Northern European Free Christian Mission & Socio-Cultural History of Post-War Japan: A record of Cultural Exchange

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K00990
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03020:Japanese history-related
• Research Institution: Kansai University
• Principal Investigator: OHYA WATARU 関西大学, 東西学術研究所, 非常勤研究員 (80340644)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 橋寺 知子 関西大学, 環境都市工学部, 准教授 (70257905)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: フィンランド人宣教師と戦後日本 / スウェーデン人宣教師と山梨・神奈川・静岡 / 日本人青年の精神世界と国際交流

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, with the full cooperation of the Finnish Free Foreign Mission, we were able to identify the footprints of Tapani and Lea Karna and missionary Lauri Heimonen in Kyoto in the 1950s. In particular, I conducted interviews with two graduates of Kyoto University who had joined the faith through their missionary work, and documented the interaction between Finnish missionaries and Japanese people, including their spiritual world. Our research also yielded the acquisition and deciphering of the Finnish books written by Tapani and Lea Karna. In addition, the footprints of the Swedish missionaries in Yamanashi, Kanagawa and Shizuoka were clarified considerably from interviews with early church members in Kofu City.
The research findings were presented at the international symposium held at Kansai University in March 2024.

Free Research Field

日本近現代史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、戦後中国共産主義革命に追われ台湾を経て日本に入り、1950年代から60年代にかけて、大阪・愛知・京都・兵庫・滋賀・福井・石川・山梨・神奈川・静岡において開拓伝道を行った北欧自由基督教宣教団の宣教師たちの足跡と、当時の日本人及び日本社会との交流の実相と全体像を記録化した。なかでも、京都に入ったフィンランド人宣教師のタパニ・カルナ、レア夫妻及びラウリ・ヘイモネン、リーサ夫妻に導かれた京都大学学生たちの精神世界は、当時の北欧と日本との社会的文化的交流の史実として、学術的にも社会的にも重要である。京都のフィンランド人宣教師たちは、日本伝道に従事した北欧各国の宣教師たちの要に位置していた。