To make a living, Uchiyama did many physically demanding jobs in Osaka, doing part-time work  at factories and delivering goods for shops.

On January 31, with suggestions from Kotani Shōzaburō, a colleague of his, Uchiyama walked into Kyoto Church, where he met three people whom he came to see as role models.

Uchiyama laid his foundation and faith for mission in Kyoto Church with connections to Niijima Jō, founder of Dōshisha University,[1] who taught many graduates including Makino Toraji, a Pastor at Kyoto Church, who eventually became a life-long mentor of Uchiyama.

[1] In 1913, Taguchi Kenkichi, a member of the church, the founder of Osaka-based pharmaceutical company Taguchi Santendō, later known as Daigaku Megusuri Santendo, asked Pastor Makino to find a member on a mission to sell Daigaku mekusuri (University Eye Medicine) in China.

[3] The third role model Uchiyama sees is Uchimura Kanzō, a pacifist who releases monthly Christian magazines.

[3] Uchiyama's job required him to travel frequently between various cities in China, leaving his wife alone at their home in Shanghai, in which in a country whose language she doesn't know.

[2] They opened their Christian bookstore in their Shanghai home in Weishengli, Lane 1881, North Sichuan Road in 1917.

[1] Uchiyama's membership in the Christian community not only fulfilled his spiritual needs, but also facilitated cross-cultural exchanges and understanding between Chinese and Japanese people.

[4] These Chinese literati included Guo Moruo, Tian Han, Chen Baoyi, Feng Guangtao, Ouyang Yuqian, Yu Dafu, Wang Duqing, Cheng Fangwu and others.

Both of them are concerned with Sino-Japanese relations, while Uchiyama much more than Lu Xun, for he utilizes the bookstore as a salon, a medium for promoting Japan-China Friendship.

[7] Fogel quotes "I am often tempted—but only tempted—to suggest that their friendship may have been based solely on Uchiyama’s extraordinary help in protecting Lu Xun (and Xu Guangping and their child) on numerous occasions, even at the potential risk of his own life, and Lu Xun’s equally extraordinary sense of gratitude.

"[7] After Lu Xun delivered his views after founding League of Left-Wing Writers, Zhejiang branch of the GMD issued an arrest warrant for him in late March 1930.

It was Uchiyama's dedication that earned him the prestigious status of "administrator of Lu Xun's legacy" in the cultural circles of both China and Japan.

He worked for a while at the Tokyo branch of Uchiyama Shoten and continued to promote friendly relations between China and Japan through the publication of the magazine "Mandan".

[10] The same year, Uchiyama married Kato Masano from Moji, a port city connected with Nagasaki.

After their marriage, Uchiyama and Masano moved in Kyōdō kita area of Tokyo’s Setagaya ward.

They join the United Church of Christ near their home, with Murata Masasuke, Uchiyama’s old friend in Shanghai being the Pastor.

Uchiyama often hosted visitors from China in JCFA, including Li Dequan, Liao Chengzhi, Guo Moruo, and Xu Guangping.