Zeno Żebrowski - TV Tropes

Zeno Żebrowski (1898 - April 24, 1982) was a Catholic missionary from Poland. It actually isn't known what day and month he was born in, due to his birth certificate being destroyed when he was a child. His real name was actually Władysław Żebrowski, but he took the nickname "Zeno" upon entering the Franciscan order.

A staunch Catholic, he believed it was his mission to spread his faith. In the 1930s, he arrived to Japan to do so, and became a well-respected member of the community.

He was well known for his charity work in Japan, that extended to the financially helpless, the crippled, the homeless, the orphaned children of the streets and anyone who needed it. He distributed food and clothing, and he built orphanages and homeless shelters. Most famously, he built the settlement which is known as "Ari No Michi" (Ant City) in Japan today.

He was dubbed the "Uncle of the Orphans" and "Brother Zeno"^note  by the Japanese. The newspaper Asahi Shimbun called him the "blue-eyed god of fortune". The Japanese government allowed him free access to their trains all over the country. When he was hospitalized himself in 1963, he received several presents and flowers from the Japanese people.

He received many awards and distinctions from the government of Japan. He even has a monument on Mt. Fuji. Emperor Hirohito, impressed with his charity efforts, bowed to Zeno upon first meeting him. Zeno was also close friends with him and his family, especially his son Akihito, who he had constant interactions with.

Zeno never stopped his efforts until he died, however his impact on the country has not been forgotten. He is still loved in Japan today and continues to be honoured in several different ways. His remaining family members also often visit the country and are well respected.

You can read more about him here.

His name in Japanese is written as this: "ゼノ・ゼブロフスキー".

Portrayals

Anime

• Zeno Kagiri Naki Ai Ni (1999), directed by Takeshi Ui, an anime biopic about his life and times in Japan.

Documentaries

• Zeno-san (2017), directed by Marta Sokołowska, a documentary consisting of interviews from people who knew Zeno in real life.

Tropes associated with him in fiction

• Badass Preacher: In Real Life, during the Isewan Typhoon (the deadliest typhoon to hit Japan post-WW2), he spread supplies to the victims on boat, not caring it was dangerous to do so. Also, before he became a monk, he actually participated in the Polish-Bolshevik War hoping to be a machine gunner (he was assigned to cavalry instead).
• Friend to All Children: He built orphanages for children in the post-Nagasaki era, and was famously quoted as saying every child deserved love and fortune, and was known for his kindness towards orphans.
• Innocent Blue Eyes: He had blue eyes and was a kind and gentle man.
• Token Religious Teammate: He was a Catholic, but he helped people regardless of religion and was well-respected by Buddhists of his area.

---