Tokyo celebartion of the 40th anniversary of the death of Brother Zeno Żebrowski

On April 24, 2024, the Polish Embassy in Tokyo, Japan celebrated the 40th anniversary of the death of Brother Zeno Żebrowski. We are surprised by the fact that Brother Zeno landed on Japanese soil on April 24, 1930 and died on the same day and month in 1982. This is probably not a coincidence, but there is some sign of God in it! Forty years after the departure of the Franciscan missionary to the House of the Lord, on exactly the same day and month – April 24, 2024, the Polish embassy in Tokyo organized a beautiful ceremony to remind the Japanese society of this great figure, the Polish Franciscan – a great Pole and hero of Japan.

Brother Zeno Żebrowski was a collaborator of Saint Father Maksymilian Kolbe, the founder of the Japanese mission. Father Maksymilian Kolbe left Japan after 7 years and, after the outbreak of World War II, suffered martyrdom, giving his life by starvation for the father of a family, Franciszek Gajowniczek, in Oświęcim /Auschwitz/ – a German extermination camp in occupied Poland. After leaving Poland, Brother Zeno returned to his homeland only once, in 1971, to meet his family and brothers from the order. Brother Zeno miraculously survived the atomic bomb explosion in Nagasaki, helping those who survived this terrible tragedy. Brother Zeno, guided by God’s Love, gained their trust and the great respect of the entire nation for his charitable activities for the poor and needy Japanese. He became a hero of Japan. His missionary work earned him the respect and recognition of Emperor Hirohito himself and the entire imperial family. The Japanese government, in a spirit of gratitude for his charitable and dedicated work, honored him with the country’s highest distinction – “The Order of the Sacred Treasure.” He also received a free train ticket to travel all over Japan. Brother Zeno organized the first orphanage for poor children in Nagasaki, which was visited by Emperor Hirohito himself. World War II left many Japanese cities in ruins. There was a lot of destruction and suffering among poor people everywhere. Brother Zeno’s charitable work became a new form of missionary activity for the Polish Franciscans on Japanese soil. In addition to promoting the Marian magazine – the Knight of the Immaculate and the miraculous medal of Our Lady, which was their original purpose. After the end of the war, Japan was devastated. Thanks to Brother Zeno’s efforts, orphanages for poor, homeless children were created like “mushrooms” – the famous “Ant Cities”, known in Japan as “Ari no Machi.”

Brother Zeno engaged people of good will in his charitable activities in helping the poor and needy. A beautiful figure among such volunteers was the blessed young girl Satoko Kitahara. As a young girl, at the request of brother Zeno, she took care of his orphans in “Ari no Machi” in Tokyo. She died prematurely of tuberculosis. She left this world with a reputation for holiness as a young, zealous Christian, aged only 28.

Brother Zeno was a friend of all Japanese, regardless of religious affiliation, social status, or philosophy. Knowing the history of Polish Siberian children who were once rescued from hunger and death by Japan, Brother Zeno felt most sorry for the poor, homeless Japanese children. He knew that these children had a chance to become the future of the Japanese nation. The Japanese wrote several books about the Franciscan missionary with a white beard. Films were also made about Brother Zeno’s missionary activities in Japan. In Nagasaki there is a museum dedicated to Saint Father Maximilian Kolbe and Brother Zeno.

On April 24, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., the ceremony began – “Brother Żebrowski Day at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Tokyo.” The ceremony was started by the host – the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Japan – Pawel Milewski. Then there was an introduction to the exhibition about Brother Zeno by Deputy Director of the Polish Institute in Tokyo – Justyna Rogulska. The exhibition consists of several panels. In a nutshell, it summarizes the entire missionary life of Brother Zeno, a Franciscan missionary and hero of Japan. The texts on the panels are in English and Japanese. Thanks to its bilingual nature, this virtual exhibition will reach a wider audience in Japan and around the world. The next point on the program was the speech by the guest of honor, a Franciscan, nephew of Brother Zeno – Father Jerzy Żebrowski. Father Jerzy represented Zeno’s family and the Franciscan order. Father Jerzy’s arrival is associated with a “small miracle” that the speaker mentioned at the beginning of his speech. Brother Zeno probably helped him from heaven! The program of the ceremony included the inauguration of the above-mentioned exhibition about Brother Zeno. This was done in a beautiful way by the editor – Jin Ishitobi, author of the book about the life of Brother Zeno. Then there was a wonderful musical performance by the group “Jiyu no Tsubasa” entitled “Zeno, the Wind Messenger from Poland.” Then, the invited guests gathered in the hall delighted by the female youth choir from the Koen Gakuin Catholic School with its wonderful singing. During the concert, students of this school performed three piano pieces. All artists performing on stage received loud applause and symbolic red roses, and the honored guests received bouquets of flowers. At the end, a commemorative photo was taken on stage. The entire ceremony was wonderfully prepared by the Ambassador and Embassy staff. The celebration was a beautiful promotion of the Polish missionary on Japanese soil, 40 years after his death. The event at the Tokyo Embassy was reported in the Japanese press. The very first ceremony organized by the Polish Embassy will probably contribute to even greater strengthening of friendly Polish-Japanese relations.

We can rejoice in the fact that 40 years after Brother Zenon’s death, his memory is still alive in the Japanese nation. In Catholic bookstores you can buy books about the extraordinary Franciscan missionary, a great Pole and the hero of the “Land of the Rising Sun.” His grave in Fuchu-Shi Catholic cemetery in Tokyo and the magnificent monument at the foot of Mt. Fuji remind us of him. Before the ceremony, the Polish Embassy in Japan prepared and placed special information plaques in Polish both at Brother Zenon’s grave and at the monument. Recently, more and more people from Poland have come to Japan as pilgrims to trace the footsteps of great Polish Franciscan Missionaries; Saint Father Maksimilian Kolbe, Brother Zeno Żebrowski and Japanese helper Satoko Kitahara. At the end of the ceremony, a tasty Polish meal was prepared. During that time, there were photos, conversations and a lot of enthusiasm among the guests. Probably, from somewhere in the vestibules of heaven, the hero of that day, Brother Zeno, smiled at the participants. We must hope that the beautiful, dedicated missionary work of the white-bearded Franciscan missionary will bring blessed fruits in the future. These fruits, in the form of conversions to Catholicism, will bring the Japanese people closer to Christ, whose love was so beautifully shown by Brother Zeno with his life. The Japanese Franciscans will continue the evangelization of the Japanese people begun by Father Maksymilian Kolbe and Brother Zeno. May Immaculate Mary, whom Brother Zeno promoted in Japanese society through the magazine of the Knight of the Immaculate and the miraculous medal, in addition to his charitable work, surround the Japanese nation with the mantle of her motherly care. May Immaculate Mary lead ever greater numbers of Japanese people to her Son – Jesus Christ. May the Japanese Mother of God from the sanctuary in Akita obtain the grace of conversion for future generations of Japanese people. May Japan one day become the true kingdom of Jesus and Mary. May the seeds thrown on Japanese soil by Polish Franciscan Missionaries bear abundant spiritual fruit in the future.

Father Jerzy Żebrowski, Franciscan