding a few words, for the sake of
> continuity, and also that the reader, knowing something of the individuals and
> circumstances might better observe the creative power in the words of
> `Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi as reflected in the lives and actions of
> the recipients.
> 
> For further information on the history of the Bahá'í Faith in
> Japan, we recommend to the reader History of the Bahá'í Faith in
> Japan 1914-1938 by Agnes B. Alexander, and Traces That Remain, (A Pictorial
> History of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Faith Among the Japanese)
> by Barbara R. Sims.
> 
> Barbara R. Sims
> 
> Tokyo, Japan 1992
> 
> __________
> 
> * See footnote, previous page
> 
> single page
> 
> chapter 1
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views106890 views since posted 2000; last edit 2025-01-28 14:56 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../compilation_japan_turn_ablaze;
> URLs changed in 2010, see archive.org.../bahai-library.org
> Language
> English
> Permission
> © BIC, public sharing permitted. See sources 1, 2, and 3.
> History
> Scanned 2000 by Jonah Winters; Formatted 2000 by Jonah Winters; Proofread 2000 by Barbara R. Sims.
> Share
> 
> Shortlink: bahai-library.com/405
> Citation: ris/405
> 
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> — *Japan Will Turn Ablaze! (Used by permission of the curator)*