Joseph R. De Roo, missionary and scholar of Japanese language and culture, died of subarachnoid hemorrhage Thursday in Tokyo, his religious associates announced Sunday. He was 69.
The teacher of Japanese language and culture at Temple University Japan and the Franciscan Language School of Roppongi was known for writing the Japanese textbook "2001 Kanji."
Born in Belgium, De Roo started his career introducing to foreigners the history and language of Japan after obtaining a graduate degree in linguistics from Georgetown University in Washington.
A wake will be held at the Matsubara Catholic Church at 6 p.m. today and a funeral service at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. For directions, call the church at (03) 3321-0941.