Uemura Masahisa

was a Japanese Christian pastor, theologian and critic of Meiji and Taishō periods.

Early life and education Uemura was the eldest son of Tojuiro and Tei, of the family of hatamoto (rank of samurai). His birth name was Michitarō. Though his family was wealthy, they fell into bankruptcy at the time of the Meiji Restoration. He came into contact with Christianity when he went to Tokyo to study at Shubunkan and the preparatory school run by James Hamilton Ballagh. In June 1873, he was baptized at the Yokohama Public Church by Ballagh. His parents and younger brothers were also baptized later. Soon he decided to become an evangelist, studying at Brown Preparatory School and Icchi Shin Gakko (United Seminary).

Personal life Uemura married Sueno Yamanouchi. They had three daughters; the third, Tamaki Uemura, survived to adulthood and became a religious leader in her own right. Uemura's health was greatly damaged because of the strenuous effort he put into the reconstruction of Fujimicho Church and Tokyo Shingakusha after they were devastated by the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake. He died suddenly at his home in Kashiwagi, Tokyo.