Zeno Żebrowski (in Japanese ゼノ・ゼブロフスキー), birth name Władysław Żebrowski, was a conventual Franciscan missionary who was born around 1898 in Surowe, and died April 24, 1982, in Tokyo.[1]

Life in Poland

Żebrowski was born into a peasant family, and did not finish any level of education.[1] He participated in the Polish-Bolshevik War, hoping to enlist as a machine-gunner. He was placed in a cavalry unit and eventually got reassigned to hospital duties. In 1924 he worked in a Jewish factory.[2] In 1925 he entered the Franciscan order in Grodno, taking the name Zeno.[1] He took part in the publishing of the "Knight of the Immaculate" magazine and participated in the construction of a monastery in Niepokalanów.[1][2]

Work in Japan

Together with Maximilian Kolbe he went on a mission to Japan, arriving in Nagasaki on April 24, 1930. Shortly after their arrival, they began printing the "Knight of the Immaculate" in Japanese under the name "Seibo no Kishi".[2] He participated in the creation of a Catholic monastery in Nagasaki called “the Japanese Niepokalanów”.[1] The location was chosen in part because it was suitable for a Lourdes grotto. After the end of World War II, he began organizing orphanages for Japanese children and establishing housing for the homeless.[1][2][3] The extent of Zeno's activities were such that the government gave him free transport on Japan's trains and buses.[2] He was given the title "Uncle of the Orphans" by the Japanese, and was known for telling his charges "Everyone will make good if he prays to Our Lady".[4][5][6] Żebrowski was a contemporary and associate of Satoko Kitahara, who is now considered Venerable by the Catholic Church.[7] He was heavily involved in the development of Ari no Machi, a ragpicker community which would become famous due to Kitahara's involvement. In 1969 he received the 4th class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Emperor,[8] and in 1979 at the foot of Mount Fuji a monument to him was erected by Adolf Ryszka and Togashi Hajime. The Polish government honored him in 1976 with the Gold Cross of Merit of the PRL.[1]

Appearances in Media

Between 2017 and 2018 a documentary directed by Marta Sokołowska was made about the years Żebrowski spent in Japan. The film is called Zeno-San, and it involves interviews with contemporaries of Zeno and with some of his family.[3] In May 15, 1999, an anime film titled "Zeno: Unlimited Love" was aired in Japan, covering the life of Zeno, particularly his charitable work.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Friar Zenon Żebrowski - Franciscan, missionary in Japan". Institute De Republica. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  2. ^ a b c d e Glynn, Paul (1993). The smile of a ragpicker. Marist Fathers Books. OCLC 221837938.
  3. ^ a b ZENO-SAN - FILM DOKUMENTALNY [2019] PL JAP, retrieved 2022-05-21
  4. ^ "The Catholic Standard and Times, Volume 54, Number 17, 28 January 1949: The Catholic Standard and Times". The Catholic Standard and Times. 1949-01-28.
  5. ^ "The Catholic World in Pictures, 18 June 1948: The Catholic World in Pictures". The Catholic Standard and Times. 1948-06-18.
  6. ^ "The Catholic Standard and Times, Volume 53, Number 38, 25 June 1948: The Catholic Standard and Times". The Catholic Standard and Times. 1948-06-25.
  7. ^ "Venerable Satoko Kitahara – Militia of the Immaculata". Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  8. ^ "Selected Episodes from the History of Japanese-Polish Relations" (PDF).
  9. ^ Zeno: Kagirinaki Ai ni, retrieved 2022-05-28