From a young age, Dr. Yusuke Aikawa of Nagoya, Japan, wanted to know why U.S. presidents put their hand on a Bible while being sworn in to office.
Curiosity about the intersection of politics and religion still drives the now 36-year-old professor—in fact it compelled him to fly nearly 7,000 miles to study at the Billy Graham Archive and Research Center in Charlotte, NC.
“I am not a Christian [but] I am curious about and respect Christianity,” said Aikawa, an agnostic with Buddhist parents.
He first heard about Billy Graham 12 years ago through a colleague who knew of his interest in faith and U.S. government.
As Aikawa read books and articles about Graham, his curiosity about the man and his message grew.
“Japan is far from the U.S., so why did Mr. Graham come?” he wondered, referring to the evangelist’s six trips to share the Good News of Jesus Christ on the island nation.
He took a weeklong journey to Charlotte, North Carolina, to search for the answer at the archive center.
“I had to come here to study Billy Graham,” Aikawa said.
The center contains nearly 10,000 artifacts and memorabilia, thousands of historical papers, and more than one million photographs, videos, and audio recordings—all of which document the life and ministry of Billy Graham and his team.
“There is very interesting material here—I can write two or three books,” Aikawa shared.
And the professor’s heart is warming up to the Gospel message Billy Graham preached. He plans to return to the Archive Center in 2025 to continue his study.
“Through him, something [has] inspired me,” he explained. “Maybe God.”
“As Mr. Graham said, we have to decide for Christ,” he added, sharing that he plans to search the Bible to learn about God for himself—not just for his research.
If you’re a student, leader, or researcher, come explore Mr. Graham’s ministry through the decades. Browse our online collections or request a visit to the Billy Graham Archive and Research Center today.
