29 / Unique One of the Orient

29

Unique One of the Orient

One morning while ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was in San Francisco, two Japanese Bahá’ís came to see Him. He said, “This is an historic event. It is out of the ordinary that an Iranian should meet Japanese people in San Francisco with such love and harmony. This is through the power of Bahá’u’lláh and calls for our thankfulness and happiness. . . . The power of Bahá’u’lláh makes all difficulties simple.”1

That power also brought Kanichi Yamamoto to the Bahá’í Faith, making him the first Japanese Bahá’í in the world. Kanichi, who was called “Moto” by his friends, was born in Japan and raised as a Buddhist, but as a young man, he became a Christian. Then he moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, and worked as a servant. Elizabeth Muther, a young lady who was staying in the home where Moto worked, helped him as he struggled to learn English. When Helen Goodall and her

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daughter Ella visited Honolulu in 1902, they met with Elizabeth, and Elizabeth soon became a Bahá’í.

Elizabeth told Moto about the Bahá’í Faith. Though he had not yet mastered English, he understood and accepted the Faith immediately. Wanting to be sure, Elizabeth asked Moto how he knew he had found the truth. Moto put his hand on his heart and said he knew it there. Moto said, “Oh, Miss Muther, I am so happy! . . . and I can only say, Oh God! How hast thou honored me to have made me Thy servant!”2

Moto was eager to write to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá about his acceptance of the Bahá’í Faith. He tried four times to write a letter in English, but he felt unable to express his feelings in his new language. Elizabeth suggested that Moto write to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Japanese. She told him that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá would understand the spirit of his words. When Moto received ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s answer, he felt that his letter had been fully answered.

In 1903, Moto went to Oakland to work as a butler for Helen Goodall. The next year, he wrote to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá again in Japanese, and Helen sent the letter along with her own.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s secretary said that when this letter from Moto arrived, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá jokingly asked him, “Well, do you not know Japanese?”

His secretary said, “No, Master, I hardly know English.”

“Then what shall we do with this letter?” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asked with a smile.

“Perhaps you should do with it as you did with the others,” was the reply.

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‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “Very well. I will turn to Bahá’u’lláh and He will tell me what to say.”

In His next letter to Moto, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote, “O thou who art the single one of Japan and the unique one of the extreme orient! . . . Arise to guide the people of Japan . . . Do not wonder at the favor and bounty of the Lord. By the favor of God . . . an atom hath become shining like the sun!”3

In 1908, Moto’s intended bride came to California from Japan. Helen Goodall gave them a beautiful wedding in her ballroom. Many Bahá’ís attended, along with some Japanese friends of the couple. After the ceremony, Moto joked to his wife, “I don’t want you to be like a Japanese wife, always bowing. I want you to be like an American wife and boss me!”4

When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá came to California, Moto served Him in His rented house. Moto also arranged for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to speak to the members of the Japanese Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Oakland. The meeting was held at the Japanese Independent Church. It began with a Bible reading and hymn in Japanese, followed by a prayer. Then Mr. Kanno, a Japanese poet and philosopher, spoke in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s honor.

When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke, His Persian words were first translated into English by His companion, Dr. Faríd. Then the English was translated into Japanese by the pastor of the church, Reverend Kazahira. Frances Orr Allen called it “a marvelous mingling of the East and the West and the Islands of the Sea.”5 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá encouraged them to promote peace and unity:

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It is a great happiness to be here this evening, especially for the reason that the members of this Association have come from the region of the Orient. For a long time I have entertained a desire to meet some of the Japanese friends. That nation has achieved extraordinary progress in a short space of time . . . they must assuredly possess the capacity for spiritual development. . . .

All war and conflict, bloodshed and battle, every form of sedition has been due to some form of prejudice—whether religious, racial or national. . . . Prejudice is a destroyer of the foundations of the world of humanity, whereas religion was meant to be the cause of fellowship and agreement. . . .

Religion purifies the hearts. Religion impels men to achieve praiseworthy deeds. Religion becomes the cause of love in human hearts, for religion is a divine foundation, the foundation ever conducive to life. . . . Religion is ever constructive, not destructive. . . .

Blessed souls—whether Moses, Jesus, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius or Mu¥ammad—were the cause of the illumination of the world of humanity. How can we deny such irrefutable proof? How can we be blind to such light? . . . We ourselves must investigate reality and be fair in judgment. . . .

And ye who are the people of the Orient. . . . Ye must become brilliant lamps. Ye must shine as stars radiating the light of love toward all mankind. May you be the cause of love amongst the nations. Thus may the world become witness that the Orient has ever been the dawning point of illumination, the source of love and reconciliation.6

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After He spoke, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá walked down the aisle of the room, and mothers held out their babies to be blessed. They smiled happily when He said in English, “Good baby; Japanese baby.”7

At another meeting with some Japanese visitors, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “I hope that you will become heavenly and not just be a Japanese, an Arab, an Englishman or a Persian, Turk or American; that you will become divine and bring your life into accord with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. Observe: I am one of the servants of Bahá’u’lláh, helpless and weak but as I am under the shadow of His teachings you see what confirmations descend upon me.”8

“Religion was meant to be the cause of fellowship and agreement. . . .” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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