Zenon Żebrowski

Zeno Żebrowski (in Japanese ), birth name Władysław Żebrowski, was a conventual Franciscan missionary who was born around 1898 in Surowe, and died April 24, 1982, in Tokyo.

Life in Poland Żebrowski was born into a peasant family, and did not finish any level of education. In 1925 he entered the Franciscan order in Grodno, taking the name Zenon. Żebrowski was a contemporary and associate of Satoko Kitahara, who is now considered Venerable by the Catholic Church. 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, 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. In May 15, 1999, an anime film titled "Zeno: Unlimited Love" was aired in Japan, covering the life of Zeno, particularly his charitable work.