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My Via Dolorosa: Along the Trails of the Japanese Imperialism in Asia Paperback – February 29, 2016
by Takamitsu Muraoka (Author)
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$18.241 Used from $19.515 New from $18.24This 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.
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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.
Product details
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: AuthorHouseUk; Reprint edition (February 29, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1524628697
ISBN-13: 978-1524628697
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars 2 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,770,663 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#467393 in Self-Help (Books)
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enjoyer
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat Works by MuraokaReviewed in the United States on October 30, 2018
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Prof Muraoka does a great job with teaching Hebrew Grammar here. I found his shot reflections about his visits to Asian countries post retirement is an inspiration for all of us.
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sun myung lyu
5.0 out of 5 starsa compelling memoir from a Christian intellect and conscience of the highest orderReviewed in the United States on March 21, 2019
Professor Takamitsu Muraoka, a true master of ancient languages and philology in our time, has taught at many prestigious universities worldwide including Manchester, Melbourne, and Leiden, producing numerous and scintillating academic works along the way. His moving memoir My Via Dolorosa: Along the Trails of the Japanese Imperialism in Asia deserves as much attention as his scholarly works. My Via Dolorosa chronicles Muraoka's journey through Indonesia, Burma, Hong Kong, Philippine, China, Taiwan, and of course Korea. Over the past fifteen years, he tread on his via dolorosa offering his apology, solidarity, and unpaid teaching ministry for the people from the countries inflicted by the imperialist Japan.
My Via Dolorosa is a vintage Muraoka: an unassuming prose filled with sharp analysis and profound reflection. The first thing that caught my attention was the "Bridge over the River Kwai" story, which I remembered as a tragic yet heroic narrative of the honor code and patriotism of the soldiers and officers. Muraoka instead opened my eyes to the unimaginable pain of those 60,000 POW's and 200,000 civilians all illegally pushed for constructing a stunning length of 420km railroad to pipeline supplies between Indonesia and Burma. 100,000 of those are believed to have died of malnutrition, diseases, and explosions. Many of the victims weren't even properly buried. No medal, tombstone, or reparation was given. Not even a simple apology was ever offered by Japanese government. Such sentences, concise to the point of being dry, nevertheless made me grasp the scale and intensity of the atrocious acts. One could assemble from Wikipedia the same facts, but Muraoka speaks in a voice only attainable by those willing to throw themselves into the painful past to shudder, to cringe, and to weep for the souls—of the victims, of the villains, and of their own.
Muraoka is shocked to realize that many people from those inflicted countries are ignorant of or dismissive about the terrible deeds committed to them. Some even insist that the colonial experience was beneficial for their countries. So Muraoka chants: you should face the truth; know the history; know what Japan did to you; remember, and then, and only then, forgive. It's not the victim, even less the offender, who can offer true forgiveness and make stitches over the bleeding wounds. Only God can offer genuine forgiveness and restoration. Muraoka does not speak of this lightly. A native of Hiroshima, he is familiar with the Japanese sentiment of victimization by the atomic bomb. But he directs us to the horror of Nanjing Massacre to realize how self-contradictory to outcry "No more Hiroshima!" without ever shouting "No More Nanjing!"
My grandfather was an activist and financier for the Korean independence movement. The pain and loss inflicted on my ancestors during the Japanese occupation is very personal. Of course there is no reason for me to direct my hatred to any individual Japanese citizen, nor does any Japanese need to apologize to me. But reading this book made me feel as if the author has offered his personal apology to me. Was I overly sentimental? Perhaps. But many people over the years seem to have felt the same way. A man named James said he changed his mind about Japan after he met Muraoka. Students who took his biblical language courses often witness that they learned not just technical knowledge but "how a saved Christian should live his life."
A most touching and thought-provoking book for our time. Heartily recommended.
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