Nyuzu for Japan

The standard Protestant Japanese version of the Bible, like many in other languages, is so weighed down with archaic language that some sections make sense only to scholars. Last week a new translation of the New Testament went on sale, advertised to make the Bible understandable "in a train, bus or streetcar." The translator: the Rev. Tomio Muto, a Presbyterian minister and a former Tokyo judge, who was one of Tojo's leading propaganda writers during World War II.

Although converted to Christianity in 1929, Presbyterian Muto, 48, did not begin to practice his religion seriously until after World War II. Shaken by Japan's defeat and his part in the Avar, he became a minister, as he said, "to atone for my sins." He made a name for himself as the editor of the weekly Christian News and, in 1950, the Rev. Toyohiko Kagawa, one of Japan's most famed Christian leaders, suggested that Muto try his hand at retranslating the Bible. He spent two years working from the Japanese version, checked with Greek, Latin and other texts. He plans to publish 10,000 copies of his edition each month, as long as there is a demand. The first run of 10,000 copies was sold out before publication day.

The new version is written in simple language, using the most modern expressions possible, including such importations from English as nyuzu for news (instead of the older kikoe), rampu for lamp (instead of tomoshibi). Otome (young maiden) is used instead of Shojo Maria (Virgin Mary).* Explained Translator Muto: "In postwar Japan, virgin is too often considered synonymous with sex." But Japanese ministers who saw the translation were happy at having a Scripture that everyone could read. Said Kagawa: "I am so pleased with this version that I jokingly told the ministers they would all find themselves without a job."

*A similar change was effected by U.S. scholars in the Revised Standard Version of the Old Testament (TIME, Oct. 6). It aroused considerable opposition in some U.S. church circles. This week the Rev. Martin Luther Hux, pastor of the Temple Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, N.C., publicly burned a page of the new version. His principal objection: the use of "young woman" instead of "virgin" in Isaiah 7:14.

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