This year marks the 30th year since Tatsui Sato ended his mortal sojourn. Yet, his life and work are newsworthy now. They are added evidence that the hand of the Lord has been in operation in Japan over the 125 years since the first missionaries arrived.
A polished arrow from the Lord’s quiver has passed this way, bearing the name of Tatsui Sato – an instrument and servant who has provisioned our souls with spiritual sustenance. He modeled real and exemplary faith in Jesus Christ - unquestioned devotion, and active discipleship. Under the guidance of the Spirit, he expanded, exponentially, the availability of the “Word of God” for the people of Japan. He worked tirelessly to polish, burnish, and bring inspiring brightness and profound elegance to the word of God in the language of Japan.
Tatsui Sato was born in 1899 in the small village of Narumi, Japan. He entered mortality equipped with a powerful intellect that was fed, nourished, driven, and expanded by a native curiosity and hunger for truth. He was beloved in his family who sensed early the quality and power of his soul. He and his grandmother, Yone Sato, shared reciprocal love, respect, and encouragement. His family joined in the work of caring for him and opening a quality path of personal growth and learning. During his middle school years, his mother would rise at 4:00 a.m. to prepare food before his early 5-mile journey to school.
Tatsui had a deep appreciation for the close-knit community and the kindness and mutual care that existed amongst the citizenry of his small village. His feeling that this was “home” would play an important role in his life.
As early as 10, his curiosity led to an interest in both Christianity and English. Close contact with an American Methodist minister working in the Narumi area was the catalyst. He attended meetings and eventually became an assistant to the Minister. He became “Christian” – not a particularly popular form of religion and belief in Japan at the time.
His academic achievements led to admission to the preeminent Tohoku Imperial University in Sendai. He excelled as a student and researcher in his chosen field of chemistry. His curiosity also compelled him to gain proficiency in the English language.
A few months prior to graduation, he married Chiyo Akizuki. She was the daughter of the principal of a Sendai technical college and was about 3 years younger. They were introduced by one of Tatsui’s university instructors, Professor Bonsui.
After his university graduation, he worked at jobs in education, mining, research, and manufacturing. He became a respected metallurgical researcher, working in that capacity for Nippon Metal Industry in Yokohama.
During those working years, he and Chiyo had two children. Their son, Yasuo, was born on April 9, 1939, and their daughter Atsuko on May 22, 1941. In 1944, he left his Nippon Metal job when he sensed that the war would not end well for Japan. He moved his family to Narumi, his childhood and family home. There he kept busy constructing bomb shelters and performing volunteer duty watching and warning his neighbors of air raids. This was a time of severe economic hardship and privation, with food shortages and basic medication scarcity.
Tragically, 11 days after the war ended on August 15, 1945, Tatsui and Chiyo suffered the loss of their 3-year-old daughter Atsuko to the ravages of malnutrition and dysentery. Yasuo was also seriously ill but survived. Tatsui was devastated by this loss. He also suffered from malnutrition and illness. Filled with grief, he dragged himself into the hills around Narumi. In that privacy he wept and prayed for his deceased daughter. What came next for this family had, and still has, extraordinary, foundational, spiritual ramifications and implications for Japan.
The U.S. occupation troops arrived. The Sato family home was located on the ancient and well-traveled Tokaido Road which became busy with the comings and goings of U.S. military personnel. Tatsui took a job at a local silk shop frequented by many of the soldiers who traveled the road. His English ability was in demand.
It was then that divine providence arranged an encounter between Tatsui and American soldiers who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He immediately recognized a difference in their conduct and demeanor. He felt that they were Christians in both word and deed.
He became life-long (and eternal) friends with Ray Hanks, Reed Davis, Mel Arnold, Chaplain Warren Richard Nelson, Norton Nixon, George Swett, Elliott Richards, Boyd K. Packer, Thomas Bauman, and Bob Swenson. Though not “called” full-time missionaries, these good men shared the light, hope, and joy of the Gospel with a family whose conversion would result in monumental contributions to the work of the Lord amongst the people of Japan – an impact that has gone far beyond the borders of that country.
Both of the Sato's were baptized on July 7, 1946. Tatsui wrote in a letter to Ray Hanks that this was “the happiest and most wonderful day for us.” Little did he know that on that day the Heavens also rejoiced.
The life of Tatsui Sato is the epitome of a life well lived – a life of a humble, dedicated, enthusiastic, and relentless disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was tempered by tragedy, loss, and challenge. And yet, he forged relentlessly forward with hope and faith. His contributions to the Lord’s work have continuing and far-reaching divine effects.
Chief among the callings of this unassuming disciple was a 1949 call by Apostle, Matthew Cowley, to be a translator for the entirety of his life. This was a singular and unique Church “calling.” It was also carried out and fulfilled in a singular and unique way.
First, the sheer volume and quality of the work that Tatsui did is unparalleled. Notably, the first task in his “translator-for-life” call, was creating a new Japanese version of the Book of Mormon – a task of incredible size and scope. Consider the fact that the first Japanese translation required the persistent labor of Elder Alma O. Taylor and Elder Frederick A. Caine for 5 years (See Newsroom story). President Edward L. Clissold, the first post-war Mission President, requested the Book of Mormon translation just after Tatsui completed an important but much shorter task of translating the Sacrament prayers.
With respect to his work on the first Japanese version of the Book of Mormon, Tatsui’s work was not merely a modernization to accommodate significant evolution of Japanese language and culture. It was, in every sense, another translation of the full Book of Mormon. He gave unreserved application of his whole heart, might, mind, and soul. He labored tirelessly on this sublime and demanding process.
Second, the work that Tatsui Sato produced always evoked spiritual inspiration and revelation in those who read the translations he produced. The process and products of this labor were not confined to the operations of a brilliant mortal mind; and their quality was a product of more than admirable cultural, social, and historical understanding and perspective. As a result, the process deepened his devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ and produced, for the people of Japan, classic, rich, and spiritual “iron rods.”
Tatsui’s personal descriptions to relatives of the nature of the task of translation are replete with constant resort to “mighty prayer,” spirit-founded pondering, and ultimate submission and surrender to eternal power - the hand of the Lord. He treated every word, passage, and expression with humble and tender attention and charity. His deepest desire was to have the translated product deliver pure truth, edification, and deepened appreciation of the “word of the Lord.”
Tatsui also translated the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, pamphlets, manuals, and other materials that then became available to the people of Japan. He also translated two classic and powerful volumes written by James E. Talmadge – Jesus the Christ, and Articles of Faith. His translation work for the Church and the Lord whom he served was truly unending – continuing as important resources of Gospel light and truth.
Further fulfilling his calling, he flew to Hawaii in 1965 to translate the temple ceremonies into Japanese in preparation for the visit of Japanese saints to the Hawaii temple during that year. Paul Andrus, a former mission president in Japan (highly proficient in the Japanese language) was a member of the translation committee with Tatsui. He commented on the beauty and impressive nature of the translation, remarking that it was, “at the same time, very easy to understand.” Several members of a separate review committee in Salt Lake City stated that the “translation was so beautiful that tears came to their eyes” as they reviewed the translation.
The Church’s needs for the abilities, services, and talents of Tatsui Sato brought him to Salt Lake City where he took up residency. He was widowed by the death of his beloved Chiyo in 1958. In Salt Lake City he met and married Tomiko Hiranishi.
With her, he continued significant service to the Church in the work of genealogical research, record-keeping, and the extraction of names. Here again, his past passion for and study of classical Japanese literature and the associated art of written Japanese characters, led to his creation of a source for identifying and reading ancient and unused “kanji” script for use in the extraction of names for temple work. The Sato's also later served as temple missionaries at the Japan Tokyo Temple.
It would be a mistake in this “news” piece to fail to make a final comment about the breadth, depth, and power of the discipleship of this man. He was always and ever active in his service to the Lord whom he loved and served. He touched the lives of countless neighbors, young and old, by inviting them to attend “in-home” Sunday School classes. He faithfully conducted Sunday School in his home, even in the absence of any formal Church building or organization.
He was humble in the truest and most powerful sense of that word. He sought light and truth constantly – curious always and ready to work at learning. No work or service was beneath him. In his later years he could be found with an apron on cooking, washing dishes, serving food, and otherwise fully engaged in helping his wife, Tomiko, serve others.
Sometime in the early 1990’s, the First Presidency appointed a committee to commence work on a second “retranslation” of the Book of Mormon to succeed Tatsui Sato’s earlier version. A member of that new committee recently talked about his relationship with Tatsui. He reflected that, as one of the leaders of that committee, he was designated to be the committee’s liaison with Tatsui. He felt deep trepidation and concern about what that assignment might bring. However, he said that his concerns evaporated in his first meeting. He reported that Tatsui Sato never expressed or showed disappointment, dissatisfaction, or concern over this project. On the contrary, he came to feel awe and deep respect for Tatsui, whose words of encouragement and support made him a trusted ally, friend, confidant, consultant, and resource. To this day, he retains deep love and admiration for Tatsui Sato and treasures the friendship that resulted.
While it is almost certain that Tatsui Sato would be embarrassed and mortified by the comparison, he is a model like Captain Moroni. If we could all be like him, “the very powers of hell would be shaken forever.”