CQOD Special Archive
Biographical Sketch
Kokichi Kurosaki (1886-1970)
Bible scholar
Unyielding to military oppression
Mr. Kokichi Kurosaki was born in Tsuruoka in 1886 as the eldest son of Yohachiro (Kendo) Kurosaki.
He graduated from Shonai Junior High School, attended the former First Higher School, and the University
of Tokyo (Faculty of Law, Department of Politics and Economics) before joining Sumitomo Headquarters.
After working for Sumitomo for 10 years, he left Sumitomo in 1921. At the age of 35, he became a co-worker
with Uchimura Kanzō and thereafter dedicated his life as a Bible scholar and evangelist.
During this time, he studied abroad in Germany, France, and England for approximately three years,
from 1922 to 1925. After returning to his hometown, he engaged in Bible study, writing, and evangelism,
but developed a chest ailment and moved to Hyogo Prefecture (now Ashiya City) in November 1930 for recuperation.
As a result, he only lived in his hometown of Tsuruoka for just over five years, and it is likely that
the people of Tsuruoka and Shonai were not aware of his work. At the same time, Japan entered a dark age,
and Christianity itself was viewed with hostility. The military suppressed the movement, banning his magazine
“Eternal Life” in December 1937. His activities were severely restricted, and he was forced to remain silent.
It was after Japan’s defeat in 1945, at the age of 59, that he was able to freely demonstrate his true
talents. He traveled extensively, preaching, lecturing, and writing. In August 1960, at the age of 74, he set
out on a world evangelism journey, visiting the Americas and various European countries for five months before
returning to Japan the following January. He passed away on June 6, 1970, at the age of 84.
His writings are so numerous that it would be impossible to list them all here. Simply put, however, his work
can be summed up as “Biblical studies.”
I am not a Bible scholar, nor have I ever met him. However, through his writings, I have come to respect him
and consider him a mentor in life. In “Recollections of Grace,” Kurosaki reminisces, “I don’t think I ever
caused much worry in my daily life or at school, but there were three times when I was in a very difficult situation.
The first was when I was about to enter First High School and university, the second was when I came to faith in Christ,
and the third was when I left Sumitomo to pursue missionary work.”
During his time at First Higher School, Kurosaki came to faith in Christ under the tutelage of Nitobe and Uchimura,
and alongside his distinguished classmates. He left Sumitomo, much to everyone’s regret, and walked the path of his
faith. He did not succumb to military oppression. He became Uchimura’s greatest successor and continued to bring a
refreshing breeze to Christians in Japan. I can only bow my head to his sincerity, scholarship, and courage. Such
was the case with Mr. Kurosaki, born in Tsuruoka.
(Author: Seigo Yuki / Published September 1988)
* Place names and years in the manuscript are those at the time of publication.
Published in Shonai Nippo, a newspaper printed in Kokichi Kurosaki's hometown, Tsuruoka City.
Courtesy of Keith Lindley and translator Taishiro Sonae, October 2025.
PROFILE
A religious figure. The eldest son of calligrapher Kendo Kurosaki. He attended Shonai Junior High School,
the former First Higher School, and the Department of Politics and Economics at Tokyo Imperial University's
College of Law. He became a non-denominational Christian under the influence of Uchimura Kanzō. He joined
Sumitomo Headquarters in 1911 and went to the United States to study in 1915. He left Sumitomo in 1917 and
traveled to Germany, Switzerland, and the UK, and in 1930 he founded a Bible study group in Tsuruoka. His
books were banned during the Pacific War because of his anti-war views, but he devoted himself to writing,
believing that the key to rebuilding Japan after the war was education. At the age of 75, he traveled around
the world to preach, and became famous as a biblical scholar in Japan. He is the author of many books,
including “A Commentary on the New Testament.” He died at the age of 84.
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