CWAJ REPORTCWAJreport‘11-‘12MARCH 2012

CWAJ Great East Japan Earthquake
Relief Initiatives
Immediately
afterthecatastrophic
earthquake, CWAJ started rigorous research
to directly help victims in the Tohoku region.
By mid-April 2011 the CWAJ Great East
Japan Earthquake Relief Fund had been
established and soon the CWAJ Mental
Health Care Project was launched under theguidance of Dr Nobumasa Kato. Various
other relief efforts followed:

CWAJ Mental Health CareProject
CWAJ has been providing encouragement
and material support to the volunteer
psychiatrists who offer on-site mental healthcare to the victims in Fukushima.
Under the strong leadership of Dr Shin’ichi
Niwa of Fukushima Medical University, themuch awaited Kokoro no Care Center andMental Clinic Nagomi opened on January 10,2012 in Soma, a coastal city located 40
kilometers north of Fukushima Nuclear
Power Plant. Soma Kokoro no Care Center
will serve as the base office for outreachmental health care for which a medical van
with a wheelchair lift is absolutely
imperative. CWAJ is proud to be its provider.
Eighteen CWAJ members were invited to theopening
ceremony
onJanuary
9th.
President Misa Yasukawa presented Dr Niwa
with a big golden key emblazoned with theCWAJ logo, a symbol of the donation by
CWAJ of the medical van. Print Show
Director Reiko Oshima presented a framed
print by the late Hideo Hagiwara donated byhis son to the 2011 Print Show for theKokoro no Care Center.

VVI Charity Concert

CWAJ Fukushima Relief
Scholarship
CWAJ believes that financial aid to help thedreams of young students come true isrequired for the true recovery of the region.
To this end, CWAJ created a special
scholarship program to support students
from the disaster-stricken area.
Three students studying at Fukushima
Medical University School of Nursing wereselected as recipients of the CWAJ
Fukushima Relief Scholarship. They will beawarded 0.5 million yen scholarship for one
academic year for up to two years to pursue
their studies. (Scholars’ information on P.3)
CWAJ is grateful for the generous
contributions from members and friends allover the world. The reconstruction of
Fukushima will take a long time. The
maintenance cost of the van is not small.
Your ongoing support will enable us tocontinue our two relief projects describedabove.

CWAJ Charity Concert featuring VisuallyImpaired Artists was held on Sunday,December 11 at Pasona Hall. 523,000 yen
was raised and donated to the National
Committee of Welfare for the Blind in Japan.
CWAJ’s donation will be used to purchasemuch needed daily use aids and appliances
for the visually impaired, lost by victims in
the March 11 disasters. More than 200
people enjoyed the beautiful performances oftwin pianists Rie and Risa Kimura, guitarist/vocalist Ryota Kuriyama, and Tsukuba Schoolfor the Visually Impaired Alumnae Handbell
Choir “Akane”.
We would like to thank all the performers andPasona Group for donating their services andalso, Mr. Minamisawa (1999 CWAJ SVIScholar) for donating all the sales of his
handmade pendants and cellphone straps.

2012 CWAJ Cultural Program

Curt and Bruce Duo Koto andShakuhachi Charity Concert
Date: March 17, 2012, Saturday
Time: 1:30, Doors Open 1:00
Place: Franciscan Chapel Center, Roppongi
Tickets: \2000 (Age12 and below \1000)
Proceeds go to the CWAJ Earthquake ReliefFund. (More about VVI and CP on p.4)

2

CWAJ REPORT

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary ofBelieving we can better the world
through nurturing women leaders
In the forty years since the establishment of
its current CWAJ Scholarship program in1972, CWAJ has helped 320 women to
study at universities and graduate schools inJapan and abroad, paving the way for theirdevelopment as leaders in a wide range offields. While countless children in the world
are deprived of the chance to study at
school due to poverty, CWAJ continues tofocus on women, believing that the best useof our limited funds is to support women
who have the passion and determination tomake a social contribution. Begun bysupporting Japanese women to study
abroad, the CWAJ Scholarship program
expanded in 1980 to fund foreign womenstudying in Japan.
As part of CWAJ’s commitment to higher
education
forpeople
withvisualimpairments, the Scholarship for the VisuallyImpaired (SVI) wasinitiated in 1978 forJapanese women andmen. In the last 10years
twoVI
scholarshipsof2
million yen have been
awarded annually forstudy in Japan andabroad. CWAJ was
the first organization to establish non-loantype academic scholarships targeted only forvisually impaired, and the 58 recipients havegone on to be remarkable leaders at theforefront of education, law, business, art,etc.
CWAJ’s newest scholarships will be awarded
to Fukushima University School of Nursing
students as part of its Great East Japan
Relief Initiatives, and there are plans tocontinue this program next year.
A distinguishing characteristic of CWAJ
scholarships is the absence of eligibility

restrictions based on age or field of study.
Women over 40 years old, women who taketheir children along or have a child while
studying abroad – all would have been
rejected by other scholarships but havemade great achievements through CWAJ’ssupport. Another unique quality is that past
CWAJ scholars keep strong bonds with theCWAJ community. Past SVI recipients inparticular participate in and provide valuable
support to VVI (p.4). We look forward to
many past scholars gathering together tocelebrate the 40th Anniversary of CWAJ’s
Scholarship Program this fall.

2011 CWAJ Scholars
Graduate Scholarship for Japanese
Women to Study Abroad (SA)
2 scholarships of 3 million yenSHIRAI, Arei
BA Social Sciences, Hitotsubashi University
Study Program: MBA, The Said Business
School, University of Oxford

TAKEUCHI, Nao
BS in Environmental and AgriculturalEngineering, Nihon University
Study Program: MS in Sustainable
Urbanism, The Bartlett School of Planning,
University College London

Graduate Scholarship for NonJapanese Women to Study in Japan(NJG)
2 scholarships of 2 million yen
KECELI, Sumru（Republic of Turkey）
MD, Hacettepe University Faculty ofMedicine,
Study Program: PhD, The Graduate
University of Advanced Studies, NationalInstitute for Physiological Sciences

CWAJ Sano Chikara NJG
Scholarship

LIANG, Zilu（People’s Republic ofChina）
BEng, Electrical Engineering, University ofElectronic Science and Technology of China
Study Program: PhD, ElectricalEngineering, The University of Tokyo

CWAJ-Tokyo American Club
Women’s Group Non-Japanese
Graduate Scholarship
1 scholarship of 2 million yen
JEYAMOHAN, Prashanti（India）
MPhil, Bio-Technology, Bharathidhasan
University, India
Study Program: Doctorate in Bio-Nano
Fusion Science, Graduate School forInterdisciplinary New Science, Toyo
University

Scholarship for the Visually
Impaired Study Abroad (SVI-SA)
1 scholarship of 2 million yen
FUKUCHI, Kentaro
BA Human Science, University of Tsukuba
Study Program: MA in International
Education and Development, University ofSussex

Scholarship for the VisuallyImpaired Study in Japan (SVI-SJ)
1 scholarship of 2 million yen
MISONO, Masamitsu
MS, Special Education, University of Tsukuba
Study Program: PhD, Life-long HumanSciences, Tokyo Women’s Christian
University

Scholarship to the InterUniversity Center for Japanese
Language Studies (IUC)
1 scholarship of 2 million yen
SARGENT, Katherine（USA）
BA East Asian Languages and Cultures,
Smith College
Study Program: MA Candidate, AsianStudies – Japan, University of Michigan

CWAJ 60th Anniversary Overseas
Scholarship
1 scholarship of 180,000 yen, 5 years
GAYAGAY, Sandra Glynn (Philippines)
BS Nursing, Saint Louis University,Philippines,
Study Program: MD, School of Medicine,Saint Louis University, Baguio City,Philippines.

3CWAJ REPORTThe 57th (2012) CWAJ Print Show will be held on
Friday 19th - Sunday 21st October, 2012
At Tokyo American Club, Azabudai
The 56th CWAJ Print Show in 2011
presented 192 prints by 192 artists. The
proceeds went to the Earthquake Relief
Fund as well as the Scholarship andEducation Fund.
Since 1956, the CWAJ Print Show has growninto a highly respected annual exhibition ofcontemporary Japanese prints (hanga),assuring significant funds for the CWAJ
Scholarship Program.
The Associate Show, which debuted in 1968,
has allowed in-depth explorations of focused
topics. Last year, the Associate Showfeaturing woodblock prints by HAGIWARA
Hideo (1913-2007) was also exhibited andwell-received at the 2011 Kobe Biennale.
CWAJ works to support and promote thedevelopment of hanga
as well. The Art
Grant inaugurated in1985 has evolved into
thenewArtist-inResidence Program in2011.
TheYoung
Printmaker Award wasestablished in 2005.

2011 CWAJ Young PrintmakerAward
1 award, 0.5 million yen
HIROSE, Risa
MFA, Tokyo Zokei University
Works as an engraver at the National
Printing Bureau
Ms Hirose plans to use the award money toadapt her home for printmaking and to havea solo exhibition in May 2012.

2011 CWAJ Artist-in-Residence
Program
1 award, 0.8 million yen
TANUMA, Toshinori
MFA Tama Art University
Lecturer at DOUMU Printmaking Studio

About CWAJ
Founded in 1949, the College Women's
Association of Japan (CWAJ) continues topromote education and cross-cultural
exchange through the CWAJ scholarships, theAnnual Print Show and other programs that
benefit the community. A volunteer, not-forprofit organization, CWAJ’s 450 members
from 30 different countries work together ina unique system of pairing Japanese and nonJapanese members for leading every aspectof the organization. Offering opportunities
for women from all over the world to shareunique cultural experiences with theirJapanese peers, CWAJ provides a long-termlink with Japan as well as the immediate
benefits of a wide range of activities in andaround Tokyo.
Interested in joining CWAJ? Please contact
membership@cwaj.org for more information.

FROM PAST SCHOLARS‘I still remember how the CWAJ selection
committee encouraged me at my interview tofollow my dream regardless of the selection
results. I would like to let you know that I am
still pursuing my dream while also trying to help
the younger generation to pursue their dreams
as well’.
KUBOTA, Aya (1996 SA) Associate Professor,
Department of Urban Engineering, U. of Tokyo‘CWAJ makes a huge difference in my life. First,
it stabilized my finances, allowing me to focus
on my research. Secondly, I've been able tomeet lots of outstanding CWAJ members, which
I think will become a life-long Kizuna (bond)’.
LONG, Ne (2009 NJG)MD candidate, Nagoya City University‘CWAJ Scholarship taught me that I wassupported by the goodwill of so many people. I
have often had to face difficulties working as aperson with a disability. But at those times,
CWAJ always came to my mind which gave me
strength and helped be who I am today’.
MINAMIZAWA, Hajime (1999 SVI-SJ)
Music Teacher at Yanaze Elementary School

Mr Tanuma stayed and worked as an artistin-residence at Nova Scotia College of Art
and Design (NSCAD) in Halifax, Canada for
two months.
In cooperation with Mercedes-Benz
Connection, CWAJ is offering a series ofcontemporary print exhibitions
throughout 2012 at the Roppongi
showroom (2Fl)

Now On: Exhibition and Sale ofContemporary Prints by
MARINCHEVSKI Veliko at
Mercedes-Benz Connection,
Roppongi
January 5-April 28, 2012
Bulgarian print artist MARINCHEVSKI has
generously pledged all proceeds to the CWAJ
Earthquake Relief Fund.

２012 CWAJ Fukushima
Relief Scholarships
3 scholarships, 0.5 million yen each,up to 2 years
Male and female students at Fukushima Medical
University School of Nursing affected by theearthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident areeligible.

AKIYAMA, Saiko（third year studentfrom April 2012)
Ms Akiyama is determined to become amidwife and help mothers in the area
affected by the nuclear power plant
accident.

AOKI, Mizuho（fourth year student）
Born and raised in Fukushima, Ms Aoki
wants to become a reliable midwife who
can make mothers feel happy.

YAMADA, Hiroko (third year student)
Ms Yamada wishes to positively contributeto the reconstruction of her home village
Namie through nursing.

4CWAJ REPORTCWAJ’s efforts tosupport the visuallyimpaired community

which VI can touch and feel the generalcomposition of the print, giving them aunique opportunity to enjoy art with thegeneral community. (See photo on p.3)

CWAJ regularly supports visually impaired(VI) in three ways: Scholarship for the
Visually Impaired, Volunteers for the
Visually Impaired (VVI), and the Print
Show Hands-on-Art exhibit.

Cultural Program

CWAJ Scholarship for the
Visually Impaired

In November 2011 a lecture was given byJapanese architect Paul Tange who
designed the award-winning Mode Gakuen
Cocoon Tower in Shinjuku. Two of his
firm’sbuildings
haverecentlywonawards
fromtheSingapore
government for their environmentallyfriendly credentials. The lecture took placein the Pasona Headquarters Building inOtemachi, famous for its indoor forays into
agriculture in every room. The capacity
audience enjoyed the talk, the building,and the buffet dinner after the lecture.

Japanese undergraduate and graduate
students with visual impairment are eligible
for scholarships to study in Japan andabroad. See p.2 for 2011 recipients.

VVI
VVI has pioneered programs that respondto the needs of the visually impaired since1975, broadening opportunities for themthrough the English language programs
listed below. Also, education outings suchas the tour of the Eye Mate guide dog
training center in May raise members’
awareness of VI opportunities.

Japan Vocational Development
Center for the Blind
CWAJ
volunteers
teach
Englishconversation classes twice a week to adults
with visual impairment as part of their job
training.

English Conversation Gathering
Two interesting programs were held in2011. On April 9 a Senegalese member
gave an excellent presentation about hercountry. 26 CWAJ members and 21 VI
enjoyed getting together after the manysad days following the disasters. OnSeptember 10 there was a very special
event hosted by the South African Embassy.
We were honored to have Ambassador
Grobler give a presentation about many
aspects of South Africa. All 46 VI and CWAJ
members were impressed with thehospitality and warm generosity of theAmbassador and all Embassy Staff.

Tsukuba High School for the Blind
Program
In June and November, in a programprovided only by CWAJ volunteers, 30 VI
high school students were given mockinterviews to help them prepare for theEiken English Proficiency Test.

VVI Newsletter
Three informative and interesting issues ayear – spring, summer and fall– weredistributed to more than 190 visually
impaired in 2011 by email, in braille andenlarged copies.

Hands-on-Art
25 VI attended Hands-on Art (HOA) at thePrint Show in 2011. Four prints were madeinto tactile prints called ‘ raised images ’

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF INITIATIVESThe CWAJ Cultural Programs provide
enjoyable learning events to the members
and the community at large. The programs
are usually conducted in English.

The next Cultural Program is a charityconcert by the Koto & Shakuhachi jazz duo
Curtis Patterson and Bruce Huebner on
March 17th, a part of CWAJ’s Earthquake
Relief Initiatives (See p.1). With arepertoire that runs from the traditional toAmerican jazz and their own dazzling
compositions, Curt and Bruce are twomusicians uniquely nurtured by the strong
cultural heritage of the Fukushima area.
After the March 11th disaster they returned
to Fukushima and did two tours ofevacuation centers. Coincidentally, Bruceteaches music at the Fukushima Medical
University School of Nursing, the very
school to which CWAJ offers scholarships.

Education Programs:
Children’s English Circle
On Wednesday afternoons throughout theschool year, CWAJ volunteers hold classes
for Japanese elementary school children
who have returned to Japan after living
abroad in countries such as Australia, USA,and the Philippines. Reading, holiday
themes, word games are just a few of theways Children‘s English Circle helps thesechildren to retain their English skills.

Foreign Students’ Circle
Last year in Foreign Students’ Circle, 44
foreign students from 6 countries learned
about Japanese culture in programs about
Japanese Incense Ceremony, wearing
Yukata, Yabusame, tea ceremony, andattended Kabuki and Noh performances.
Throughout the year, CWAJ volunteers
mentor these foreign students to help themadjust to life in Japan.

CWAJ Mental Health Care Project
In discussion with the 2011 Board members
at the CWAJ Center, Dr Nobumasa Kato andDr Nagafumi Doi explained the situation ofthe psychiatric care in Fukushima. Dr Kato
kindly agreed to be the chief representativeof this project.

CWAJ Friendly Quilt
The gorgeous Friendly Quilt, hand sewn bymember volunteers was awarded to the luckywinner of the draw held at the 2011
December Luncheon. Purchase of raffle
tickets raised ¥130,000 for the CWAJ Great
East Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

Support us!
CWAJ welcomes and accepts donations of
any amount throughout the year.
Please contact Donation Co-Chairs:
Jackye Lawless, Kayo Motoda
donations@cwaj.org
For donations by bank transfer:
Citibank, Aoyama Branch,
Savings Account: No. 7894264
Account Name: CWAJ Donations
By supporting the CWAJ Scholarship andEducation Fund / Earthquake Relief Fund,you can make a genuine and long lasting
impact on the lives of individuals andcommunities both in Japan and beyond.

CWAJ College Women’s
Association of JapanCWAJ Center 2-24-13-703 Kami-Osaki
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0021
Tel :03-3491-2091 Fax :03-3491-2092
www.cwaj.org