Takashi Yamada, a leader and pioneer in both church and research work for Japan Mennonites, was born 29 March 1926 in Kobe. Educated and trained at Kobe Commercial High School and Japan's Navy school, he served in World War II. He was baptized in the "unofficial" Kobe congregation in 1952 and was ordained a pastor in 1959.

The same year he married Yoshiko Oiwani.They had five children. In 1956 he became pastor of the Aburatsu Church in Nichinan, Miyazaki Prefecture, and in 1959 moved to the Kobayashi church, where he was still serving as leader of the larger Kirishima Christian Brotherhood in 1986. He has been chairman of the Nihon Menonaito Kirisuto Kyokai Kaigi (Japan Mennonite Christian Church Conference, GCM), vice-chairman of Asia Mennonite Conference and Mennonite World Conference, and helped organize the Nihon Menonaito Senkyokai (Japan Mennonite Fellowship).

In 1969 he lectured at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, where he was the first Theological Center guest. He has done extensive research on evangelism and Anabaptism. One theme emerging from that research is the need for critical reflection on how western churches have conducted mission work in the Asian situation, just as Anabaptism was a critique of Christianity in 16th century Europe.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 949. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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