{"product_id":"saints-of-the-rising-sun-volume-1-english","title":"Saints of the Rising Sun: Volume 1 (English)","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComing Soon...\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Saints of the Rising Sun” Volume 1: \"First Light\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBy Conan Grames\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe first-ever complete story of the Restored Gospel in Japan. \u003cbr\u003eTold in \"\u003cem\u003eThe Work and the Glory\u003c\/em\u003e\" style. Solid history in a narrative form.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeluxe Soft cover, tradebook, 486 pages, Volume 1 of 3\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVolume 1 will release on (or before) Sept 1, 2026, you may pre-purchase your copy now and be among the first to receive your printed copies.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA masterpiece by Conan Grames that remains faithful to the historical facts while adding creative flair. Drawing on meticulous research into the records of the Iwakura Mission and sources from both Japan and the United States, it explores the origins of a distinctly Japanese form of Christianity through a compelling narrative.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003eMasakazu Watabe\u003cbr\u003eProfessor Emeritus, Brigham Young University\u003cbr\u003ePh.D. in Linguistics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eABOUT THE BOOK\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThis book is the story of how the Gospel found its way into the land of Japan and then carries the reader thru the drama, suffering and joy of the first 50 years (1901-1948). It is based entirely in historical sources. From its divinely \"accidental\" beginning to its struggles and triumphant growth over the decades that followed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe beginning captures a little-known episode of the \u003cstrong\u003eIwakura Mission\u003c\/strong\u003e, composed primarily of Japanese leaders from the Royal Emporer class, in 1872—just after Japan had opened to the world. They departed from Japan, traveled through the United States, and continued on to Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn their way to Washington, D.C., they were caught in a blizzard in the Rocky Mountains, which rendered the transcontinental railroad impassable. As a result, the delegation was forced to stop in Salt Lake City. During this unexpected stay, the Japanese leaders developed close relationships with church leaders in Utah, who in turn were deeply impressed by the Japanese people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn 1901\u003c\/strong\u003e, after Japan granted religious freedom, President \u003cstrong\u003eLorenzo Snow\u003c\/strong\u003e decided to send missionaries to Japan—\u003cspan\u003e making it the only country in Asia where the Church had a lasting presence prior to World War II.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Church’s missionary efforts in Japan were, for the most part, not successful in terms of gaining converts to Christianity, and the mission came to an end after 23 years. Nevertheless, the story contains many compelling episodes: the struggles of \u003cstrong\u003eHeber J. Grant\u003c\/strong\u003e as he faced discouragement in a foreign land; the missionaries’ efforts to grapple with a difficult language and an unfamiliar culture, as well as the enormous task of translating \u003cem\u003eThe Book of Mormon\u003c\/em\u003e; the story of \u003cstrong\u003eNami\u003c\/strong\u003e, the first woman to convert to a religion that had only recently abolished plural marriage; and her later crisis of faith after losing everything in the \u003cstrong\u003eGreat Tokyo Earthquake\u003c\/strong\u003e and the \u003cstrong\u003ewar\u003c\/strong\u003e, including the deaths of her three grown children.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book also portrays other \u003cstrong\u003efaithful women\u003c\/strong\u003e who laid the foundation for the future of the Church in Japan, as well as men who, quite literally, \u003cstrong\u003egave their lives\u003c\/strong\u003e for their faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA FIRST FOR LATTER-DAY SAINT TITLES\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe book's release is timed to coincide with the \u003cstrong\u003e125th anniversary\u003c\/strong\u003e of the opening of the Japan Mission on \u003cstrong\u003eSept 1st 1901\u003c\/strong\u003e in Yokohama.  The book will release in \u003cstrong\u003eboth English and Japanese \u003c\/strong\u003eon that date, This is a first in the annals of LDS publishing, to have the native language of the country featured along with the English.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe second and third volumes will follow in close succession after the first Volume is released\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eABOUT THE AUTHOR\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConan P. Grames \u003c\/strong\u003eis an independent historian, attorney, and researcher whose work focuses on the history and lived experience of Latter-day Saints in Japan. Combining academic rigor with firsthand cultural experience, his research explores the intersection of faith, culture, and identity in one of the most unique settings in modern religious history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrames’ connection to Japan is both personal and enduring. Giving him 20 years of lived experience and professional engagement for a rare, multifaceted perspective on the development of the Church in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrames has contributed to the growing body of international Mormon studies, including co-authoring \u003cem\u003eUnique But Not Different: Latter-day Saints in Japan\u003c\/em\u003e, a data-driven examination of contemporary Japanese Latter-day Saint life. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrames’ writing is distinguished by its ability to bridge disciplines—bringing together historical narrative, sociological analysis, and personal insight. He is particularly interested in stories that illuminate the human dimension of faith: the struggles, sacrifices, and quiet acts of devotion that shape religious communities over time. His work highlights individuals whose lives reflect both the difficulty and the transformative power of belief in unfamiliar or challenging environments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSaints of the Rising Sun\u003c\/em\u003e,\u003c\/strong\u003e Grames uses a historical narrative style to tell the story of the early Church in Japan through a well-documented and history-based lens. Drawing on multiple first-person sources and informed by years of study and firsthand experience, Grames seeks to capture the emotional and spiritual realities behind the historical record—bringing to life the people, relationships, and moments that defined the Church’s beginnings in Japan. Through this approach, he aims to make history accessible, engaging, and deeply human, while remaining grounded in documented events.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrames continues to research, write, and speak on topics related to Latter-day Saint history, Japan, and the global development of the Church. His work reflects a broader interest in how faith traditions take root across cultures and how individuals navigate belief in contexts where it is not widely shared.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMORE INFORMATION\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe three volume set will rlease in rapid succession, the books are:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote type=\"cite\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x_gmail_quote x_gmail_quote_container\"\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"x_gmail_quote\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x_msg-8238232602852673125\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"EN-US\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x_m_-8238232602852673125WordSection1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e(1) \u003cstrong\u003eFirst Light            初めての光　hajimete no hikari \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"x_gmail_quote\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x_msg-8238232602852673125\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"EN-US\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x_m_-8238232602852673125WordSection1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e(2) \u003cstrong\u003eA Shadow Falls　忍び寄る影    shinobiyoru kage \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"x_gmail_quote\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x_msg-8238232602852673125\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv lang=\"EN-US\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x_m_-8238232602852673125WordSection1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e(3) \u003cstrong\u003eA New Dawn　    新たな夜明け arata na yoake\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e","brand":"Digital Legend Press","offers":[{"title":"ENG- English","offer_id":42015383715875,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"JPN- Japanese","offer_id":42015383748643,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/9625\/0403\/files\/saints-of-the-rising-sun-_6x9_-7-28-26-THUMB.jpg?v=1785222341","url":"https:\/\/digitalegend.com\/products\/saints-of-the-rising-sun-volume-1-english","provider":"Digital Legend","version":"1.0","type":"link"}