Discovery

By Toyohiko Kagawa

Author’s Background:
Kagawa Toyohiko, (born July 10, 1888, Kōbe, Japan—died April 23, 1960, Tokyo), Christian social reformer,
author, and leader in Japanese labour and democratic movements who focused attention upon the poor of
Japan.
As a youth Kagawa enrolled in a Bible class to learn English and was soon converted to Christianity. He
continued his Christian studies in Japan and the United States. When he returned to Japan he became involved
with the labour movement and with social welfare work, choosing to live in the slums of Kōbe. He took part in
the campaign for universal adult male suffrage, which was achieved in 1925, and helped organize the Japanese
Federation of Labour. In 1921 and again in 1922 he was briefly imprisoned for his labour activities. After his
release he began to conduct great evangelistic campaigns in the chief cities of Japan and other countries.
A pacifist, Kagawa founded the National Anti-War League in 1928 and in 1940 was arrested for apologizing to
China for Japan’s attack on that country. A year later he was one of a group that went to the United States in an
attempt to avert the coming war. He returned to Japan after World War II and led the effort to gain suffrage for
women.

Discovery
By Toyohiko Kagawa

I cannot invent new things

Like the airships
Which sail
On silver wings
But today
A Wonderful Thought

In the dawn was given

And the stripes on my robe
Shining from wear
Were suddenly fair
Bright with a Light
Falling from heaven
Gold, Silver and Bronze
Lights from the windows of Heaven
And the Thought was this:
That a Secret Plan
Is hid in my Hand
Big,
Because of this plan,
That God
Who dwells in my hand
Knows this secret plan
Of the things He will do for the world
Using my Hand!