Tokutomi Roka, the first Japanese novelist known in Spanish, was born in Kumamoto on December 8, 1868 and is considered by many the "Tolstoy of Japan" which is why the famous Russian author marked the way forward not only during his career but also in its philosophy of life. In 1906 Roka had the opportunity to interview Tolstoy in Yasnaya Polyana and his return to Tokyo decided to implement the ideals of the Russian writer and live a "country life." From his trip to Europe, his encounter with Tolstoy and his pilgrimage to Jerusalem testifies "Junrei Kiko '[Notes of a pilgrim]. The literary work of Roka reached the highest levels of success in his time. "Namiko" became the best seller par excellence of the Meiji era and his fame crossed borders, becoming published in English, French, Italian and Spanish with remarkable reception from the Western public.