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

What a great book! I can't wait to meet Blessed Satoko in heaven! There is a lot of very interesting historical information in here about the Pacific side of the second world war. There was terrible violence and destruction. The author also writes about the Japanese culture at the time and how Blessed Satoko was attracted to the Catholic philosophy of life. She was a very good person who pushed her self to make a lot of good choices sacrificing herself for the poor in love. A great example of heroic virtue. This book makes me want to be a saint too. I was so impressed by this woman who is in a country where only 1% of the people are Christian was really trying to evangelize and she succeeded! "Christ became poor so that we might become rich" is the scripture that inspired her to live with the poor. The author got some very in depth information about the other people in her life too which was interesting. At some points in the book I really paused and became emotional. It must have been hard to live outside in a makeshift shelter during the winter in the snow but that's the life she chose even though she had a doctorate. A great book! Also good is Butler's lives of the saints.

absolutely spell binding. the story of Satoko is very relevant to all christians and non-christians alike as it is a story of a highly intelligent person with an aristocratic family history who sets off in a simple and humble mission upon discovering the story of Christ and imitates His ways as his follower.

This is an amazing story of a young Japanese woman who sought the truth of her existence and found it among the poor and outcast of society of post WWII destructed Japan; in her short life time she was able to change the lives of people in her community and local government to a greater awareness of the human condition of those people who suffered great losses in the war; out of the personal value of work and human dignity restored significant changes were brought about among those who suffered losses and those in government responsible for the welfare of its citizens. This is a true story of the making and flowering of a saint, an inspiring story of what is possible through leading a life of service, commitment and faith in God.

Story of a saint that doesn't sentimentalize the journey towards sanctity. She gave up a life of leisure to accept the challenge given to her first by the gospel and then by a cynic. The second challenge clarified for her how much further she had to travel on the road to holiness. This is a good companion read to Fr Paul Glynn's other biography of a saint, A Song for Nagasaki. Both Takashi Nagai and Satoko Kitahara lived in Japan concurrently but in different cities, so the two books give a good look at post-war Japan from a Christian perspective.

Not Japanese Cinderella ... Kimono’s silk through rags ... bombing Tokyo through World War II ... post war years through a kamikaze culture for a living blossom spiritual Resurrection via Rome!

This was a good read. I have to say that I knew next to nothing about what transpired in Japan during WWII and this book really opened my eyes on what the Japanese suffered, especially those with no power, who had nothing to do with what their leaders brought to them. The plight of the poor, the "ragpickers." will touch your heart as will the life of this loving woman. Would they we could all be this involved with those who have so little.

This book taught me about my relationship to Mary the Mother of God through the eyes of a young Japanese girl. Compelling and insightful, it opens the mind and heart to Christ 's admonition to 'take up your cross and follow me'. Mary said yes and so does Satoko. Yes to the ragpicker community of Ants Town leading her to become one of them.

As a convert to Catholicism, I loved this book. I was deeply touched by Satoko's love and mercy for the least of these. Highly recommended for those considering Catholicism, converts to Catholicism, cradle Catholics, or any Christian.

The book begins well with a good historical introduction. The middle portion seems somewhat disjointed - both in recounting the developments in Ants' Town and in the stitching in of related biographical details like those of St. Maximilian Kolbe. However, overall the story is a remarkable one and very inspiring.

This was a very readable book. I could not put it down and read it into the night! I rarely loose sleep these days with a book. Highly recomended.