My Via Dolorosa

About the Book

This is a collection of reflections written by the author each time after his annual voluntary teaching ministry in Asian countries, which suffered under the Japanese Imperialism and military operations in the first half of the twentieth century. The introductory chapter presents first the author’s perspective as a Japanese Christian scholar on his country’s modern history as it relates to its Asian neighbours and the countries that fought with Japan during the Pacific War, and then it explains the author’s theological motivation and underpinning of his teaching ministry in Asia. As an appendix, the author’s reflections and reservations on the bilateral agreement recently (28.12.2015) reached between the governments of South Korea and Japan over the issue of “comfort women” are presented. This issue constitutes, in the author’s view, a touchstone as to how seriously and sincerely Japan is going to face its war past. In the course of his visits to Asia the matter has hung heavy over the author’s chest and he personally met some surviving, elderly Asian victims.

About the Author

Born in Hiroshima in 1938. Studied English philology (BA) and linguistics (MA) at Tokyo Kyoiku University, Japan, and obtained PhD in Hebrew, Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1970). Taught Hebrew and Semitic languages at the University of Manchester, UK (1970–80: lecturer); Melbourne University, Australia (1980–91: professor); Leiden University, Holland (1991–2003: professor). Published extensively on Hebrew, Greek (especially Septuagint, the old Greek translation of the Old Testament), Aramaic, and Syriac. Since retirement from Leiden in 2003, teaching biblical languages and the Septuagint as a volunteer a minimum of five weeks at theological seminaries and universities in Asia as a token of remorse over what Japan did there before 1945 and what it has failed to do since. Married to Keiko Muraoka, with two sons and one daughter.