Seeing Mary and becoming Marija : Tsuneko Kondo-Kawase’s bridging religious and cultural boundaries

english

2024

volume 29, issue 115/116

cross-cultural identity   interwar Yugoslavia   Mary's apparitions   religious conversion   Tsuneko Kondo- Kawase/Marija Skušek

Znanstveno-raziskovalno središče Koper
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

This article examines the extraordinary conversion story of Tsuneko Kondo-Kawase, a Japanese woman who became Marija Skušek upon her baptism and marriage in Ljubljana in 1927. Within a single hour at the Ljubljana Bishop’s Pala-ce, Kawase was baptised, confirmed, married, and her two children were baptised and confirmed. Her swift conversion and claims of Mary's apparitions captured public attention. This study situates her testimony within the broader context of religious conversion, the rise of pluralistic beliefs in a predominantly Catholic so-ciety, and the socio-political climate of the era. Central to her narrative are visions of Mary’s crowned image, shaped by Chinese Catholic traditions and Slovenian Marian devotion. Tsuneko’s experience underscores the complexity of non-Euro-pean conversions and the adaptability required by clergy to address diverse cultural identities. Tsuneko’s case highlights personal agency in navigating religious trans-formation, blending her Japanese and Chinese heritage with Slovenian Catholic influences. Her reinterpretation of Marian imagery illustrates how converts with their understanding of religious symbols actively engage to forge new identities. As a transitional figure, Tsuneko’s story sheds light on the interplay between per-sonal experiences and broader cultural adaptations in conversion processes. This analysis enriches the understanding of religious transformation, emphasizing the significance of individual narratives in exploring themes of faith, identity, and in-tegration across cultural and historical boundaries.

15.05.2025