Behold the Man

Résumé · When the wave of nine years of warfare had passed over Japan, leaving her prostrate and humble, Dr. Axling was yet able to repeat what he wrote for the original edition : "Toyohiko Kagawa still stands at the flood-tide of life. Richer and riper years lie in the womb of the future." Now with two new chapters added, one dealing with the period prior to Pearl Harbor, and the other with the war years, this appraisal and appreciation of a great Christian is again presented. Taking the longer view of an active life that stretched over a half-century of violent change, one may receive a new understanding of his philosphy and its impact on the Christian world. Says his biographer: "His mind has been on the march. His philosphy has annexed ever-enlarging areas of life. He has lived and labored in a rapidly expanding sphere of activity." Reminiscent of Kagawa's own much-quoted recent words, the book says: "There are two Kagawas. There is the Kagawa who has been aureoled and idealized by the fervent devotion of his friends and followers. There is also kagawa the man of human clay fighting his way toward the heights."