Japan Bible Society (1937-), learned society
The Japan Bible Society, founded in 1937, is a non-denominational Christian society whose purpose is to publish, distribute and translate the Bible in Japan.
Overview
After the ban of Christianity was lifted in 1837, the Scottish Bible Society set up its branch in Yokohama in 1875, followed by the American Bible Society and the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1876. These three agencies were responsible for the publication in 1880 of the New Testament and in 1887 of the Old Testament in Japanese.
In 1937, with the financial support of its foreign counterparts, the Japan Bible Society was born. It was only after the end of World War II however that the new Society could freely operate, distributing millions of copies of the Bible between 1945 and 1951.
In 1969, the Japan Bible Society reached economic independence from foreign agencies and is now a full member of the United Bible Societies.