The Purpose of Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai [1950] by Shin'ichirō Imaoka

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Citation

Imaoka, Shin’ichirō. The Purpose of Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai [1950]. https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTgvwLgEa8a258r6GYosYiGzEHL0i-GP5JkDRDylt9cvd86eQtzE6G5Kco8f1AuuhrgLgbydOBYX356/pub#h.yyg31c9gt4sr. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Quotes

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Literature notes

The following literature notes are from an earlier translation of this text by Andrew James Brown.

kiitsu kyokai continues unitarian universalism

According to Shinichiro Imaoka, using the word kiitsu in "kiitsu kyokai" recognizes the Unitarian roots of the church. However, it attaches itself not to the old meaning of the word Unitarian as a Christian denomination opposed to Trinitarian but to the newer Unitarian Church that aspires to go beyond Christianity and integrate other religious traditions around the world (i.e. unitarian-universalism).

kiitsu kyokai transforms unitarianism

Shinichiro Imaoka initially wanted to revive the Unitarian Church through kiitsu kyokai but he realized that what is needed is a continuation of the church through a significant transformation. What are these transformations?

free religion is faithful to genuine personal needs

It is interesting how Shinichiro Imaoka thinks about the "ready-made-ness" of religions. He said that to gather the best parts of all religions and integrate them into a single ideal religion is still using what is ready-made. What he seems to suggest is to really begin at the individual level (i.e., what does the individual need?). Then begin thinking about how to integrate what exists out there into one's faith. I like how he describes the nature of such an individual religion: "it represents the most personal, realistic, and tangible form of faith" and it is "about being faithful to our genuine demands."

plurality is critical to the success of a kiitsu kyokai

Individuals with personal and autonomous religions (i.e. jiyu shukyo) can still come together and gather into a "church" (or kiitsu kyokai). This variety is exactly what is necessary for a cooperative community to emerge. We shouldn't aspire for a community that is not plural, agrees to a single way of thinking, and penalizes divergent thinking. It is our differences with the people around us that teaches us how to practice tolerance, patience, kindness, and love.

kiitsu kyokai is democratic

Shinichiro Imaoka thought that democracy is what would protect the individuality and freedom, which is perhaps the most important thing that people owned within the kiitsu kyokai, as they practice their faith with others. To keep the kiitsu kyokai democratic, he advocated for congregationalism and layman-ism, which meant that members were encouraged to lead worships and sermons. He also mentioned that the kiitsu kyokai follows the nonhierarchical structure of Quakers, where the church is not owned by a clergy but by its members.

kiitsu kyokai nurtures a free religion that inspires compassion

In congruence with its Unitarian roots, the kiitsu kyokai advocates supporting social causes. According to Shinichiro Imaoka, "salvation is both personal and social" and "individual salvation and societal salvation are two sides of the same coin." Therefore, the kiitsu kyokai, like the Unitarian movement, is an enlightenment project that aims to influence not just religion but society in general. Among the objectives of an enlightenment project according to Imaoka are harmonizing science and religion and promoting culture and peace.

The kiitsu kyokai as an organization nurtures jiyu shukyo, which becomes the foundation for all efforts to address societal issues. Although it is an enlightenment project, it is also a religious organization, which means it isn't only for intellectual engagement. Imaoka aspires the kiitsu kyokai to be a practice ground for the ideal society, where all kinds of people from different walks of life could come together in unity.

To do: The "universality" of free religion is something worth thinking about.

Prompts

The first Sunday meeting of the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai was held in October 23, 1948.

Shōwa era years in Japan :: 1926 to 1989

Per Imaoka, the term 帰一 (Kiitsu) is often translated into English as "Unity".

Per Imaoka, the Unitarian movement in Japan was most active during what two eras? :: Meiji and Taisho eras

Taisho era years :: 1912–1926

In 1950, what was the state of the Unitarian Movement in Japan per Imaoka? :: Continues but weakly

Per Imaoka, when he first thought of establishing Kiitsu Kyōkai, he was thinking about what to do about the Unitarian movement in Japan? :: Revive it.

Rather than simply reviving the former Unitarian Church in Japan, what did Imaoka sought to do with Kiitsu Kyōkai? :: To be trans-denominational.

Per Imaoka, what does trans-denominationalism mean? :: Not confining ourselves within religious traditions.

Per Imaoka, which follows which: people or religion? :: People then religion.

Per Imaoka, using a clothing metaphor, one's jiyū shūkyō must be made-to-order, not ready-made.

Per Imaoka, what form of religion is trans-denominational but ready-made? :: A religion assembled by gathering the best aspects of all faiths.

Per Imaoka, in what case does one's jiyū shūkyō fully match a ready-made religion? :: When that ready-made religion best meets one's personal religious needs.

Per Imaoka, what a free-religious person's choice to be transdenominational arises from what? :: Their desire to remain true to their genuine needs.

Per Imaoka, a true cooperative community and kyōkai can only be realized through the gathering of people with an autonomous faith.

Per Imaoka, in jiyū shūkyō and Kiitsu Kyōkai, why is absolute transcendence of denominations impossible? :: We still end up creating a new denomination that is trans-denominational.

Per Imaoka, for one to be both individualistic and collective, what should one's preferred political system be? :: Democracy

Per Imaoka, Kiitsu Kyōkai advocates for what form of church governance? :: Congregationalism

What is congregationalism? :: Form of church governance where a local church is largely self-governing.

Since Kiitsu Kyōkai believes in layperson-ism, Imaoka likened its style with what religious group? :: The Quakers.

Imaoka relates democracy with what assertion about salvation? :: Individual and collective salvation are linked and simultaneously attained.

Imaoka believes that the link between individual and collective salvation that Kiitsu Kyōkai asserts resonates with what Catholic claim? :: There is no salvation outside the Church.

What was the former name of the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai? :: Community Church of Tokyo

Why was the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai formerly called Community Church of Tokyo? :: It followed the Community Church Movement in the United States.

Who initiated the Community Church Movement in the United States? :: Dr. J. H. Holmes

What century does the Community Church Movement originate from? :: 20th century

What is the Community Church Movement? :: 20th century evangelical attempt to realize practical ecumenism

What is ecumenism? :: A movement promoting unity among the world's Christian Churches.

Central figure in the Japanese Unitarian movement during the Meiji and Taisho eras, who was also the leader of the social movement in Japan. :: Abe Isoo-shi

Per Imaoka, what was a point of weakness in the Japanese Unitarian movement during its heights in the Meiji and Taisho eras? :: It was too political and social and not very religious.

Since the Japanese Unitarian movement during the Meiji and Taisho eras were more political and social than religious, Imaoka thinks it was an Enlightenment Movement rather than a religious movement.

Per Imaoka, how can the Kiitsu Kyōkai move beyond just being an Enlightenment Movement? :: Solve all world issues through jiyū shūkyō.

Per Imaoka, how can Kiitsu Kyōkai become a microcosm for an ideal society? :: Become more than a forum for intellectual debate and include people of different age, educational background, and trades.