3: Mr. Kanichi Yamamoto
1879–1961
Mr. Kanichi[8] Yamamoto has the distinction of being the first Japanese believer. He immigrated from Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, to Hawaii, where he worked in the home of the family of a believer. Also living there was one of the early Bahá’ís of Hawaii, Miss Elizabeth Muther.
Miss Muther 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 God 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 Japanese Bahá’í with four of his sons. The three oldest boys were given Persian names by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. 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 Japanese. I was sure the Master would understand the spirit of his letter. Mr. Yamamoto said that although his letter was written in Japanese, the Master fully answered him.”
Mr. Yamamoto wrote other letters to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Japanese. At the time no one in the Holy Land could read Japanese. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s secretary recorded that He said, “I will turn to Bahá’u’lláh, 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-Bahá visited Oakland in 1912, Mr. Yamamoto had the privilege of arranging a meeting for him at the Japanese Independent Church. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s talk is quoted in Ch. 6.