Akita's Current Meetinghouse (Higashidouri Nakamichi 2-31 (map) )

Akita's church is located just one block east of, and is visible from, the east exit of the eki (station) that was remodeled for the arrival of the Shinkansen in 1997. This building, dedicated in August 1990, is fairly small, and appears similar in size and design to the building in Iwaki. Akita has a population of around 350,000 people and is legendary throughout Japan for its Akita Bijin (beautiful women).

Akita's historical pictures follow:

Narayama Tatenokoshi 55-1 This peach of an edifice, found directly across the street from a cemetery, was used for missionary quarters in the 1960s and 1970s and earlier was also used for church meetings. By December 1974, six missionaries lived here, with another four in Tsuchizaki, a suburb north of Akita. While probably known as the worst house in the mission, it had the best sekiyu stove. Seeing your breath in the morning before the stove was lit made getting out of your toasty futon warmed by an electric blanket even harder. In 1976, the missionaries moved to a different house.

1970s Downtown Akita Meetinghouse The front half of the second floor of this downtown building is where Akita church meetings were held in the 1970s. The building was called the Shougikaikan, and the Japanese chess-like game of Shougi was played in rooms in the back. Elders housed in Tsuchizaki (a Northern suburb of Akita) also attended meetings here.

This picture, contributed by Chris Barnes, shows the combined Akita meetinghouse/elder's quarters in Akita in 1980.

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Odate (opened: ~1974)

Odate's Current Meetinghouse (#1 Keijou (Akita Odate Biru 2F) (map) ) On 17 Jun 2012, Odate branch started holding meetings on the second floor of this building near the Odate City Office and main post office. Note the large sign on the side of the building that designates the name of the Church. A Open House is planned for Saturday, 21 Jul 2012 followed by a dedication and reunion on the 22nd. All who served in Odate are invited and are encouraged to contact and invite former investigators, less actives, eikaiwa friends, etc. Please also send a note of love and support to branch via Sis. Domon on Facebook. Thanks to Sister Rieko Kazumoto Domon for the above picture, and also to Bro. Seza from Sendai for his efforts on the new building.

Odates's historical pictures follow:

Ariura 4-9-32 (2001 through Jun 2012) In this rented meetinghouse located near Higashi Chuu (East Middle School), meetings were held on the first floor and a family lived upstairs.

Odate's meetinghouse in 2000 was very close to the eki (station). The door on the left-hand side of the lower floor is the entrance.

This house at 13-19 Izumi-cho served as Odate's first meetinghouse and missionary quarters when Dave Wakefield and John Mason opened Odate to missionary work on 27 September 1974. This picture of Wakefield Choro in front of the building was taken by Mason Choro. Wakefield Choro was only in Odate about two weeks; his mission ended 10 October 1974 when Taniuchi Yoshihiko transferred in and three weeks later Tim Branham and Leonard Langford transferred in to make Odate a four-man branch. Odate's first baptism after the branch opened was Tsubakida Ryoko, who was baptized 25 November 1974. Thanks to John Mason for sharing this valuable historical information and pictures as well.

One of the first sacrament meetings held in Odate, October 1974. John Mason and Taniuchi Yoshihiko were the only attendees. Photo courtesy: John Mason

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Yokote (opened: 1986)

Yokote (map) was opened to missionary work in 1986, according to Shaun Ellsworth in his listing in the first Sendai RM site. Yokote is located in the mountains east of Akita, and is known for very snowy winters and its yuki matsuri (snow festival). This meetinghouse, located at Yachikishi 22. has been used since 2004. The building was formerly a Tohoku Denryoku (Tohoku electric power) office. It is located right across from a rice field, about 10 minutes walk south of the train station. The Yokote missionary apartment was closed for about two years (2009-2011) due to low incoming missionary numbers.

Historic Yokote Here's the Yokote meetinghouse in 2000.

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