Tamano Kumagai (1892-1978)
Sapporo, Japan
January 1975

It is with great honor and appreciation that I bear my testimony. In 1908, at age 16, I was converted and baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In those days, I was a student of Hokkai Girls School which was located just opposite the Church. There were two missionaries who used to play the mandolin on the porch of the Church building. I was really fascinated and attracted to the melody, which got me interested in attending the Sunday meetings. I gradually became interested in studying the Bible, so I attended the Bible Study Course with my close friends, Chiyo Koji and Tatsuko Nakaima. We were young and had no doubt that there was a God and soon were baptized by Elders Justus B. Seeley and John H. Roskelly. The Church in Sapporo grew until there were approximately 20 members and 30 investigators.

Then the Japan Mission was closed. We were disappointed and felt desperate, but believed this was Heavenly Father’s will. We had sincere prayer that our Heavenly Father would open it again. I believed this would be the “whip of God’s love” so as to try our faith, rather than in terms of War. The Church was closed for 24 years. During that period, I had some meetings at my house. But the more serious and difficult the war situation became, the more the police authorities interfered and became strict and severe towards Christianity. Finally, I could not endure to have regular meetings at my home except on my parents’ memorial days and at Christmas time. I myself became weak in faith and was tempted by Satan and felt the frailty of man during the time the Church was closed. I felt the need of the Church to help strengthen and encourage a humble person like me to be righteous.

In 1945, the War ended. I can never forget that day, how I thanked my Heavenly Father and expressed appreciation for stopping the War. The following year, I was invited to a Christmas Dinner with ladies of high society in Sapporo. It was held at the United States Army Camp in Tsukisamu, Sapporo. There I learned of an L.D.S. group, and it was the beginning for me to be able to again attend Sunday meetings. The American servicemen kindly took me up in their cars to the camp every Sunday. When I took a piece of bread and a cup of water at Sacrament Meeting after 21 years, tears just flowed from my eyes as though they would never stop.

Then in 1948, missionary work began again in Sapporo when Elder Paul C. Andrus and Elder Iwaasa arrived in Sapporo. I was the only member to meet them at Sapporo Station, and I took them to Hotel Yamagataya where they stayed for a while. I worked at the Hokkaido Newspaper Company at that time, so I asked my copyreader ((I think this is probably a poor translation choice for “editor.”)) to please write an article about these two missionaries and the re-opening of the Church in Sapporo. The article was printed and I can recollect my pleasure at that time.

I would like to speak about my own family. Just before the old Japan Mission was closed, my mother, Chika Kumagai, was baptized at age 73 by Elder Esplin. She passed away the next year, and the funeral service was administered at my home by the Japanese priesthood holders. My elder sister, Yoshino, was baptized in the Toyohira River when she was 53 years old.

I would like to bear my testimony that God truly lives. After the war, Japanese society was extremely confused and its morality declined. One night, after 9 o’clock, I walked a deserted path to my home. Suddenly a rowdy attacked me and tried to assault me. I fought against him while he pointed a pistol at me. I prayed for God’s help. Very soon a whistle was heard, and the rowdy left me and ran away. I believe God answered my prayer, and I received an assurance that God lives.

My favorite scriptures are:

John 15:12 – “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,:

Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

And my favorite hymn is “Should You Feel Inclined to Censure.”

I am now 82 years old but am able to attend Church every Sunday through the kindness of the Priesthood brethren who come to pick me up at home. I thank Heavenly Father for his love in providing me with relatives and friends to help me. This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.