Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Pioneering Hebrew Scholar Takamitsu Muraoka Dies at 88

2/16/2026

36 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Takamitsu Muraoka died last week in Leiden, Netherlands, at age 88 after a stroke.
He was the first Japanese student to earn a doctorate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and advanced Dead Sea Scrolls linguistics.
He organized international conferences on Hebrew studies.
He taught biblical Hebrew in the Far East as a devout Christian seeking atonement for Japan's wartime actions.
Colleagues remember him as reserved yet helpful.

1 of 1

Story summary

Takamitsu Muraoka died last week in Leiden, Netherlands, at age 88 after a stroke.
He was the first Japanese student to earn a doctorate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and advanced Dead Sea Scrolls linguistics.
He organized international conferences on Hebrew studies.
He taught biblical Hebrew in the Far East as a devout Christian seeking atonement for Japan's wartime actions.
Colleagues remember him as reserved yet helpful.