[Tablet Translated November 21, 1913]
O thou dear son!
From thy letter the fragrance of the rose garden of significances was inhaled, that praise be to G.o.d, thou art a.s.sisted by the Divine confirmations, hast found the way to the Kingdom of G.o.d and thy heart and soul are quickened. Arise thou to perform the blessed intention thou art holding and travel thou to j.a.pan and lay there the foundation of the Cause of G.o.d, that is, summon the people to the Kingdom of G.o.d. j.a.pan has great capacity, but there needs be a teacher who will speak by the confirmations of the Holy Spirit. I hope thou wilt become a.s.sisted in this.
(Translated by Ahmad Sohrab, Ramleh, Egypt, November 21, 1913)
[Tablet Translated February 12, 1914]
O thou who art advancing toward the Kingdom!
Thy letter was received. It indicated, praise be to G.o.d, that in the matter of advancing toward the Kingdom of G.o.d thou art firm and steadfast and thou hast resolved to go to j.a.pan to spread the Divine Teachings. This lofty magnanimity befits praise. I hope thou mayest become confirmed therein and in the affairs of the Kingdom thou mayest follow the inspiration and the teachings of G.o.d and not any human suggestion. Rest a.s.sured that thou wilt become a.s.sisted.
(Translated by Ahmad Sohrab, Haifa, February 12, 1914)
[Tablet Translated August 12, 1914]
O thou herald of the Kingdom of G.o.d!
Thy letter was received. A thousand times bravo to thy magnanimity and exalted aim! Trusting in G.o.d and while turning thy face toward the Kingdom of Abha, unfurl thou the divine Flag in Tokyo and cry at the top of thy voice: "O ye people. The Sun of Reality hath appeared and flooded all regions with its glorious light; it has upraised the Standard of Oneness of the world of humanity and summoned all mankind to the refulgent Truth.
The cloud of Mercy is pouring, the zephyr of Providence is wafting and the world of humanity is being stirred and moved. The Divine Spirit is conferring eternal life, the heavenly lights are illumining the hearts, the table of the sustenance of the Kingdom is spread and adorned with all kinds of foods and victuals. O ye concourses of men! Awake! Awake! Become mindful! Become mindful! Open ye the seeing eye! Unstop the hearing ear!
Hark! Hark! The soft notes of the Heavenly Music are streaming down, ravishing the ears of the people of spiritual discernment. Ere long this transcendent Light will wholly enlighten the East and West!"
In short, with a resounding voice, with a miraculous power, and with the magnetism of the Love of G.o.d, teach thou the Cause of G.o.d and rest a.s.sured that the Holy Spirit shall confirm thee.
(Translated by Ahmad Sohrab, Haifa, August 12, 1914)
[Photograph with the following caption:]
A group who were studying the Faith with Miss Alexander and Dr. Augur. He is sitting in front. Mr. f.u.kuta, top left, was the first to become a Baha"i in j.a.pan. Taken in 1916.
[Tablet of 1919]
On August 8, 1915 "Abdu"l-Baha"s secretary wrote: "Your beautiful pet.i.tion ... was read to the Beloved ... as He was walking to and fro in the parlor of the Pilgrim House. His face beamed with a heavenly smile as he heard your name. He said: "Write to Dr. Augur to return to j.a.pan as soon as the first opportunity offers itself to him. Great blessings will descend upon the soul who teaches the Cause in that country. Its people are endowed with great capability. Should five or six of them be thoroughly grounded in the teachings of this Cause and attracted with its fire, great results will be forthcoming.""
O ye the two doves nestling in the garden of the Love of G.o.d!
Your detailed letter was received. Your services at this spot are recognized and appreciated, particularly (your services) in Tokyo. Praise be to G.o.d that in that region ye have been a.s.sisted in diffusing the musk-scented perfume, and this in future is pregnant with remarkable results. These few seeds of corn that ye have sown in that soil shall lead to luxuriant crops, this limited number of souls will be converted into great cohorts, nay, rather into an imposing spiritual army, and that seed, under the Divine Direction, shall yield abundant and heavy cl.u.s.ters.
Praise ye G.o.d that ye have been a.s.sisted with such Divine Bounty. Ye have sown some seeds and now watering is needed. If souls should undertake a voyage from America or Honolulu to the land of j.a.pan, the teachings of G.o.d shall thereby be swiftly propagated and important consequences shall result. You two have fulfilled your roles and have striven within the limits of your capacity. At present ye must rest for a time; the turn of others has arrived, that they may similarly travel to j.a.pan, may water the seeds that have been sown and may serve and take care of the tender shrubs. The days of life are swiftly going by, and eventually man will be confined into subterranean regions and his name shall perish, except those souls who become Divine gardeners and who sow seeds in the soil of hearts.
Those shall eternally remain shining and glittering like unto stars from the horizon of Truth.
(1919)
3: Mr. Kanichi Yamamoto 18791961
Mr. Kanichi(8) Yamamoto has the distinction of being the first j.a.panese believer. He immigrated from Yamaguchi Prefecture, j.a.pan, to Hawaii, where he worked in the home of the family of a believer. Also living there was one of the early Baha"is of Hawaii, Miss Elizabeth m.u.t.h.e.r.
Miss m.u.t.h.e.r wrote to a friend on September 8, 1902, "After I became a believer I felt that sometime I might tell (Mr. Yamamoto). I prayed that his heart might be prepared to receive the truth. Although it was a little difficult to give him the Message because of his imperfect knowledge of English, yet G.o.d helped me so that he understands perfectly and is rejoicing in the Knowledge of His Truth. I have just had a little talk with him and he told me how happy he was and that he expects to write his letter to the Master this evening."
[Photograph with the following caption:]
Mr. Kanichi Yamamoto, the first j.a.panese Baha"i with four of his sons. The three oldest boys were given Persian names by "Abdu"l-Baha. Taken in Berkeley, California in 1920.
Mr. Yamamoto rewrote his letter four times before he was satisfied. "He felt that he could not write in English, so I told him that I thought it would be all right for him to write in j.a.panese. I was sure the Master would understand the spirit of his letter. Mr. Yamamoto said that although his letter was written in j.a.panese, the Master fully answered him."
Mr. Yamamoto wrote other letters to "Abdu"l-Baha in j.a.panese. At the time no one in the Holy Land could read j.a.panese. "Abdu"l-Baha"s secretary recorded that He said, "I will turn to Baha"u"llah, and He will tell me what to say." He always answered Mr. Yamamoto"s questions.
Mr. Yamamoto later lived in the Berkeley-Oakland area of California. When "Abdu"l-Baha visited Oakland in 1912, Mr. Yamamoto had the privilege of arranging a meeting for him at the j.a.panese Independent Church.
"Abdu"l-Baha"s talk is quoted in Ch. 6.
Tablets of "Abdu"l-Baha to Mr. Kanichi Yamamoto
[Tablet of 1902]
O thou who art attracted by the Word of G.o.d to the Kingdom of G.o.d!
Turn with the whole of thy being to G.o.d, forget aught else save G.o.d, and supplicate G.o.d to make thee a sign of guidance in the midst of people who are veiled from G.o.d; perchance they may be guided to the Orb of all horizons, enter the kingdom of harmony, drink of the cup of the love of G.o.d, rejoice at the manifestation of the Kingdom of G.o.d, taste the delight of the mention of G.o.d, and shelter themselves in the shadow of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of G.o.d.
This beseemeth the believers; this is the qualification of the sincere; this is the path of the knowers; and this is the utmost aim of the faithful.
Exert thy utmost power that thou mayest share this great bounty.
(1902)