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Michiko Takaoka (2nd from right)
and Patrice Pendell (far right) from Mukogawa's Japanese Cultural Center
receive two American Friendship Dolls from Mary Ann Kojis (2nd from left) and
Phoebe Turner (far left) from Longfellow Elementary School in Boise, Idaho.
These two dolls will be sent to a Japanese school.
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Mukogawa Encourages
International Friendship
My wife Noriko and I always have been impressed by Mukogawa
Fort Wright Institute's strong encouragement of friendship between people in
Japan and America. We have wanted to participate in Mukogawa's Hina Matsuri
for many years, but this year was the first time we were able to make the long
trip from our home in Connecticut to Spokane.
When we arrived on campus, we were impressed by the
tall pine trees and stylish red-brick buildings built in the early 1900s when
Fort Wright served as a U.S. Army post. Next we entered the large hall where
many charming Japanese and American dolls were lined up in front on tiered stands.
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Wife Noriko speaking at
Hina Matsuri ceremony
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The Hina Matsuri program was packed with songs,
speeches, and student performances. The Doll Festival participants had students
from several American schools, including 120 seventh graders who traveled all
the way from Idaho and 20 cute second and third graders from Spokane who
performed a couple of songs on recorders. After the ceremony, the American
children enjoyed talking with Mukogawa's Japanese students during lunch.I spoke on the importance of international friendship. I
explained how I created a web site about Friendship Dolls and visited many
Japanese schools with American Friendship Dolls. Next I described ways that
students can be friends with people from other countries, such as homestays,
pen pal programs, learning a foreign language, and meeting people in the U.S.
from other countries.
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Miss Tokushima, Japanese
Friendship Doll,
with American and Japanese dolls
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Activities sponsored by Mukogawa promote
international understanding both in the Spokane area and beyond. I spoke with
several people who mentioned the positive relations between Mukogawa students
and Spokane residents. But Mukogawa's reach extends beyond Spokane, as this
year the school will coordinate sending Japanese dolls to 47 schools across
America in order to promote cultural understanding and friendship.
The students who spend a semester at Mukogawa
Fort Wright Institute have an excellent opportunity to improve their English
and learn firsthand about American culture. They participate in short
homestays with local families, and they have many other scheduled events to
get to know the people and places of America. Noriko and I enjoyed talking
with Mukogawa students who showed their excitement to be studying in America.
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With Michiko Takaoka at
Japanese Cultural Center
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The Japanese Cultural Center (JCC), located on
Mukogawa's campus, provides visiting American students with activities such as
origami and kamishibai (large picture stories). Michiko Takaoka and Patrice
Pendell, JCC's two staff members, enthusiastically described to me JCC's
wide-ranging programs to promote Japanese culture both locally and nationally.
The Center's building has a large student activity room, a library, and a museum
with items such as traditional Japanese toys, kimonos, and dolls.
The Japanese Friendship Doll
named Miss Tokushima plays a central role in Mukogawa's Hina Matsuri. The
beautiful 33-inch-tall Japanese doll stood in the center of the stage with
Japanese dolls on one side and American dolls on the other. Later Noriko and I
visited Miss Tokushima's home at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture,
which has a new exhibit on the history of Japanese-Americans in the Spokane
area.
Noriko and I appreciate very
much Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute's support of the Friendship Doll Program and
sponsorship of other activities to strengthen ties between Japan and America. We
wish Mukogawa continued success!
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