December 23, 2001


Dopey, a Cat lived in a Monastery
Dobey never stopped loving American Sr. Jean

In a room of the monastery           Photo by Sr. Jean


I heard that Dopeyis the name of the 7th dwarf in the Snow White.
Sr. Jean who came to Japan over 30 years ago and who is an American sister named it. Sr. Jean was a teacher and she was a very strict existence for her students. She was a English professor at N women's college located in Kyoto. Professor Sr. Jean was walking along the river on the way from the monastery to the college a long time ago. A small stray kitten followed her and came to the college together. The kitten was introduced to her students. "Does anybody want to have this kitten?" She found a home for the kitten. Yes, at least once. But, on the following day, the kitten was sent back to the monastery in a foreign luxury car. They said, "The kitten did not get along with our dog." I heard that there were various forbidden rules in the strict monastery. However, the kitten was owned there for no special reason and became a kid of Sr. Jean. You know? The dwarf Dopey was really a boy. But the kitten was female. The kitten was names in this way by Sr. Jean and everybody started calling the kitten as Dopey.

Dopey~










Suspended in a laundry basket          Photo by Sr. Jean



I just wanted to come inside of the washing machine. That's it.
Spinning was fun. While I was watching it, I just wanted to touch it.
That's it and nothing more than that!


On the newspaper       Photo by Sr. Jean



My mum took two photos, one on the English newspaper and one on the Japanese newspaper.
She took the picture on the English newspaper to the US.


One day, Sr. Jean called Dopey in a loud voice.
"Dopey! Your boyfriend, O with his tie is here!"
O was a male cat that lives with O family in the neighborhood.
I heard that he came with a new collar.


Souvenir from the US       Photo by Tsubaki Wabisuke


Sister gave me a souvenir from the US about 10 years ago.
It was a sock for Christmas.
Even fingers of cat paws were made on it.
I put it on the wall. It is old and the color has faded.
What? Are you asking what was in it?

You can guess it. It was a gift for my cat, Dora.
There was lovely American cat food in it.




Dopey held by his much-loved mum, Sr. JeanPhoto by Sr. Jean

I head that Dopey lived for 18 years.
He bore off several diseases including kidney and always drew a laugh in the monastery.
Dopey was a lucky cat that met his love mum when he was a stray cat.
Sr. Jean told me that it was me who was really lucky.

Dopey was later buried in the corner of the yard in the M monastery.
The small nice looking natural stone with the initial D on it is the Dopey's tomb.
When they sing hymns at Christian service, can't you hear that Dopey meows?



Sr. Jean came to Japan of an Asian Island country, she fostered and taught a lot of girls with love.
I heard that she devotes herself to the poor in her homeland, the US.
When you carried out your luggage, you told that Dopey started wondering around sadly
sadly in his days. But it is a fond recollection now.

Merry Christmas!





It was a long time ago. When Dopey was well in this world,
I saw such a beautiful signature on a letter from the sister.
There was a small reason on the word "beef" in her letter.
Do you know the Sukiyaki restaurant, "Mishimatei" along Shin-Kyogoku in Kyoto?
They had their own motto being honorable poverty at the monastery.
One day the sister only looked at the restaurant and passed in front of the restaurant.
When she got home and she murmured, "I just smelled it!"
When I heard the funny story from Sr. C of a good friend of mine,
thinking as a token of may appreciation of the sock, Tsubaki Wabisuke sent a small gift card.
Using Dopey as an excuse, it would have been a present
on behalf of my cat Dora

Thank you very much!




Related page:     "Educator in Vienna, elegant headmistress, Beatrix"

Return to Home