There are biographies so rich and profound that they deserve to be told, and Federico Lanzaco's is one of them. At almost 96 years old (he was born in Barcelona in 1929), he claims to have lived seven lives and three deaths. From a childhood and adolescence filled with learning, through 22 years as a Jesuit missionary in Japan, to leaving an indelible mark as a pioneer in the studies of Japanese culture in Spanish universities, and as an executive in a Spanish-Japanese stainless steel company. With a degree in Philosophy and Theology and a Ph.D. in Commerce (among other qualifications), Lanzaco has been a father of two daughters and has spent 24 years dedicated to writing (with 25 published books) and reflecting in his retirement.
His gratitude, deeply influenced by Japanese culture, is the core of her philosophy. “Life is an exchange of social favors, we should always give thanks,” he states. A passionate advocate for authentic human relationships, Lanzaco, Honorary President of the “Adopt a Grandparent” foundation, is a sort of wise person to look up to regarding important life matters. He rejects WhatsApp and emails, opting for face-to-face contact instead: “Technology has depersonalized us; I prefer deep conversations.” His story is a living lesson in the art of reinvention.
The secret to a full and long life is the combination of five key elements”
At 95 years old, you radiate vitality and enthusiasm. What do you think is the secret to living such a full and long life?
There is no perfect cocktail, it is the combination of five key elements: taking care of your health through physical exercise, a balanced diet, and good rest; having a job that motivates us and allows us to give our best; learning to give ourselves in the relationship with our partner, overcoming selfishness; enjoying a personal lifestyle that makes us happy; and, finally, spirituality, which involves a deep connection with ourselves, with others, and with the world, always seeking to improve our environment.
What do you propose if any of these five elements fail?
Achieving perfection in all aspects is impossible, but when one of them fails, we must enhance the others. Ultimately, the secret lies in finding a balance between the physical, the emotional, and the spiritual. That balance is what enables us to live life to the fullest.
I have lived seven completely different lives, each one as a different character”
You have had many lives in one...
My life has been anything but ordinary. I have lived seven completely different lives, each as a different character, in radically different socio-historical settings. In addition, I have experienced three deaths: a physical death, a spiritual death, and a love death. Each of them transformed me profoundly.
After having lived seven lives, do you think there is still another one left to live?
I don't think I have more lives to live, as I have lost a lot of energy in recent years and I prefer to be calm. However, I have a plan: I want to continue exploring the Japanese culture, which is an endless ocean to me, and delve into spirituality, an area full of misunderstandings in our society. As for a life partner, although I would like it, it is difficult to imagine after the loss of my wife, whom I deeply loved.
Federico Lanzaco, humanist and Japanologist
I always wanted to experience intense emotions and live life to the fullest, rejecting boredom”
Let's start with your lives. What was the first one?
Since I was a child, I had an immense craving for living and an uncommon passion. I always wanted to experience intense emotions and live to the fullest, rejecting boredom. The first of my lives was my childhood, which took place during the Spanish Civil War in Barcelona, marked by a terrible famine and constant bombings.
Who did you live with during that time?
I lived with my parents and my brother on Passeig de Sant Joan in Barcelona. My father, chief accountant at the Generalitat de Cataluña, was called up to join the Republican Army, so we stayed with my mother, my grandmother, and a maid.
And its second life?
My adolescence was a rebellious stage, as I confronted my father's education and the religious hypocrisy in my environment. I was a student of the Jesuits in Barcelona, where I excelled academically, but outside the classroom, I led a group of young people where we challenged the established order. During this time, I became obsessed with Arabic, I chose it as a subject and became a Muslim. At the age of 17, I told my father that I wanted to go to Africa, which displeased him because he wanted me to be a tax inspector.
I was a student of the Jesuits, outside the classroom I led a group of young people where we challenged the established order (...). At 17, I told my father that I wanted to go to Africa”
How brave! And did it end up in Africa?
No, because I experienced my first death. It was a physical death, I was close to dying. I got typhoid fever from eating spoiled seafood, and at that time there was no penicillin. But I overcame death, and that made me reflect, deciding to become a missionary Jesuit and dedicate my life to others. I left my family and joined the novitiate of Our Lady of Veruela, starting a new chapter.
It was a completely drastic change, what happened?
I spent two years in the novitiate, but the novice master told me that I didn't have the talent to be a Jesuit and ordered me to go back home. That shattered me, and I felt completely useless and lost. Here was where my second death occurred, which was spiritual.
How did you overcome this stage?
After finishing my novitiate, Father Superior Sayós noticed that I did not get along well with the novice master, but he understood my situation and allowed me to take my vows. Shortly after, Father Arrupe, the leader of the Jesuits in Japan, was looking for volunteers to be missionaries, and I offered myself.
I offered to be a missionary in Japan (...). In 1956, I embarked on a 33-day cruise there”
So, did you leave for Japan?
Yes, but before heading to Japan, I studied in Zaragoza and Sant Cugat del Vallés, and perfected my English in London. Finally, in January 1956, I embarked on a 33-day cruise to Japan, as there were no intercontinental flights available.
Upon arriving in Japan, did you continue studying and furthering your education?
Yes, I spent three years in Tokyo Bay learning Japanese and its culture. Then, I was assigned to the United States to study Theology at Loyola University of Chicago and pursue a master's degree in Japanese linguistics at the University of Michigan. In 1962, I was ordained as a priest and returned to Japan as the director of the Center for Japanese Studies at Sophia University in Tokyo.
I was assigned to the United States to study Theology at Loyola University in Chicago”
Federico Lanzaco, humanist and Japanologist
How and when did your time as a Jesuit in Japan come to an end?
My time as a Jesuit in Japan came to an end during the turbulent Student Revolution of 1968. The students took over Sophia University, except for the building where the Jesuits lived. It was months of tension and fear that ended with the intervention of the army. However, that experience, combined with other personal and professional problems, led me to what I call my “third death.”
How was that third death?
It was a love death. I fell madly in love with my Japanese secretary, a bright and friendly girl. Although there was never any physical contact, I became obsessed with her to the point of losing my appetite and concentration.
How did you handle that crush?
I confessed my feelings to her, and unfortunately, she rejected me. It was a very tough blow, so much so that I even thought about suicide. In a moment of desperation, I volunteered as a military chaplain in the Vietnam War. My comrades, seeing that I was on the brink of doing something reckless, alerted my superiors. Concerned for my well-being, they decided to send me back to Spain for a year of rest and treatment.
I fell madly in love with my Japanese secretary. She rejected me. I even thought about suicide”
So, did you return to Spain and end your life as a Jesuit?
Yes, after 22 years as a Jesuit, in 1969 I returned to Barcelona. I spent a year exhausted, unable to sleep, feeling aged, but little by little I recovered. Until it became clear to me that I needed to completely change my life, and I made the decision to look for work and start a family.
Did you achieve your objectives?
Soon I got a job as a secretary and English and Japanese teacher at the Official School of Languages and the University of Barcelona. Later, my father informed me that Banesto and two Japanese giants had created a joint venture to manufacture stainless steels and wanted me as a director because of my knowledge of Japanese culture and language. I decided to accept, and by that time, I already had a girlfriend.
How did you meet the woman who would become your wife?
My girlfriend was one of the two single girls living at my Aunt Lola's house. We met when I went there with my mother for coffee. She was from Burgos, educated in the South of France. She was 30 years old and I was 42. We soon got married and moved to Madrid because of my job, and she, who worked at the Sociedad General del Banco Francés, requested a transfer to the capital as well.
You started a new life, both personally and professionally, in Madrid...
Exactly, we are moving to Madrid. On February 1, 1971, I began my life as Assistant to the General Director at Acerinox S.A.
What did that position mean to you?
During my 30 years at Acerinox, I was the bridge between cultures, connecting Japanese partners and technicians, and serving as an interpreter in crucial conversations. I represented the Spanish stainless steel sector in our entry into the European Community, traveling weekly to Brussels to learn and forge relationships, until I voluntarily retired on August 30, 2000, at the age of 71.
I represented the Spanish stainless steel sector in our entry into the European Community, traveling weekly to Brussels”
What has your retired life been like?
A couple of years before retiring, I lost my wife, Lucía. Her departure was a devastating blow and marked the end of an era in my life. Since then, as a retiree, I have found my purpose in writing: 25 books in 24 years, exploring what I know and love the most: the Japanese language and culture, spirituality, and Japanese business.
How do you see the current world now in 2025?
I have a dual perspective: I love progress and the kindness of many people, but I also see a lot of evil and corruption. We must be prudent and cautious and lead a simple existence, but continue to love life intensely.
And specifically, what do you think is the role of elderly people in society?
Elderly people have a lot to teach us about love and the effort put into family. We should learn from their experience and maintain stable relationships.
Elderly people have a lot to teach about love and effort for the family”
With all your experience, what advice would you give to the new generations?
Life is a dance between effort, fate, and opportunity. I have worked tirelessly, but I have also known how to seize the twists of fate. Sometimes, effort alone is not enough, but when it meets the right moment, it can open unexpected doors. The key is to always be prepared for when destiny crosses our path.
Are you afraid of death?
No, never. I see it as a change of transportation. If there is another life, which is what I believe, I will enjoy it; if not, I lose nothing. Death doesn't scare me.