Rose Lesser, a resident of Japan since 1929 and widow of geobotanist Kenji Takahashi, died Tuesday in Tokyo. She was 93.
Lesser, who was born in Berlin, published many books describing Japan's mountains, snow-covered landscapes, and people and customs. In 1956, she was chosen by NHK as the foreign resident who had done the most for international understanding.
Lesser was also founder of the Japanese Korean Friendship Society. In 1999, she was awarded the order of merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz) from the German government.
She had several teaching positions at the Hosei and Nihon universities in Tokyo, and was also founder of More Joy, a nonprofit organization that promoted a mutual understanding and fellowship among youths.
Her slogan was: "Mankind has only two kinds of enemies: Ignorance and Indifference, at home and abroad."