• 1895 (Age 0): March 31 – Born to Toratarō and Mitsu in Nakajima-chō, Naka Ward, Hiroshima (family business: brewing).

• 1901 (Age 6): Entered Ushijima Ordinary Elementary School in Hiroshima City.

• 1905 (Age 10): Graduated from Ushijima Ordinary Elementary School; entered Hiroshima City First Higher Elementary School.

• 1907 (Age 12): Entered the first year of the junior high school attached to Hiroshima Higher Normal School. Around the time of entry, the family business went bankrupt due to a downturn in operations.

• Circa 1910 (Age ~15): Received baptism.

• 1912 (Age 17): Graduated from the attached junior high school. After graduation, began attending a Presbyterian church. Met W. F. Hereford, a missionary from Lebanon, Tennessee, and received instruction in Christian teachings and music.

• 1915 (Age 20): April 20 – At Hereford's recommendation, entered the preparatory course of the Meiji Gakuin Theological Department. While enrolled, became a central figure—alongside Chūgorō Torii and others—in the male chorus "Gregory Band" and engaged in performance activities.

• 1917 (Age 22): April 22 – Enrolled in the preparatory course at the Tokyo Music SchoolMorita – Tokyo Music School record of enrollment.

• 1918 (Age 23): Advanced to the instrumental music department of the main course; decided to study abroad, partly upon the recommendation of German instructor Hirosada TamuraIkemiya.

• 1920 (Age 25): March 21 – Departed for the United StatesMorita – Diary 8, March 26, 1920. April 9 – Arrived in San Francisco Morita – Diary 8, April 20, 1920. April 11 (Sun) – Attended the Easter service at First Congregational Church. April 12–20 – Visited a friend in Sacramento; boarded a train bound for the East Coast; stopped in Salt Lake CityMorita. Arrived in Chicago (the midpoint of the journey) around April 25; stayed for about a weekMorita – Diary 8, May 2, 1920. Heard a magnificent pipe organ concert—the first of its kind in his life—at Fourth Presbyterian Church; made contact with Eric DeLamater, the church's music director and resident organistMorita – Diary 8, April 26, 1920. May 2: Morita hears Wagner’s *Tannhäuser Overture* at a Chicago Symphony concertDiary 8, May 2, 1920. Visits the University of Chicago, meets Robert Waterman Stevens (Professor of Church Music), and tries out the organDiary 8, April 28, 1920. Stays for about a week at a Presbyterian seminary in Auburn, New YorkDiary 8, May 10, 1920. Arrives in Boston on May 10; takes lessons from Henry Morton Dunham at the New England Conservatory for about a month and a halfNew England Conservatory register records. Visits churches and experiences organ and choral musicDiary 8, May 23, 1920. Attends a church music conference held at Wellesley CollegeWellesley College program. From mid-July to early October, lives as a live-in housekeeper in New Jersey while commuting to New York by train. In October, enrolls at Yale University upon the recommendation of Elmer Yelton of the Committee on Friendly Relations Among Foreign Students in New York.Studied organ under Harry Benjamin Jepson, orchestration under William Edwin Haesche, and music theory under David Stanley Smith (Dean). Attended numerous performances, including concerts by Jepson at Woolsey Hall and piano recitals by RachmaninoffMorita: Jepson program, diary entry Jan. 13, 1921. Traveled to Manhattan to visit various churchesMorita. Dec. 26, Manhattan: Played Bach’s "Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor" at the Japanese Christian School’s Christmas Eve serviceMorita: diary entry Dec. 26, 1920. Attended performances of Handel’s *Messiah*, Saint-Saëns’s *Christmas Oratorio*, Wagner’s *Parsifal*, and othersMorita: diary entries Dec. 26–27, 1920.

• 1921 (Age 26) – March 21: Heard *St. Matthew Passion* (performed by a 1,500-voice choir and an orchestra of approximately 110 musicians) at the Manhattan Opera HouseMorita: diary entry March 26, 1921 / concert program. Composed the hymn "Mikokoro" (Thy Will)Morita.

• 1922 (Age 27): Attended a recital by Charles-Marie Courboin as part of the John Wanamaker Auditorium "New Jewel" Concert Organ Recital SeriesProgram dated April 22, 1922.

• 1923 (Age 28): October—Abandoned plans to obtain a degree from Yale UniversityLetter from David Stanley Smith, Oct. 8, 1923. November—Selected as a mission scholarship student at Columbia University through the efforts of Rev. George Stewart of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church and othersLetter from Edward R. Sterrett to George Stewart, Nov. 19, 1923, etc.; began organ studies with Seth Bingham, an associate professor at Columbia University. November 23—Attended a performance by Courboin in the Wanamaker organ recital seriesProgram dated Nov. 23, 1923. December—Attended a presentation/performance series on the organ symphonies of Charles-Marie Widor at the Wanamaker organ, featuring performances by Courboin, Lynnwood Farnam, and Marcel DupréProgram dated Dec. 28, 1923 – Jan. 5, 1924.

• ​1924 (Age 29) – January & February: Attends the inaugural recital series celebrating the organ expansion at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, hearing performances by Bingham, Jepson, Charles Henry Doersam, Farnam, Walter C. Gale, and othersProgram: Jan. 9–Feb. 5, 1924. January 31: Hears Dupré perform in the Wanamaker Organ Recital SeriesProgram: Jan. 31, 1924. February: Attends a series of four historical organ lecture-recitals by Clarence Dickinson at the Union Theological Seminary ChapelProgram: Feb. 5–26, 1924. May 18: Performs for the worship service at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church (substituting for Bingham)Program: May 18, 1924. October: Meets William Crane Carl (founder of the Guilmant Organ School) through an introduction by Samuel Price of the World's Sunday School Association. Mid-November: Travels to ParisPrograms, etc.. Hears Fauré’s *Requiem* at La Madeleine (Fauré had passed away on the 8th)Ikemiya. November–December: Attends concerts in the *Église Diocésaine des Étrangers* (Paris Church for Foreigners) series, hearing performances by Joseph Bonnet, André Marchal, Louis Vierne, Widor, and othersPrograms: Nov. 24–Dec. 27, 1924. End of year: Passes the audition for the Schola Cantorum; studies organ under Vierne and composition under Vincent d'IndyLetter from Schola Cantorum to Kioka; receipts dated Dec. 18 & 26, 1924. Takes lessons from Widor; rotates duties such as hymn accompaniment for servicesFamily recollections. November–following March: Attends numerous concertsPrograms: Nov. 30, 1924–Mar. 20, 1925.

• 1925 (Age 30): Works included Franck’s oratorio, Gluck’s *Orfeo ed Euridice*, and Bach’s *St. John Passion*, *Mass in B Minor*, and *Christmas Oratorio*. Late April to mid-May: Visited the UK—primarily London—for just under two weeks; attended concerts Morita: Program, Apr 25–May 15, 1925). November: Traveled from Paris to Germany; visited St. Thomas Church in Leipzig and Karl Straube; took lessons (Morita). December 3: Attended an organ recital by Walter Fischer at Berlin CathedralMorita: Program, Dec 3, 1925. Returned to Japan via Moscow, the Trans-Siberian Railway, and BusanMorita: Testimony of Mr. Kanzo Kioka.

• 1926 (Age 31): February 20: Radio broadcast of a lecture titled "Great Music Elevates National Character" Morita: Newspaper clipping. June 4: Held an organ recital at the Eikokan Chapel, Doshisha UniversityMorita: Program, June 4, 1926. June 19: Held the First Organ Concert at Rikkyo UniversityMorita: Program, June 19, 1926. Established the Christian Music Publishing CompanyMorita. Became resident organist at Nanki Music HallMorita and Rikkyo UniversityMorita.

• 1927 (Age 32): May – Formation of the Japan Bach Society; performances included organ works, chamber music, cantatas, and passion musicMorita: Newspaper clipping [undated]. Resident organist at Aoyama Holy Trinity ChurchMorita. December 22 – Inaugural recital for the Casavant organ at Aoyama Holy Trinity ChurchMorita: Program, Dec. 22, 1927.

• 1928 (Age 33): Resident organist at the German ChurchMorita. Tokyo Music School (Specialist Lecturer)Morita: Newspaper clipping, 1929. July 9–14 – Christian Music Summer Seminar (held at Reinanzaka Church)Morita: Outline for the 1st Christian Summer Seminar.

• 1929 (Age 34): February 24 – Organ performance at the "Music Promotion Society" dissolution commemorative concert (held at Sogakudo)Morita: Newspaper clipping, Feb. 1929. May 4 – Performance of the *St. John Passion* at Holy Trinity ChurchMorita: Poster, May 4, 1929. Composed the hymns "Yoki Hi" (Good Day), "Megumi no Hikari" (Light of Grace), "Inori" (Prayer), "Chichi no Mikami" (God the Father), and "Waga Ko" (My Child)Morita.

• 1930 (Age 35) – June 9: Inaugural recital on the Rudolph Wurlitzer organ at the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main StoreMorita; Composed hymn "Akahoshi" (Red Star)Morita.

• 1931 (Age 36) – Participated in compiling the *1931 Hymnal*Morita; Composed hymn "Imose" (Younger Sister's Back)Morita.

• 1932 (Age 37) – March: Inaugural recital on the Yamaha organ at Tokyo St. Timothy's ChurchMorita.

• 1933 (Age 38) – Held an all-Franck recital at the Tokyo Music School Concert HallMorita; cited in the program for the "Cathedral Organ Hour," Jan. 9, 1966.

• 1934 (Age 39) – Attempted a marathon performance of the complete works of BachMorita; program dated Nov. 2, 1934.

• 1936 (Age 41) – Japanese translation of Pergolesi's *Stabat Mater*Morita.

• 1938 (Age 43) – Japanese translations of Handel's *Messiah*, Haydn's *The Creation*, and Saint-Saëns' *Christmas Oratorio*Morita.

• 1939 (Age 44) – Japanese translation of Schütz's *The Seven Last Words of Christ*Morita; publication of Pergolesi's *Stabat Mater*Morita.

• 1940 (Age 45) – April: Established the Japan Christian Church Music School (later the Christian Music Research Institute established in 1948; currently the Christian Music School) (Morita; information booklet for the Japan Christian Church Music School, April 1940).

• 1941 (Age 46): Participated in the compilation of *Seinen Sanbika* (Hymnal for Youth).

• 1943 (Age 48): October 2 – Held a charity concert to raise funds for fighter aircraft (at Doshisha Chapel).

• 1945 (Age 50): Published a Japanese translation of Brahms' *Requiem* and Saint-Saëns' *Christmas Oratorio*.

• 1946–47 (Ages 51–52): September through August of the following year – Served as chapel organist at the U.S. Eighth Army Memorial Hall. November – Held lecture-recitals (a series of lectures on musical arts) at Doshisha University.

• 1947 (Age 52): September – Sent a letter to S. E. Gruenstein, editor-in-chief of the organ quarterly *The Diapason*. November – Article on the Japanese organ scene published in the November issue of *The Diapason*.

• 1948 (Age 53): Published a Japanese translation of *Messiah*.

• 1949 (Age 54): Publication of Haydn's *The Creation*; October: Traveled to the U.S. (via San Francisco to Salt Lake City)Letter from Theodore E. Curtis Jr. (Oct. 16, 1947.

• 1950 (Age 55): Jan. 8: Article published in the *Brooklyn Eagle* regarding the revival of organs in Japan and world peace*Brooklyn Eagle* article (Jan. 8, 1950); February: Formation of "The American Committee to Secure Organs for Japan."*Choir Guide* (March–April 1950 issue?); March–June: Campaign activities (fundraising for post-war organ restoration in Japan); concerts held in various locations; two organs sent to Japan.Programs / Letters from J. Henry Carpenter (June 4, 1951 – Jan. 2, 1952); Visiting scholar at Union Theological Seminary.Letter from Tordis M. Petersen (June 25, 1949); Visiting scholar at Westminster Choir College.

• 1951 (Age 56) – March: Invited to serve as a music professor at International Christian University (ICU)Letters sent to Kioka by Maurice K. Troyer, Hachiro Yuasa, and others (Aug. 1, 1950 / Mar. 21, 1951). June: Returned to Japan.

• 1952 (Age 57) – October 24–25: Held the 1st Conference of the Japan Society for Christian Music (at Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts).

• 1954 (Age 59) – August 3–4: Performed on the pipe organ at the dedication ceremony of the Hiroshima Memorial Cathedral for World Peace.

• 1958 (Age 63) – October 10–11: Held the 7th Conference of the Japan Society for Christian Music (at Miyagi Gakuin Women's University) and the 3rd Organ Competition.

• 1959 (Age 64) – Published Bach’s *Magnificat*.

• 1960 (Age 65) – Organ installed at Kojimachi Catholic Church (St. Ignatius Church).

• 1962 (Age 67) – Began the "Grand Organ Meditation" series at St. Ignatius Church.

• 1963 (Age 68) – Organ installed at Osaka Tamatsukuri Church (St. Mary's Cathedral, Osaka).

• 1964 (Age 69) – Organ installed at home for practice.

• 1964–1965: Organ installation at St. Mary's Cathedral, TokyoMorita

• 1965 (Age 70): June 27 – Conducted Fauré's *Requiem* and other works at the organ dedication concert at St. Mary's Cathedral, TokyoMorita: Program 1965.6.27; Published Brahms's *Requiem*Morita

• 1966 (Age 71): January 9 – Inaugurated the "Cathedral Grand Organ Meditation" series at St. Mary's Cathedral, TokyoMorita: Program 1966.1.9

• 1967 (Age 72): November 11 – Received an award at the 5th Ceremony Honoring Distinguished Contributors to the Christian Community, presented by the Japan Christian Cultural AssociationSonobe

• 1968 (Age 73): Professor at Junshin Music Junior CollegeIkemiya

• 1970 (Age 75): Published Bach's *Mass in B Minor*, *Christmas Oratorio*, and *St. John Passion*Morita

• 1974 (Age 79): Participated in the compilation of the Lutheran Church's *Church Hymnal*Morita

• 1975 (Age 80): November – Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver RaysMorita; Published Bach's *St. Matthew Passion*Morita

• 1982 (Age 87): February – Performed at the organ dedication concert at Saniku GakuinMorita; March 16 – Passed awayKamata et al.

​

​　<Source Key>

　　Morita: Mariko Morita

       Ikemiya: Eisai Ikemiya

       Sonobe: Sunao Sonobe