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Karl Barth Society of Japan

The Karl Barth Society of Japan was founded in 1986 by the late Dr. Keiji Ogawa, following a celebration of Karl Barth’s 100th birthday. It is currently chaired by Professor Yoshiki Terazono of Seinan Gakuin University.

The society is at the center of Karl Barth study in Japan and has a membership of more than 100 theologians, professors, students, denominational ministers or laypersons. It is a very active society that meets for presentations, discussions and research exchanges about Karl Barth or related topics.

The society is also organizing an annual Karl Barth conference with participants from across Japan and sometimes international guest speakers.

Small Karl Barth study groups exist in churches in Tokyo, Kansai and Kyushu, where members meet to read the Church Dogmatics or other books, both in German or Japanese.

The last conference on the topic of “Calvin and his present-day meaning” was held on September 13-15, 2010, in Hakone, together with the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society. Guest speaker was Prof. Dr. Bertold Klappert from Germany.