The Smile of a Ragpicker: The Life of Satoko Kitahara - Convert and Servant of the Slums of Tokyo

by Paul Glynn

Following his acclaimed work, A Song for Nagasaki , in which Fr. Paul Glynn told the powerful story of Dr. Nagai, a Christian convert of remarkable courage and compassion who ministered to victims of the atomic bomb attack on his city, The Smile of a Ragpicker brings us the heroic story of Satoko Kitahara, a young, beautiful woman of wealth who gave up her riches and comfort to be among the ragpickers in the Tokyo slums. Motivated by her newfound faith in Christ, she plunged into the life of the poor, regardless of the consequences. As Satoko helped the poor with their material and spiritual needs, she also helped them to recover their self-respect and dignity. Satoko’s story demonstrates how one person’s life can affect so many others. Every day Satoko encountered Christ in some new and challenging way, calling the Church back to identification with the poor. Like Dr. Nagai, she expressed her faith through the sensitivity and beauty of her own Japanese culture. Satoko died a young woman, in dire poverty. Yet her death, mourned by many thousands, reflected her triumphant life of deep Christian faith and charity. This is a powerful story of reconciliation and healing, between people of different social, economic and religious backgrounds, inspired by a frail young woman of luminous faith. Illustrated with photos.

Genres: Biography, Japan, History, Catholic, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality

289 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Fr. Paul Glynn is a Marist priest who served as a missionary in Japan for twenty-five years. He has written five other books including A Song for Nagasaki and Healing Fire of Christ.

Paul Glynn is a Marist missionary priest and writer from Australia. He is the author of several books, including The Song of Nagasaki and The Smile of the Ragpicker, both best-sellers and translated into several languages.

Glynn has been a Catholic priest since 1953. He has devoted a lifetime to reconciliation and friendship between Australia and Japan, the two former wartime foes. He was inspired to follow Padre Lionel Marsden, a former prisoner-of-war of the Japanese on the Burma Railway, to work for reconciliation with the people of Japan. He subsequently helped his brother Tony, who was also a promoter of reconciliation with Japan. He is a recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government and the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) from the Australian government for reconciliation work between Japan and Australia. He initiated Australia's first Sister City relationship with a Japanese city – between Yamato Takada in Nara Prefecture and Lismore in northern New South Wales – half a century ago

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading for lectio divina. Original review below.

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Satoko Kitahara was a young Japanese woman born to a wealthy family with a prestigious heritage. Like many of her contemporaries in 1947, she had a feeling that life contained nothing but pointless emptiness after her country was defeated in WWII. Then one day she wandered into a Catholic church for the first time in her life and was drawn to a plain plaster statue of Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes.

This was the very first time I had seen a statue of the Blessed Mother. Drawn, I know not why, to enter that church, I gazed on the statue, sensing the presence of a very attractive force that I could not explain. I had always experienced a vague but strong yearning for the Pure. It was not something I could describe in words but it was definitely with me from childhood. ...

That encounter led to investigating Catholicism and conversion, which made her a definite oddity in post-war Japan.

Fr. Glynn tells us how Satoko lived her faith so completely that she remains a well known heroine for Japanese of all religious persuasions. As Satoko strove to follow Christ to the fullest extent she wound up becoming the "Mary of Ants Town," living with with the destitute in a shanty town in a public park where subsistence living came from ragpicking. One might call Satoko Kitahara the "Mother Teresa" of Tokyo to get an idea of the depth of her Christian example.

Father Glynn does an excellent job of bringing the reader into Japanese sensibilities and mind set so that we understand Satoko's life. In a broad sense, it is like a sequel to his more famous novel A Song for Nagasaki about Takashi Nagai. In that book we got a history of Catholicism in Japan along with Nagai's life story. The Smile of a Ragpicker brings us a deeper view of Japanese spirituality and the spirit of the country after losing World War II. I thought I knew a lot about such things already but Glynn's lyrical descriptions gave me a much deeper understanding.

She stood there for some time, both repelled and attracted by this ugly place that was home for one hundred people. The dingy huts were built from odds and ends, the bare earth was a festering mess of mud, puddles and rubbish. Some roughly dressed men and women had emptied a big cart full of rubbish collected from city bins and were now sorting it, indifferent to her presence. Suddenly she found herself doing something so typically Japanese. She lifted her eyes from the squalor, focusing them on the serenely flowing Sumida, and then on across the river to Mukojima, where cherry trees flung up bare limbs in silent prayer for spring to come quickly. Silhouettes of rooftops and chimneys stood out sharply against the opaque winter sky. "It was like a Sesshu sumie painting," she writes. "I was moved by the beauty of the setting.

This is a rich story on many levels. I especially appreciated the way gruff, rough anti-religious Mitsui was just as influential in Satoko's spiritual growth as she was on his. That was a surprise but one that was only possible because Satoko was so open to following God in every way she could.

Among the other surprises I encountered were:

- A Polish history lesson also, all wrapped around Brother Zeno and (wait for it) Maximilian Kolbe. In all the stories I've read of this saint somehow the fact that he went to Japan and founded a ministry there (before returning to Poland and his well known eventual martyrdom at the hands of the Nazis) completely escaped me. Fascinating.

- There was a special Japanese - Polish connection after World War I due to an effort to return orphans to Poland.

- The Japanese people's famous sense of wonder and appreciation of beauty allows them to appreciate grandeur even in the midst of disaster such as an air raid.

On a personal level I cannot stress enough the effect this gentle saintly girl's story continues to have on me. I won't go into details here but her honesty in her spiritual journey, her complete faith and dedication, and her love of Mary affected me deeply.

This is a simply wonderful book that I will read many times in the future. I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Leroy Seat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because of enjoying Fr. Glynn's book "A Song for Nagasaki" so much--and I was not disappointed.

This is a very fine book about an outstanding young woman who for some reason I had not heard about (even though I lived in Japan for a long time).

Satoko-san said that she "had lived in the pampered, educated ignorance of an over-sophisticated world." But she came to see that being a follower of Christ meant to be concerned for those who are poor and needy.

She was critical of the priests and ministers who "lived comfortably and doled out cheap grace to bourgeois congregations," unlike "the poor Christ who went among the destitute . . . among whom Christ of the Gospels would feel a stranger." She also thought, "Were they genuine followers of Christ they would be poor and share the painful life of the poor."

My most negative feelings about the book are because of the way the author seems to use it to proselytize for veneration of Mary.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little nervous that I might not love "The Smile Of A Ragpicker" as much as I did "A Song For Nagasaki" but I didn't have to worry. This book about: "The Life of Satoko Kitahara, Convert and Servant of the Slums of Tokyo" was wonderful.

The book is divided into four parts, the first being historical background, the second being Satoko's search for truth; the third being about her life as she became more conformed to God's will and His call to serve the poor; and the last part focusing on the end of her life and the impact it had on others.

There were so many thing I loved about this book, but the one that stood out to me the most was the Japanese idea of wabi. "Poets like Basho praise souls who can discover beauty, however wretched be the landscape." "Wabi ... came to mean the living inner glow within human and nature phenomena that appear merely wretched to the unenlightened."

"Satoko found great wabi beauty in the Christmas story..." "In the wretched homelessness of the Child and His Mother lay the very way to the home that would last forever." She also found this beauty in the story of Maximilian Kolbe, who sang as he starved to death in a Nazi concentration camp, and Our Lady of Lourdes, who appeared to Bernadette in a grotto near a dump.

"...she must teach the little Ants...-- to look beyond the trash that surrounded them in Ants Town and discover the hidden beauty everywhere -- even in the sky and stars reflected in dirty pools of rainwater at their feet. Neither the squalor of the slums nor the death of a mother would turn them to despair if they learned to find that beauty and its source."

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story of Satoko - a young Japanese woman from a wealthy family who converts to the Catholic faith and discerns a call to work with the disadvantaged "rag pickers" of Tokyo. These are not your usual homeless but people whose houses were bombed out by American planes, families who lost everything. Incredible story of dedication and faith. There is even a Polish connection: brother Zeno, one of Maximilian Kolbe's brothers who helps the poor all over Japan, and inspires Satoko. The book also includes a LOT of information on Japanese culture and history of Japan during WWII which I found fascinating, but which doesn't always have to do with the story. I had no idea we napal bombed most cities in Japan before dropping the atomic bombs. The author includes many Japanese folktales and history to help us understand Japanese mentality even the kamikazee and their motivations. Even if you just want the story of Mary of Ants Hill, as Satoko was called, this is a great book. Persevere through it and you will be rewarded!

[Bob Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul Glynn writes his own bit of hagiology with The Smile of Ragpicker. This book tells the story of Satoko Kitahara, a young woman who helped with the relief efforts in Tokyo after World War 2.

In an age of bad or fake news, it is nice to read some good news about a young woman who gave her life to help the orphans after the war. Satoko was a the daughter of a rich university professor who converted to Catholicism after engaging with some nuns in Yokohama. Once she came to faith, she did whatever she could to live as faithful as possible. In an age where Christianity was not familiar with the Japanese population, her decision to convert was controversial and seditious. Her family supported her spiritual and intellectual journey, but not all in the country were so thrilled with her decision.

Glynn gives enough background detail to make the story interesting and intriguing. His chapters about the destruction of Tokyo and the war were among the best WW2 literature that I have read. However, Glynn's writing is sophomoric and disjointed. Glynn never understands that he is writing a story to pique the interest of the reading population. Rather, I feel like we are reading his notes on the subject. Having said that, the average reader should have no problem accessing his thought.

Glynn provides a unique perspective on an unknown and secretive history of post-war Tokyo. Many might find this interesting just from a sociological perspective.

I recommend this book for those who are interested in Catholic history in Japan or those interested in post-war Japan.

Grade: B-

[Ella Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have Scotch-Irish and Chinese heritage, and growing up with Buddhism, nature spirituality, and the Catholic faith of my ancestors, I have always appreciated how different spiritual traditions go together—with Quan Yin, Mother Mary, St. Melangell’s rabbit friends, and even faeries working for collective peace and love. When my mum told me about Satoko Kitahara and we discovered Fr. Glynn’s beautiful book. I felt as though I was going home because of how seamlessly Glynn weaves Eastern spiritual appreciation for nature and harmony in with an approach to Catholicism that emphasizes service and love above all else. Satoko’s life is defined by the depth of her compassion for the people of Ants Town, and in poetic prose, Glynn offers readers an understanding of the challenges Satoko faced as she grappled with questions of faith and purpose. She is portrayed as very really and very human—but also incredibly admirable in her strength, positivity, and commitment to following in the footsteps of Jesus, Mary, St. Francis, and her beloved St. Elizabeth of Hungary. I’ve read this book six times since I found it. It is a deeply spiritual, profoundly moving book, rich with research into and appreciation for Japanese culture. I cannot recommend it enough.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an outstanding book by an excellent author. He does a good job of telling the story of an affluent and privileged young woman who is drawn to a holy life and wages her own struggle for holiness and service to God. Satoko is a remarkable role model and the author convincingly describes her adult life and the impact of those around her. I was slightly confused by the continued references to other books, which the author describes as if the reader should already be familiar with them.

[Dominic Casanova · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching and moving story, which highlights the importance of an authentic Christian love for others in everything we say and do.

[Lorraine Shelstad]

The story itself is inspiring but unfortunately, it was difficult to get through the book.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and informative reading of post WWII Japan, and how one young lady made a difference in a lot of lives by example and faith.

[Joanne Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing true story of a young girl who gave up her privileged life to help the poor of Tokyo after WWII
A bit difficult with all the foreign names but the story extraordinary

[Peggy Haslar · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1990, Satoko Kitahara was named one of 50 Japanese women who "moved the nation most." Smile of a Ragpicker tells the story of her remarkable life from birth into the Japanese aristocracy to total identification with the homeless poor in "Ants Town" in Tokyo's Sumida Park after the devastation following World War II. It is the story of a beautiful soul.
Beneath that story is the story of a beautiful culture. While serving for 25 years in Japan as a Marist priest, Australian Father Paul Glynn learned Japanese by reading its literary and religious masterpieces, and he fell in love. He writes as one who loves the Japanese soul from the inside out, and his understanding of Japanese history and culture offers the reader an insightful introduction to a land and people unfamiliar to many westerners, all the while painting an exquisite portrait of a young woman who found her heart's desire and left everything to attain it.

[Rose Corcoran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! From a non-fiction perspective, this booked helped me to remember that your prayers might not always be answered in the way you want, but that doesn't mean God won't hear them. It was very encouraging. From a story perspective, I loved the details of each "character's" personality; reading about these real people's lives felt like I was reading a story about the over the top personalities in an anime.

I also liked that this focused on a part of Japanese history we don't hear as much about (post-war Tokyo and the survivors of fire-bombing).

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not Catholic but thought this a beautiful and inspiring story for all. Paul Glynn gives us insight into the life of this passionate young upper class woman who gave her life to God's work serving the poor, not by giving handouts but by giving them their dignity as she worked beside them in the humblest of jobs. We learn how she came to her calling and about the inner frustrations she wrestled with, and how she inspired the two doubting men leading the ragpicker colony to have faith in humanity. This is an intriguing study of the faith journey, but also encompasses successful ideas for social change and the idea of wabi sabi, that beauty can be found in the imperfect, and even in desolation. The story jumps around a bit to bring in pertinent historical details, so sometimes it is a bit disjointed, but it is a story for all times. In only a few years, one frail woman changed many lives. Imagine what many of us could do together if we cared to do even a small part.