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[[File:Makiki-church.jpg|right|thumb|400px|The Makiki Christian Church, established by Okumura in [[1904]]. This building, inspired by [[Azuchi-Momoyama Period|late Sengoku]] or [[Edo period]] [[castle]] architecture, dates to 1932.]]

[[File:Makiki-church.jpg|right|thumb|400px|The Makiki Christian Church, established by Okumura in [[1904]]. This building, inspired by [[Azuchi-Momoyama Period|late Sengoku]] or [[Edo period]] [[castle]] architecture, dates to 1932.]]

Rev. Okumura Takie was a Christian missionary active in Hawaii in the early years of the 20th century. He played a prominent role in the origins of the Japanese Christian community in Hawaii, as well as in establishing or supporting other aspects of the Japanese community in the islands.

Rev. Okumura Takie was a Christian missionary active in Hawaii in the early years of the 20th century. He played a prominent role in the origins of the [[Japanese Christians in Hawaii|Japanese Christian community in Hawaii]], as well as in establishing or supporting other aspects of the Japanese community in the islands.

A graduate of [[Doshisha University|Dôshisha University]] in [[Kyoto]], Okumura arrived in Hawaii in [[1894]]. In [[1896]], he established the first Japanese-language school in the islands, and in [[1904]], became the head of the Japanese Christian Church in Nu'uanu, establishing a second mission in Makiki at that time.

A native of [[Kochi|Kôchi]] and a graduate of [[Doshisha University|Dôshisha University]] in [[Kyoto]], Okumura first arrived in Hawaii in [[1894]]. In [[1896]], he returned to Hawaii with his wife, Ogawa Katsu, who he had married in [[1886]], and three children. That same year, he established the first [[Japanese schools in Hawaii|Japanese-language school in Honolulu]],<ref>The second in the islands, another having already been founded on Maui by [[Fukuda Seiji]]. (Odo and Sinoto, 127.)</ref>, as well as a vocational school offering night classes teaching cooking, sewing, and the like.<ref>Odo and Sinoto, 154.</ref> In [[1904]], Okumura became the head of the Japanese Christian Church in Nu'uanu, establishing a second mission in Makiki at that time.

 

Okumura also established the first Japanese baseball team in Hawaii in [[1901]], consisting of students from his boarding school.<ref>Odo and Sinoto, 78-79.</ref> His wife Katsu, who ultimately bore thirteen children, was active in helping Okumura in all his various projects, and especially in overseeing the boarding school, known as Okumura House.

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==References==

==References==

*Franklin Odo and Kazuko Sinoto, ''A Pictorial History of the Japanese in Hawaii'' 1885-1924, Bishop Museum (1985), 77.  

*Franklin Odo and Kazuko Sinoto, ''A Pictorial History of the Japanese in Hawaii'' 1885-1924, Bishop Museum (1985), 77, 107.  

[[Category:Meiji Period]]

[[Category:Meiji Period]]

[[Category:Religious Figures]]

[[Category:Christians]]