COLLEGE WOMEN’S
A S S O C I AT I O N O F J A PA N

2020 - 2021
Annual Report
MARCH 2021

CWAJ Open Print Art Gallery
The women of CWAJ have, from the inception of our organization, foundpossibilities in the face of challenges, and we were certainly presented
with significant challenges in 2020. The most visible example of our ability
to find opportunity in difficult times is the CWAJ Open Print Art Gallery(OPAG), our first virtual exhibition and sale of contemporary Japanese
print art.
The CWAJ Print Show is an internationally acclaimed annual event thathas taken place in a spacious gallery in Tokyo 63 times since 1956. It has
become known as an eagerly anticipated, not-to-be-missed event in theTokyo arts calendar, but it is also so much more. The Print Show supports
Japanese artists and promotes contemporary Japanese print art, with allproceeds going toward funding CWAJ scholarships. Given the importanceof this mission, our members were determined that circumstances would
not force the cancellation of this extraordinary show. Working together,CWAJ members found the courage to be innovative with the beloved Print
Show and converted it into an online format.
Transforming the in-person CWAJ Print Show was a tremendous successthanks to CWAJ volunteers who worked tirelessly and collaboratively tooffer 231 artists a platform to exhibit their work on the beautiful digital
CWAJ Open Print Art Gallery. Members and guests who visited thesite perused a collection of 235 gorgeous prints and made purchasesfrom the comfort of their own homes. The virtual nature of the OPAG
afforded CWAJ overseas members a very special way to reconnect withthe Print Show and to purchase prints. International sales were robust,exemplifying the appreciation for Japanese print art outside Japan thatCWAJ has fostered for more than six decades.
The OPAG even included an online guided tour, which is a popular aspectof the CWAJ Print Show that offers a personal touch.
Although the OPAG was planned as an all virtual experience, we were
fortunate to partner with AoyamaTreehouse and hold a small, yet lovely,
one night only, in-person kick-off event for AoyamaTreehouse members
and CWAJ donors. AoyamaTreehouse is an innovative space infused withcreativity where CWAJ exhibited a selection of prints that were offered forsale. Katsutoshi Yuasa gave a fascinating lecture about his printmaking
technique at the event.
Following the reception at AoyamaTreehouse, CWAJ member Marie Andograciously agreed to exhibit those same prints at Gallery Takanawa AO, aspace that Marie and her husband, Yoichi, own in Tokyo.
Launching the OPAG illustrates the dedication and determination of thewomen of CWAJ. Throughout these pages, you will read about dynamic
CWAJ members finding possibilities all through 2020.

NBA star Rui Hachimura andTaisho Pharmaceutical Co.,
Ltd. teamed up in March 2021
to make a generous donation toCWAJ! Hachimura said,“I believe there should be more
opportunities for women to haveactive roles in society and with thisdonation, I hope to help womenreach their dreams and goals.”

FUND THE FUTURE
Make a genuine and long-lasting impact on the livesof women, people with a visual impairment, andcommunities both in Japan and beyond by supporting
the CWAJ Scholarship and Education Programs. In 2021,
CWAJ will also award a special scholarship, the CWAJ
Pandemic Response Scholarship for Nursing Students,
which further promotes CWAJ’s mission of education.
CWAJ welcomes donations of any amount throughout
the year. With the support of the Japan Foundation
Designated Donations program, a tax deduction
receipt is available for donors to CWAJ who file tax
return forms in Japan.
For further information about making a donation
to CWAJ, please contact donations@cwaj.org

S AV E T H E D AT E

64th

CWAJ PRINT SHOW
Wednesday to Sunday, October 20-24, 2021
Hillside Forum, Daikanyama, TokyoONLINE GALLERY

Friday to Sunday, October 15-31, 2021
https://cwaj-gallery.jp/

CWAJ wishes to express our deepest sympathy to everyone who has lost a loved one due to COVID-19. Our hearts go out to thehealthcare and frontline workers whose tireless efforts are keeping our communities safe, to all who have suffered illness, toeveryone who has struggled economically, and to all who are coping with the stresses, changes and disruptions to usual life thathave been necessary during the ongoing pandemic.

Left to right: original “Bare Piano” and raised image version of the artwork.

Artist Talk with HIROTA Raifu
Hands-on Art (HoA), a much-loved feature of the CWAJ Print Show since
1996, provides raised images that offer visitors who are visually impaired anopportunity to engage with print art along with sighted visitors.
In conjunction with the Open Print Art Gallery, HoA held a virtual Artist Talk
with Raifu Hirota on October 24. Mr. Hirota, a highly regarded artist fromKanagawa, is known for his colorful music-themed linocuts. His print, “BarePiano,” was produced as a raised image, and sent to 26 visually impaired guests
by post before the lecture.
Mr. Hirota’s presentation was delightfully engaging. He shared the secrets of
his fabulous colors with all 110 participants by taking us through successive
stages of the production with work-in-progress images from “Bare Piano.”
CWAJ member, Michiko Okubo, provided an impeccable interpretation.
After the presentation, visually impaired participants and CWAJ members
engaged in an interesting conversation gathering with the artist. Mr. Hirota
answered everyone’s questions with his usual charm. Thank you so much,
Mr. Hirota!
Comment from a pianist who is visually impaired:“As the artist’s work was a piano, I participated with great fascination. Firstof all, thank you for sending me the raised image in advance so I could
observe it thoroughly. When I received it, I immediately counted the black
keys on the print and was surprised that the printed piano was faithfully
reproduced even though it was in A4 size. I listened to Hirota’s talk withgreat interest. I thought that because the piano was painted in bright red,it shouldn’t be different to the touch, but somehow it gave me a different
impression. I think this is because I was able to see colors until I was about
20 years old. I was fascinated by the color of the strings when I heard thathe layered many colors.”

CWAJ Pandemic Response Scholarship for
Nursing Students (NS)CWAJ announced the Pandemic Response Scholarship for
Nursing Students in response to the needs of our community.
Members sprang into action upon learning that nursing
students were facing financial hardship as they had to give up
part-time work to avoid the risk of viral infection. Japan needs
women graduating from nursing school who are qualified tofill these vital roles.
Drawing on our long history of awarding scholarships,
particularly the Fukushima Relief Scholarship, CWAJ volunteers
incorporated this new scholarship for nurses into ourdonations drive. Response from both applicants and donors
was vigorous. CWAJ is pleased to award six scholarshipsof ¥500,000 each to women studying nursing in Tokyo
Metropolitan Area Universities and Fukushima Medical Schoolfor the 2021-2022 academic year.
The CWAJ Board of Directors voted unanimously to extend thisresponse scholarship for another year.

Clockwise from top left, 1966 First lithography experience, 2005
50th CWAJ Print Show opening with Princess Akishino, 2013
CWAJ Print Show, 2009 CWAJ Associate Show opening

In Memoriam: SHINODA Toko
(March 28, 1913 – March 1, 2021)

CWAJ mourns the loss of Toko Shinoda, one of theleading Japanese artists of the 20th century and atrue supporter of CWAJ and its core mission. Shinoda
praised the role that CWAJ played in promoting
Japanese print art, and encouraged fellow printmakers
to participate in the CWAJ Print Show. On more than 50
occasions beginning in 1966, she contributed her own
artwork to the CWAJ Print Show, as well as to special
exhibitions sponsored by CWAJ. She graciously spokeat several CWAJ events, including the kick-off luncheon
for the 40th CWAJ Print Show, at which she revealed
that the origin of her art was her childhood experienceof sprinkling water outside and watching the stones
and soil change color when hit by the droplets.
CWAJ expresses its profound respect for Shinoda andher support of CWAJ, as well as its sincere gratitude forthe wonderment that she delivered through her works
and her words of encouragement.

“Message from the President
Dear Friends,CWAJ members have continued to promote
education, art and friendship, and to meet theneeds of our community by finding possibilities
when so much seemed impossible throughout
2020, an unprecedented year. We had the security
to be flexible and innovative because of the strong
foundation that was built over our 71 year history
by women who volunteered their efforts on behalfof our organization. Of course, we were able to act
on all of these possibilities because of generous
contributions from donors like you. CWAJ is
especially gratified by the robust donationsthat allowed us to carry out our scholarshipprogram and to offer six new Pandemic Response
Scholarship for Nursing Students. Thank you foryour continued support.
It has been an honor and a lot of fun to serve
as president of this dynamic organization. The
women of CWAJ were an inspiration every dayof 2020. Please join us if you would like theopportunity to learn more about Japanese culture,
participate in interesting projects and form
lifelong friendships.
Jane Grimes
CWAJ President

Scholarships = Possibilities!
New possibilities can be revealed in the face of difficult circumstances. The Scholarship Committee
faced the challenges of 2020 and welcomed wonderful learning opportunities, such as including
overseas members on scholarship selection committees and creating the Pandemic Response
Scholarship for Nursing Students, which was greeted with much enthusiasm by members anddonors alike.
The Scholarship Committee introduced all seven 2020 Scholars during our first-ever online
presentation at our May general meeting, with 160 attendees, including past scholars, overseas
members, members of the press and other guests. Two past scholars, Ririna Kaneko (SVI-SJ 2017)
and Saule Zholdayakova (NJG 2017), spoke about how their CWAJ scholarships provided them withnumerous opportunities.
Every CWAJ scholarship comes with possibilities, and in some cases, even more prospects than
the scholar had originally imagined. We are particularly proud and gratified when a CWAJ Scholar
thrives. Notably, three past SVI-SJ Scholars earned their PhDs in 2020:

PhD awardees in 2020

NAKAMURA, Masaya (2014) PhD in Special Education:
Mr. Nakamura was a high school teacher when he lost
his eyesight, but not his passion for education. He has
published his thesis and donated a copy to CWAJ.
IZUMI,Masayuki (2015) PhD in Dentistry: Mr. Izumi isdetermined to encourage the independence of thoseliving with disability by being a positive role model. His
accomplishment is a tremendous example.
HANDA, Kozue (2007) PhD in Art: Ms. Handa considers
disability not as a disadvantage, but something thatprovides a unique understanding. Her goal is to create
more fulfilling methods of appreciation and learning for
all visitors to cultural exhibits and museums in Japan.
Congratulations to two more CWAJ Scholars who completed
their degrees:

2021 CWAJ Young
Printmaker Award(YPA)
CWAJ established the Young
Printmaker Award (YPA) in 2005
as part of the 50th Print Showcelebration to encourage thedevelopment of young artists.
Eligible applicants are thecreators of the top prints selected
at the Annual Exhibition of theAssociation of Japan Art Colleges
held every year in December
at the Machida City Museum ofGraphic Arts. The recipient of thisannual award of 500,000 yen is
selected based on his/her project
proposal, artistic potential andcreativity.

2021 YPA Winner

OHYAMA, Kanna
Tokyo Zokei University(Graduated March 2021)

TAKAHASHI, Misaki (SA 2018) received her MSc in Forest
and Nature Conservation from Wageningen University &Research in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
SHIIMA, Yuko (CWAJ 70th Anniversary SA 2019)
received her Masters in Medical Research from Brighton
and Sussex Medical School in the United Kingdom.
Another SVI-SJ Scholar, YANASHIMA, Shun (2019), waschosen as one of five recipients of the Nakajima Hiraku
Scholarship for mathematical studies.
(See below for the meaning of the Scholarship abbreviations.)

Congratulations 2020 CWAJ Scholars!!
CWAJ awarded scholarships in the following categories for the 2020-2021 academic year:

CWAJ Cultural Exchange Graduate
Scholarship for Japanese Women toStudy Abroad (SA)(Supported by the Japan Foundation)¥3 million; one recipient

KAWABATA, Sayoko
PhD Occupational Science, University ofNorth Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA)CWAJ Graduate Scholarship for NonCWAJ Scholarship for the VisuallyJapanese Women to Study in Japan (NJG) Impaired to Study in Japan (SVI-SJ)¥2 million; two recipients¥1.5 million; two recipients

ABUSHAMMALAH, Noor J. E.
(State of Palestine)
PhD Women’s Rights, Graduate School ofIntegrated Sciences for Global Society, Kyushu
UniversityFUJIMOTO, Masahiro
4th year, English and American Literature(Linguistics), Rikkyo University

ARABADZHIEVA, Polina Dimitrova
CWAJ Graduate Scholarship forJapanese Women to Study Abroad (SA) (Republic of Bulgaria)¥3 million; one recipient

USHIO, Sayo
MA International Child Studies, Facultyof Social Science and Public Policy, King’s
College London (UK)

MA International Business and Development,
Sophia University

SUGIURA, Yuki
4th year, Contemporary Childhood Studies(English pedagogy), Kinjo Gakuin University

CWAJ Fukushima Relief Scholarship (FRS)¥0.5 million; one recipient

YAMAGUCHI, Ayumi
3rd year student, Fukushima Medical
University School of Nursing

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Volunteers for the Visually Impaired (VVI)

Foreign Students’ Circle (FSC)

English Conversation Gatherings (ECG) offer opportunities for Japaneseindividuals who are visually impaired to discuss specific topics in English
with CWAJ members. Starting in May 2020, ECG took a giant leap andmoved these exciting events to a virtual platform. All three Virtual ECGs,
focused on Hobbies (May), Food (August), Traditions (December), wereextremely successful. ECG partnered with Hands-on Art to sponsor anartist talk by Hirota Raifu in connection with the Open Print Art Gallery
in October that was popular and well-attended.

FSC volunteers typically mentor foreign university students
and introduce them to Japanese cultural experiences, but thisyear embraced the opportunity to flip the program on its head.
FSC held virtual events in which foreign students introduced
their countries to each other and CWAJ members. They spoke
passionately about personal history, geography, culture, food,everyday life, and even recommended the best spots to visit.
These conversations transported participants around theworld while staying safely at home. CWAJ members, foreign
students and FSC alumni participated in the events, which
included lively Q&A sessions and the chance to connect witheach other virtually.

Between 14 and 22 visually-impaired guests took part in each virtual
event, which included presentations and conversation in small groups
in breakout rooms. ECG provided Zoom training to guests unfamiliar
with the platform, and mailed a tactile object, such as a raised image ofprint art for the artist talk or a cut paper snowflake for the discussionof traditions, to participants in advance of an event to increase theirengagement with the presentations.
ECG has received incredible feedback from guests who are visuallyimpaired, who enjoyed participating in discussions in breakout rooms
with native English speakers and other visually impaired guests ofsimilar English language ability. Virtual ECGs have made it possible
for overseas CWAJ members to participate in VVI activities, and haveincreased opportunities for guests with visual impairment to join infrom their homes without the challenges of traveling to a venue.
In 2021, we plan to offer both in-person and virtual ECG.
Other VVI activities include English classes at Japan Vocational
Development Center for the Blind (JVDCB) (photo top left), Tsukuba
Eiken Mock Interview Program at Special Needs Education Schoolfor the Visually Impaired, University of Tsukuba, VVI Newsletter
distributed to 200 visually impaired friends, and English conversation
classes at Japan Braille Library.

In October 2020, FSC was lucky to be able to visit the “MangaCity Tokyo Nippon Manga, Anime, Games, Special Effects 2020”
Exhibition at the The National Art Center,Tokyo in small groupsof students and volunteers (photo top center).

English Outreach for Children (EOC)EOC provides “Fun-in-English” literacy-based lessons for children
at St. Joseph Children’s Home located in western Tokyo. Monthly
visits find EOC volunteers dressed up as characters from theEnglish books on which lessons are based. Children and EOC
members sing, play games and hold conversations in English,
which is great fun for all.
Although in-person visits have been suspended since March
2020, EOC volunteers send seasonally themed packages filledwith English books and gifts to the children in order to convey
our dedication to them and to help them retain the English words
and phrases that they have learned. The children sent beautiful
handmade thank you cards with pictures of their smiling faces(photo top right), which fill us with hope.

CULTURAL PROGRAMSMonthly General Meetings
The CWAJ Cultural Programs team curates a speaker series that is a cornerstoneof CWAJ General Meetings. Monthly meetings allow us to share organization-wide
information, learn from engaging speakers and socialize with each other. Afterdazzling January 2020 meeting attendees with a riveting musical performance bymembers of the Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten performance troupe and having
Stuart Varnam-Atkin deliver an insightful lecture about Shakespeare at ourFebruary meeting, Cultural Programs was faced with the challenge of continuing
this highly regarded series when in-person meetings ceased.

A B O U T C WA J

When general meetings moved to a virtual format, Cultural Programs welcomed
the opportunity to gather members, not only those in Tokyo, but also Overseas
Members and past scholars. Attendees in June enjoyed a Rakugo performance inEnglish by Katsura Sunshine that offered levity and a sense of connection after
so much time apart. Dynamic online gatherings have kept members engaged
beyond the confines of their homes and with each other even though we arescattered across Tokyo and the globe.

Our 2020 speaker series also included a virtual art
tour by member Ursula Bartlett in conjunction
with the CWAJ Open Print Art Gallery, a discussionof contemporary print techniques by Katsutoshi
Yuasa, a look inside Japanese corporate boards froman American woman’s perspective by Jenifer Rogers,
and a glimpse through the lens of a photographer’scamera by Natsuki Yasuda. Cultural Programs offer
members and their guests an opportunity to bondthrough enriching presentations.

The College Women’s Association of Japan, a 100% volunteer organization is a singular group of women
supporting women through education, arts, community and friendship. Founded in 1949, our primary
mission is the provision of scholarships that are funded by donations and proceeds from the CWAJ Print
Show, an internationally acclaimed annual exhibition and sale that promotes contemporary Japanese
print art. CWAJ serves the community by providing educational services for children and adults,including innovative programs for visually impaired individuals. CWAJ offers opportunities to engage inmeaningful volunteer projects, participate in cross-cultural events and to make friendships with womenfrom around the world. Please join us! Contact: membership@cwaj.org
Ippan Shadan Hojin CWAJ
2-24-13-703 Kami-Osaki Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0021 | Tel/Fax 03-3491-2091@TheCWAJ@cwaj_japan
cwaj.org