Kazuko Watanabe
| Kazuko Watanabe 渡辺 和子 | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Kazuko Watanabe 11 February 1927 Asahikawa, Japan |
| Died | 30 December 2016 (aged 89) |
| Occupation | Catholic nun, educator, writer |
| Alma mater |
Sophia University Boston College |
| Period | 1927–2016 |
| Genre | Christianity |
Kazuko Watanabe 渡辺和子 (February 11, 1927 - December 30, 2016) was a Japanese Catholic nun, educationist and writer. Her Christian name was Sister Saint John. She was appointed president of Notre Dame Seishin University, Okayama Prefecture when she was 36 (1963-1990).
Life and career
She was born in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan In 1927. Her father was Jōtarō Watanabe, lieutenant-general of the army and a commander of Asahikawa 7th Division. He was 53 when she was born. She was the youngest of four siblings and the second oldest sister.
In 1936, when she was 9 years old, her father, general and educational commissioner at that time, was killed by young officers of a rebel group in the February 26 Incident. She was traumatized by having to watch as her father was mowed down by 43 bullets; the executioners standing one meter away.
In 1945 she was baptized into the Catholic church.
In 1951 she obtained a Bachelor's degree from the University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo.
In 1954 she obtained her Master's degree from the Graduate School of Western Literature, Sophia University, Tokyo.
In 1956 she joined the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Hiroshima.
In 1962 she received her Ph.D. (Philosophy) from Boston College. In September, she was appointed professor of Notre Dame Seishin University, Okayama.
In 1963 at the age of 36, she was appointed board chairperson of the Notre Dame Seishin University, a position she retained until her resignation in 1990.
In 1977 she was diagnosed with depression.
In 1981 her first book was printed. Since then, she has published 17 books, co-authored one, and translated another.
In 1984 she translated for Mother Teresa when the Holy Mother visited Japan.
In 1990 she was appointed honorary president of Notre Dame Seishin University and the administrative director of Notre Dame Seishin School.
From 1992-1996 she was the administrative director of the Japanese Federation of Catholic Schools.
In 1996 she visited the headquarters of the Order of Calcutta.
In 2012 her book Bloom Where You Are Planted (original title in Japanese) became a bestseller and sold more than two million copies.
December 30, 2016, at the age of 89, she died of pancreatic cancer.[1]