St. John’s 

Our foundress was born in Kyobashi in 1902. We call her "Mother Okamura" out of affection and motherly love for her. Mother Okamura's real name was Fuku Okamura. Mother was born into a devout Greek Orthodox Christian family and her parents often took little Fuku to the sacraments. On the way home from Communion, her mother held her in her arms and she looked at Jesus on the cross, praying sincerely, "May I never do anything to grieve him!” She was praying from the bottom of her heart. She learned a lot from her faithful parents, and her faith grew like a tree. As the youngest child, "Fuku" received the love of her parents and siblings, and although she was often sick, she became a cheerful and kind-hearted child, and developed a foundation that would influence many of her friends and the people she would meet in the future.

She spent her girlhood at Taimei Elementary School and then the Karan Girls' School. Although her family was wealthy, they were frugal and conservative, and she took the initiative not only in her studies but also in helping at home. At a time when women were not going to college, God showed her a step in His great plan. She, who had never disobeyed her parents before, asked to go to college. God's providence, always full of mercy and love, intervenes in human history. Unexpectedly, she was admitted to the newly established English Literature College of the Sacred Heart School. A brief visit led to her admission. Even though her parents were’t happy about the idea, they accepted it in faith and allowed her to continue her education, but only if she didn't study too hard that it affected her health and that she helped at home. This was her first encounter with Catholicism and a time of great blessing for her future encounters.