Let us learn about the History of Y’sdom in Asia
Do you know where the first Asian Y’s Men’s Club was born?
The Historical Order of the birth of YMC in Asian Countries
1924
1928
1929
1930
1933
1941
1946
1950
1955
1958
1966
1997
1997
1981
Mainland China
Japan
Philippine
Sri Lanka
Hong Kong
Singapore
Korea
Thailand
Taiwan
Myanmar [Burma]
Malaysia
Nepal
Kazakhstan
Bangladesh
Mainland China
The first Y's Men's Club beyond the shores of the North American Continent was formed in
Shanghai, China, in 1924, thus commencing the expansion of Y'sdom to every continent on the
globe.
Between 1924 and 1948, the great majority of the Y's Men's Club in this regional area were on the
Mainland China.
The following is the list of the clubs organized in Mainland China between 1924 and 1948:
Shanghai
Tientsin
Tsingtao
Peiping
1937
Foochow
Nanking
Amoy
Soochow
Shanghai International
Chungking
Tsinan
1924
1928
1928
1931
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1935
Wufu
Canton
Hankow
1929
Chengtu
Kweiyang
Shaokwan
Sian
Kanchow
Lanchow
1936
1937
1937
Kuming
1940
1940
1941
1942
1943
1943
Following the end of the war with Japan in 1945, internal warfare continued to disrupt the activities
of the YMCA and the Y's Men's Clubs in China so that by 1949 all official activity of Y'sdom on
Mainland China had ceased.
Japan
The first Japanese Y's Men's Club was chartered in Osaka November 10,
1928, under the leadership of Tsutae Nara, who was responsible for the
growth of Y'sdom in Japan. He was instrumental in establishing four
additional Y's Men's Clubs which were chartered in 1929 at Keijo, in 1930 at
Kobe, and in 1931 at Tokyo and Yokohama. A club was also formed in 1930
at Kyoto, and several years later at Sendai; these two clubs did not receive
charters from International until their reorganization in 1947 and 1948
respectively.
Early in 1941 the Regional Director found it necessary to resign his position,
and to advise that circumstances had made it necessary for the Japanese
Y's Men's Clubs to withdraw from the International Association for the time
being.
Within a year after the end of the war, the clubs the clubs in Osaka, Kobe
and Tokyo gradually resumed their occasional meetings, and renewed their
affiliations with International in the Spring of 1947, pursuant to the invitation
springing from a resolution adopted at the 1946 Convention (Bradford,
Pennsylvania).
Philippine
The history of Philippine Y'dom dates back to 1928, when the first Y's Men's Club was
organized in Cebu. This club functioned until 1933. Reorganized in 1939, it's progress
was interrupted by World War II.
The modern history of Y'sdom in the Region gegan when the Y's Men's Club of
Manila was organized on April 4, 1941. During the Japanese occupation of the
country, the members of the Club continued to serve the YMCA. The club was
granted its charter by the International Association on August 3, 1946, and thereafter
became the largest Club in Y'sdom.
The spread of Y'sdom throughout the Philippine
Lucena
Laoag
Iloilo
Davao
Baguio
Cebu
1956
San Pablo
1946
1946
1947
1948
1948
1948 – reorganized
Downtown Manila
Pulupandan
Kidpawan-Dumanguete
Albay
Cotobato City
Bacold City
1950
1952
1954
1955
1955
1950
In 1962, the Davao Club was thee world's largest club with 127 members.
In 1964, the Y's Men's Club of Naga, Philippines, was chartered with 114 members.
Sri Lanka (India, Pakistan)
The 1931, the first Y's Men's Club in India/Ceylon area was chartered at Colombo,
Ceylon (Sri Lanka), in one of the outstanding associations in the East, founded
November, 1882.
In 1960, the Colombo Y's Men's Club adopted as a goal the organization of new Y's
Men's Clubs in Ceylon. As a result, new clubs were chartered in Kandy (May, 1962);
Moratuwa (February, 1964); Amparai (November, 1962); and Jaffna (August, 1971).
The Y's Men's Club of Lahore was organized in 1935 and received its charter from
International in 1936. This made it the first club to be affiliated with International
either in India, or in Pakistan, where it is now located.
The 24 clubs now located (as of 1972) in India had their beginning with the club
organized in Madras, India, in 1934 with objectives similar to the Y's Men's Clubs,
but under a different name. In July, 1939, the membership of that club resolved to
change its name and affiliate with the International Association. The Madras
Esplande Club was chartered September, 1940.
Regional status was granted to the clubs of India and Ceylon by the International
Board at the 1946 Bradford Convention.
The three Regions in India formed an independent Area apart from Asia Area in
1983.
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Y's Men's Club was organized in 1932 by William Yinson
Lee, then of Shanghai.
During the period 1941 - 1945, the war interrupted the normal functions of
the Club; but the Y's Men did some good work and secret meeting were
sporadically held.
Four other Y's Men's Clubs have been chartered in British Crown Colony
at Kowloon(19520, Victoria(1962), Tsuen Wan(1967), and
Peninsula(????).
Singapore / Malaysia
The Singapore Y's Men's Club was formed in 1941 by the then Director of
the Chinese Region, Yinson Lee, while making a visit to Singapore.
During the war, it became necessary to suspend club meeting, but
following the war, the first general meeting was held on May 8, 1946.
The second Y's Men's Club in Singapore (Beta Chapter) received its
charter December, 1958, and has had an interesting and effective service
program.
The Singapore (Beta) Y's Men's Club sponsored the new club in Ipoh,
Malaysia, which was organized in May, 1966; and the club in Talok Anson,
Perak, chartered in March, 1968. The third Y's Men's Club in Singapore is
the Orchid Club, chartered February 7, 1970.
Korea (1)
The first Y's Men's Club in Korea was organized in 1929 among the
Japanese members of that association and known as the Keijo Y's Men's
Club. This club became dormant in 1941.
The spread of Y'sdom among the Koreans was originated after the war by
the indefatigable efforts of Lt. Carl V. Bergstrom, U.S.N.R. of the United
States Army Military Government who had been an active Y's Man in
Milwaukee, and was located in Pusan in 1945.
In his travels through the city, he noticed YMCA signs with Korean language.
His interest aroused and he met the leader, a Presbyterian Minister by the
name of Roh, who had taken over an abandoned Japanese Church, and
converted it into an informal YMCA office. This group was strictly a grass
roots movement. Bergstrom helped and encouraged them and suggested to
form a Y's Men's club. A charter application was filed and the charter granted
in 1946. There were 40 members at that time, and the Mayor of Pusan
became the first club president. Grass roots group of YMCA groups in Masan
and Chinju decided also to apply in 1947 for charters, which they received.
When the General Secretary of the Seoul YMCA, Pyun Sung Ok, learned of
the Y's Men's Clubs 350 miles to the south, he made a special trip to
investigate them. As a result, the Seoul Y's Men's Club was chartered in
February, 1947, with 40 members.
Korea (2)
After June, 1950, the Region became inactive, due to the North Korean
invasion. International body, as well as individual clubs in U.S.
contributed cash and collected/shipped clothing for Korean relief.
The further growth of Y'sdom in Korea was described by Robert Baker,
Fratanal YMCA Secretary, whose interest and support of the Korean Y's
Men's Clubs has been an outstanding factor in their successful
development.
By 1959, more than 60 Y's Men's Clubs had been chartered, and Y'sdom
had become the largest service club in Korea.
Thailand / Myanmar / Vietnam / Indonesia
For several years, a small devoted group of YMCA workers in Bangkok
sought the formation of a Y's Men's Club. Y's Man Chaiya Kattonponia
reported that the Bangkok Club consisted of 32 members of 12 different
nationalities.
The Bangkok Club became dormant in 1962, but was revived by Charter
Night in October 1969, with 100 in attendance including representatives
from Manila Downtown Y's Men's Club.
The Y's Men's Club of Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar), was chartered in
August, 1958. It has been generally listed as an independent club, but it is
considered as part of Southeast Region now.
It is said that there were Y's Men's Club of Saigon, Vietnam as well as Y's
Men's Club of Djakarta, Indonesia. But because of some lack of
communication with Saigon and Djakarta, neither of these clubs have been
officially chartered.
Taiwan
The first Y's Men's Club in Taiwan (Taipei Alpha) was chartered in Taipei on
March 12, 1955 with General J. L. Huang as the speaker. He had benn
International Director for the Chinese Region and a member of the Nanking
Club.
The Taipei Beta Chapter Y's Men's Club was formed March, 1959. The
Beta Chapter conducts its meetings by the use of English, whereas the
Alpha Chapter conducts its meeting in Taiwanese.
The third club in Taiwan is the Kaohsiung Y's Men's Club which was formed
in February, 1962, and which conducts its programs in Mandarin inaguage.
Three additional clubs in Taiwan have been chartered in Taichung (Dec.
1969), Tainan (Mar. 1970), and Pintung (Dec. 1970).
Asia Minor
Four Y's Men's Clubs have been organized in that area of the Continent of
Asia generally reffered to as Asia Minor.
The first club was formed in Beirut, Lebanon, which applied for its charter
September 30, 1952.
On March, 1953, a charter was issued to the Jerusalem Y's Men's Club,
which included members from 12 different countries as far apart as India
and Indiana.
In October, 1956, a new Club was chartered in Nazareth, Israel, with the
charter being presented in person by International Secretary Henry Grimes.
In June, 1961, a newly organized Y's Men's Club of 30 members was
reported at Gaza, Palestine, but apperently this Club never applied for its
charter.