Masao Takenaka

Background

Takenaka was born in Beijing, China in 1925, and lived in China for his first ten years. His father worked for the South Manchuria Railway.

Education

After the war, he completed a degree in business and then studied theology at Doshisha.

Career

He began his studies at Kyoto University, but was drafted into the Japanese army during World World War II and sent to Hokkaido. At the Yale Divinity School in Yale University, he was greatly influenced by H. Richard Niebuhr. He earned his doctorate there in 1955.

He also worked to fit Christian theology more closely to indigenous culture in Asia, for instance by defining God as the "rice of life" instead of as the "bread of life".

Works

More photos

• book

  • When the Bamboo Bends: Christ and Culture in Japan (Risk Book Series)

    (Throughout the world Christian ideas and worship are expr...)

  • Christian Art in Asia

    (This book contains 120 plates including 58 in color.)

  • Bible Through Asian Eyes

    (Book by O'Grady, Ron, Takenaka, Masao)

  • The Place Where God Dwells - an Introduction to Church Architecture in Asia
  • Bible Through Asian Eyes by Ron O'Grady (1991-05-03)
  • Reconciliation and renewal in Japan
  • Reconciliation and renewal in Japan
  • When the Bamboo Bends: Christ and Culture in Japan (Risk Book) by Masao Takenaka (2002-01-01)
  • God Is Rice: Asian Culture and Christian Faith by Masao Takenaka (2009-08-01)
  • God Is Rice: Asian Culture and Christian Faith