Japan’s Church honours Dr Yamaura, translator of 'Bibles of hope'

(June 19, 2013) The Catholic Church in Japan has honoured Dr Leo Harutsugu Yamaura, a physician, who dedicated his entire professional life to the poor, by awarding him the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal , which is bestowed upon members of the laity and the clergy who distinguish themselves in their service to the Church. The ceremony held on Tuesday at the Apostolic Nunciature in Tokyo, was attended by all the bishops of Japan. In accepting the award, Dr Yamaura thanked the Apostolic Nuncio, Indian Archbishop Joseph Chennoth, for the honour bestowed upon him.
Dr. Yamaura has worked his entire life to pass on, and instil deeply into people's hearts the Gospel of Christ. To achieve this goal, he also translated the Bible in Kesen, his local language. In April 2004, he travelled to the Vatican and offered his translation to Bl. Pope John Paul II.
In recent years, his action has had an enormous, albeit unplanned impact because of the terrible tsunami that devastated the coast of Japan on 11 March 2011.The doctor had just finished the draft of 'Jesus of Galilee', the Japanese translation of the Four Gospels of the New Testament, which was ready for printing, when his clinic was flooded by the tsunami triggered by an underwater earthquake. Without power, gas and water, Dr Yamaura worked tirelessly for several days, without sleep or rest, to help the people who came to him every day seeking treatment. In the end, the tragedy saved his job, and the 'Tsunami Bibles' became a sign of hope for all Japanese.
After the experience of the great earthquake, requests came from all over the country for him to speak. He chose to title one of his conferences 'God, you are the Supreme Good. We do not whine. It's OK; let us accept this catastrophe'.
Source: Asianews