Mr. Kōsuke Maki

Mr. Maki is the owner and principal of Wakakusa Gakuen, the pastor of the only church in Funehiki, and the architect of the Wakakusa English Program.

Mr.. Maki grew up in the post-war era to somewhat well-off and well-educated parents. His father died at a very early age, and his mother, Tajuu Takiko, went on to become pastor of Funehiki Evangelical Church and founder of what was to become Wakausa Gakuen. Mr. Maki grew up as a Christian, and early on committed his life to the advancement of the Kingdom. After attending university and seminary overseas he joined Campus Crusade for Christ, where he met Ray Nethery and served him as an interpreter. After three years of working for Campus Crusade in various roles, however, he received word that his mother was ill, so he resigned from his post and returned to Funehiki. It was at this time that he was married to a young Christian woman named Tomoko; the union was arranged by his mother (who was also their pastor at the time). When she passed away in 1967, he took up the mantle of pastoring the church and running the Kindergarten.

As an extensively traveled, well-educated, and international man, Mr. Maki did not “fit in” in Funehiki, which especially at that time was rural and backwards by comparison with more urbanized places like Tokyo or even nearby Sendai. In fact, according to Mr. Maki’s own admission, he is still regarded as an “outsider” by many of the (older) local folk, despite his having lived and worked there for 40 years. Despite this fact, he considered his family obligations as more important than his own preferences or concerns, so he settled down and went to work.

Under his supervision, Wakakusa Gakuen has grown into one of the largest (if not the largest) privately-owned kindergartens in all of Japan. In addition to Mr. Maki’s administrative duties, he also taught English grammar for years at the Wakakusa English School. However, in recent days Mr. Maki’s various duties (including very active involvement in the local Funehiki chapter of the Rotary Club International) prevent him from serving in a teaching role. He has also been active in various political affairs, and has a working relationship with the Tamura City Mayor and many other local political leaders. And of course, it was under his leadership that the Wakakusa English Program was created.

In Japan, it is often customary to refer to others (especially superiors) by their title or their social role rather than by their personal name. Thus, everyone (including English teachers) is accustomed to calling him Enchō-sensei (meaning “Kindergarten Principal”).