FUJINO, Yudai Associate Professor
I studied the history of Christianity in America.
Learn about Japan
In 19th-century America, Christian missionary work flourished alongside cultural and economic development, spreading to Asia, including Japan, and making significant contributions to culture and education. This research examines the influence of 19th-century America on Japan in relation to the history of the Tohoku region.
Since the Meiji era, Japan has actively adopted Western ideas, technologies, and cultures. In particular, American Christianity has had a significant impact on Japan's modernization. Studying American culture and the history of Christianity will provide clues to understanding the world and Japan.
- Main research areas: American Christian history, American cultural studies
- Courses taught: American Cultural Studies, American Christianity
Research topic
American culture, American Christian history, modern Christian history
Research Topics
- On Christian Revival and Anti-Revival Movements in 19th Century America
- The Revival movement had a widespread impact on various Protestant denominations in 19th-century America. As a result of the Revival movement, Christian faith was awakened in America, and even today, the strength of Christianity is maintained to an extent that is exceptional for a developed country. However, from a theological perspective, the Revival movement also contained various problems. Therefore, there were also people who opposed the Revival movement. This research examines the differences in theological positions between these two groups.
- About Merthersburg Theology
- Merthersburg Theology developed in the mid-19th century within the Reformed Church of the United States (formerly the Reformed Church of Germany), which can be considered the direct root of our university. Although Merthersburg Theology is not well known in Japan, it is attracting attention from researchers of American church history as a unique theological movement. In particular, we are researching the creed, understanding of the confession of faith, and ecumenical thought of John W. Nevin and Philip Schaff, who were leaders of Merthersburg Theology.
- History of Tohoku Gakuin
- I am researching the footsteps of missionaries who were deeply involved in the early days of Tohoku Gakuin University, as well as Japanese pastors who graduated from the Tohoku Gakuin Theological Seminary. I am investigating the theological stances of the missionaries sent from the Reformed Church in the United States, and the influence they had on the Japanese pastors who received their theological education. I am examining valuable historical materials from that period that are preserved at the Tohoku Gakuin Historical Archives Center.
Examples of graduation theses from Fujino's seminar
- "On Crime and Evil in Puritan Literature as Seen in the Works of John Bunyan and Nathaniel Hawthorne"
- "Racial Issues in American Society: Musicals as a Mirror Reflecting the Times"
- "American Mobility as Seen Through Horror Movies"
- "On the acceptance of cremation among Christians in Japan"
- "Unraveling American Christianity Through Film"
Recent works
- "The Historical Development of Revivalism in Early 19th Century America: The Conflict Between Two Methods, 'Old' and 'New'," Tohoku Gakuin University Journal of Humanities and Theology, No. 20, 2023, pp. 17-44.
- "A Study on 'Theology of Tohoku Gakuin': Through the Conflict Between Tohoku Gakuin and the Tohoku Presbytery of the Church of Christ in Japan in the First Half of the 20th Century," *Annual Report of the Tohoku Gakuin Historical Materials Center*, 2023, pp. 37-48.
- "Anti-Catholicism in 19th-Century American Protestant Churches and the Historical Significance of Philip Schaff's 'The Protestant Principles': Focusing on the Controversy in the German Reformed Denomination Journal Weekly Messenger," *Bulletin of the Institute for Christian Culture, Tohoku Gakuin University*, No. 41, 2023, pp. 1-22.
For more details, please see researchmap.