We celebrate the remarkable life of Miss Leonora Edith Lea, whose vision and service shaped our very beginnings. Born in Canada in 1896, she spent her childhood in Japan where her father served as an Anglican bishop. After studying in England and Canada, she returned to Japan in 1927 as a missionary teacher, committed to education and international understanding.

During the hardships of the Second World War, Miss Lea chose to remain in Kobe. At a time when many left, she stayed to support the local and foreign community, organising relief and food distribution. Her memoirs, later published as Window on Japan, provide an extraordinary account of daily life during those years. Her courage and compassion carried through to 1946, when she joined Bishop Michael Hinsuke Yashiro in founding St. Michael’s International School. Together, they built a place where children from many nations could learn and grow in hope after the devastation of war.

Miss Lea dedicated her life to education and reconciliation, and her contribution was formally recognised by the Japanese government with the Order of the Sacred Treasure in 1969. She passed away in 1971, but her legacy endures in every aspect of our school today. As we approach our 80th Anniversary, we give thanks for her vision and values, which continue to inspire generations of children to grow, work, and learn together.