Japan Will Turn Ablaze! Part 30

The first printing of this book was done in 1974. As it contained new material, that is, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha and letters of the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, many of which had never been published, and because its theme was j.a.pan, it proved to be a successful addition to the Baha'i literature throughout the Baha'i world. It was translated into j.a.panese and has been one of the standard books in that language.

The Baha'i Publis.h.i.+ng Trust of j.a.pan regularly has requests for the English edition although it has been out of print since the late 1970s.

When the compiler considered a second edition she decided to refer back to the original material for possible changes, to add new material, and also add more details such as the names of translators (when available), thereby hoping to increase the historical value. Very little of the original has been eliminated.

All of the Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Miss Alexander and to Baha'is in j.a.pan have been included. Only some of the Tablets written to j.a.panese, who, at the time, were living in the United States have been included. It was difficult to choose which of Shoghi Effendi's letters to Miss Aexander should be included.

The Guardian had requested that she write to him often so their correspondence was extensive. She actually received many more letters than are printed here.

Most of Shoghi Effendi's letters (which, of course, also means those written on his behalf) to the early Baha'is of j.a.pan and to the inst.i.tutions of the Faith in j.a.pan are printed here.

It was felt that certain communications from the Universal House of Justice would add to this important subject, hence the expansion to later years.

FOOTNOTES

1 Mr. Mc.n.u.tt, Mr. Wilhelm and Mr. Randall were staunch and devoted American Baha'is who tried to help the Faith in j.a.pan as it was 'Abdu'l-Baha's wish.

2 Mr. Struven was designated as Herald of the Kingdom by 'Abdu'l-Baha.

3 Mr. Mc.n.u.tt, Mr. Wilhelm and Mr. Randall were staunch and devoted American Baha'is who tried to help the Faith in j.a.pan as it was 'Abdu'l-Baha's wish.

4 Mr. s.h.i.+ros.h.i.+ Nasu, a professor of Tokyo Imperial University, was a friend of Mr. Wilhelm.

5 Mr. Mc.n.u.tt, Mr. Wilhelm and Mr. Randall were staunch and devoted American Baha'is who tried to help the Faith in j.a.pan as it was 'Abdu'l-Baha's wish.

6 Mr. Roh, a Korean, had studied in the West. Returning to Korea by way of Palestine, he met some Baha'is on the s.h.i.+p who told him of 'Abdu'l-Baha. He met 'Abdu'l-Baha in Tiberius and was allowed several interviews by Him. Miss Alexander met Mr. Roh in Korea. He was teaching at the Christian College and told some of his students of the Baha'i Faith, but he could not commit himself to the Faith.

7 Baha'i World Vol. III, p. 84.

8 In the early days sometimes spelled Kwanichi.

9 Hyacinth-the flower of knowledge.

10 Comparing those near at hand who disobeyed the command of Baha'u'llah with the recipient of this Tablet, a j.a.panese.

11 Infinite in regard to imagination, for without the mind there would be no imagination.

12 Mr. Kikutaro f.u.kuta

13 Mr. Tokujiro Torii

14 Mr. Daiun Inouye, a Buddhist priest became a Baha'i and gave up the priesthood.

15 Mr. Sensui Saiki, a writer, was greatly attracted to the Faith and a.s.sisted Miss Alexander by translating literature into j.a.panese.

16 The son of Mr. and Mrs. Torii. His name, Akira, means 's.h.i.+ning light' which the mother saw before his birth March 11, 1918.

17 Accompanying this Tablet was a j.a.panese translation made by Mr.

Saichiro Fujita at the command of 'Abdu'l-Baha.

18 Mr. Noto was blind.

19 A school girl of 17 years.

20 Mr. Ono was blind.

21 Addressed to Ahmad Sohrab.

22 j.a.panese Foreign Office records list Viscount Minoji Arakawa as being Amba.s.sador of Spain at that time. Spelling of the last name differs in the original text.

23 The Great Kanto Earthquake of September 1923.

24 Dr. Augur pa.s.sed away the previous month.

25 Mr. Aibara, a vibrant Baha'i with leaders.h.i.+p qualities, died suddenly at age 32.

26 Akira Torii, the only second-generation Baha'i in j.a.pan at that time died at age 17.

27 Dr. Rokuichiro Masujima was a good friend of the Faith but he could not commit himself to becoming a Baha'i.

28 The Guardian had asked Miss Alexander to visit Mr. Fujita's mother, who lay ill in Yanai, Yamaguchi Prefecture. At that time it was an 18-hour train trip from Tokyo.

29 The Guardian had asked Miss Alexander to visit Mr. Fujita's mother, who lay ill in Yanai, Yamaguchi Prefecture. At that time it was an 18-hour train trip from Tokyo.

30 Mr. Tsuto Mori, at that time lay critically ill in the hospital and not expected to live. He declared his Faith shortly after, just before he died.

31 Mr. Seto, the first Chinese-American Baha'i, died while he was in j.a.pan attending the first Convention. He is buried in the Yamate-machi Foreign Cemetery in Yokohama.

32 On occasion of first summer school in j.a.pan.

33 International Baha'i Teaching Conference, Nikko, j.a.pan, September 1955.

34 National Spiritual a.s.sembly of North East Asia, with its seat in Tokyo, j.a.pan.

35 Australia.

36 The purchase of the Tokyo Hazira was accomplished that year. It was not necessary to sell the Mukonoso property as Mr. Momtazi contributed a like amount toward the purchase of the Tokyo Hazira.

When the Guardian was informed of the purchase, he cabled "Delighted loving prayers" to the Tokyo Local Spiritual a.s.sembly.

37 The International Teaching Conference at Nikko.