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