CWAJ ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020

1CWAJ
ANNUAL REPORT

2019-2020

COLLEGE WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF JAPANMARCH 2020

Marking the 70th anniversary of its founding, 2019 was a special
year for celebrating CWAJ’s seven decades of promoting education,art, community service and cross-cultural understanding as well as
an opportunity to look to the future. Two special events, a publicsymposium and a celebratory dinner, attracted members fromoverseas as well as from Japan. In addition, each area of CWAJ highlighted thislandmark anniversary in its programs.

CWAJ 70th AnniversarySymposium“Women Making a Sustainable
Impact in Society”
The public symposium held on March 8th2019,
International
Women’sDay,
showcased four inspiring panelists, allwomen leaders in Japan:
Kaori Kuroda, CSO Network Japan,“Sustainable Development Goals”,
Yoko Tokunaga, Fundraising Labo, “Howto raise funds for NPOs”,
Minami Tsubouchi (2004 CWAJ Scholar),Global Fund for Education Assistance,“Why and how to pursue your own careergoal",
Sayuri Daimon, Japan Times, “Yourchallenging power will change the world.”
The presentations were followed by alively panel discussion and question &answer session. The evening program
began with the showing of the “Women atWork” video featuring CWAJ, produced byCustom Media. Attended by 157 people,
the symposium was also successful for
raising public awareness of CWAJ.
CWAJ thanks The Tokyo Club for its
support of this event.

activities: Barbara Knode, 1970 CWAJ
President; Reiko Oshima, 2019 CWAJ
President; Noriko Yanagisawa, longtime
Print Show artist; and two CWAJ
scholarship recipients, Miiko Kodama, oneof the first scholars in 1972, and Ririna
Kaneko, a young scholar with visualimpairment.
One of the highlights of the evening was
the presentation of CWAJ’s 2019 scholars,including the recipients of the 70th
Anniversary Graduate Scholarships forJapanese Women to Study Abroad.
Another highlight was a live auction
conducted by Jon Kabira of unique CWAJ
prizes - a handcrafted quilt, art, and stays
in Fukushima and Kyoto. The evening
concluded with a stellar performance by
CWAJ members Dawn Blackwell andKyoko Takano, ‘Songs for Seven Decades’.
Additional programs arranged at aroundthe time of the dinner enabled members
visiting
fromoverseas
torenew
friendships. These included a reunion trip
to Atami, with a special performance ofJapanese music and visits to local
attractions.
thIn her speech at the 70 anniversarycelebration, 1988 CWAJ President Bobbie
Seligmann inspired us to recommit toCWAJ 70th Anniversary
CWAJ’s mission: “Meeting the needs of theDinner & Reception
educational community and changes insociety has accounted for the success of“A Joyous Celebration of CWAJ’s
70 years of History and Friendship” our 70 years. We must continue to berelevant and adapt to future challenges.”
On May 17th 2019 over 200 people,
Six panels were created to show how
including many former presidents, artists,
CWAJ has made a difference in the last 70
and CWAJ scholars, gathered at the Hotelyears, highlighting the contributions madeOkura in Tokyo. The celebration began
to education, art, and community. Thewith a festive kagami biraki. The fivepanels were displayed at all key CWAJ
women chosen to swing the mallet
events during the year and can be seen
represented various facets of CWAJ’s
here: https://bit.ly/3axJ6RVFUND THE FUTURE!
By supporting the CWAJ Scholarshipand Education Programs, you canmake a genuine and long-lasting
impact on the lives of individuals andcommunities both in Japan andbeyond. CWAJ welcomes donationsof any amount throughout the year.
The support of the Japan Foundation
DesignatedDonations
Programenables CWAJ to award more
scholarships to women graduate
students who have chosen to study
abroad. A tax deduction receipt fromthe Japan Foundation is available fordonors to CWAJ who file tax return
forms in Japan.
For further information about
making a donation to CWAJ, pleasecontact, donations@cwaj.org

SAVE THE DATE
64th

CWAJ PRINT SHOWWednesday 21- Sunday 25
October 2020
Hillside Forum,Daikanyama, TokyoCWAJ ’ s renowned exhibition andsale of contemporary Japanese
prints will be held at Hillside Forumin Daikanyama. Join us for a touchof “ Fresh Wind ” : new ideas,
innovations and a renewed look at
how we approach, choose andinterpret art and beauty.

CWAJ ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020

63rd CWAJ PRINT SHOWwas held at the light-filled Hillside Forum
gallery in Daikanyama where it has been
continuously exhibited since 2017. This
year’s show was open to the public from
October 23rd to 27th. The Opening
Reception with over 200 guests took placeon October 23rd in order to avoid anoverlapwiththenewemperor’s
enthronement ceremonies (usually it isscheduled for the evening before theOpening).
Celebratory messages for CWAJ’s 70th
Anniversary were communicated in thecatalogue, at the Opening reception andwith prominent history panels at theexhibition venue. In addition, this year’s
Associate Show transformed into the"CWAJ 70th Anniversary Celebratory
Exhibition" under the fetching name“Wonder Women!”. Lively prints by six
powerful women artists (OSAKA Chika,SAITORika,TOYOIZUMIAyano,TSUCHIYA Misa [photo below], WAKAKI
Kurumi, YAMADA Ayaka) composed thisspecial exhibition.

2Prints from 2019 Young PrintmakerAward (YPA) winner YAMADA Hikaru
and 2016 winner OMORI Hiroyuki also
drew attention. In total, 212 prints
were displayed in the main show, 48
prints in the “Wonder Women!”
Celebratory Exhibition, 6 prints fromthe YPA winners plus 2 additional
prints, donated by an artist’s family.
Once again, the Hands-on Art
subcommittee
converted
severalprints into tactile versions for thevisually impaired to read with theirfingers. This much-appreciated andone of a kind experience continues tobe an exceptional art offering at theCWAJ Print Show, and you most likely
won’t find anything comparable
among international art exhibitions.
Guidedtours
includedprintsdemonstratingthedifferent
techniques and many artistic styles
which made them very popular withvisitors,
whogained
deeperknowledge and understanding of boththe artworks and artists.

In addition, twowoodblockprinting techniquedemonstrations
were given by artist
ISHIBASHI Yuichiro,
whose nimble workandeloquent
explanations
impressedlarge
crowds of visitors.
The bi-annual CWAJ Kobe Print Show wasarranged for the 7th time in November and70 specially selected prints were displayed atthe Kobe Club. The 70th anniversary of CWAJ
and the 150th anniversary of Kobe Club were
both
successfully
celebrated
withaglamorous charity concert titled “Opera &Takarazuka”, performed by Ray Sanjo andMariko Nishigawa in conjunction with theshow.

2019 CWAJ Print Show Award
One award of 100,000 yen
OGOSHI Tomoko 「Blue & Purple」

Juror’s Award
KATSUKI Yuka 「Step not to stop」KUGO Ikuhiro 「below ground-43」

2020 CWAJ Young Printmaker Award(YPA) One award of 500,000 yen
TASHIRO Yukari
University of Teacher Education Fukuoka
Graduate, 2nd year

FUKUSHIMA RELIEF PROJECTSCWAJ quickly responded to help the areas stricken by the Great
East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 and has continued tosupport the health and welfare of the community throughFukushima Relief Projects.
◼ Fukushima Relief Scholarships
Since 2012, CWAJ has awarded 20 scholarships to students ofthe Fukushima Medical University School of Nursing. The
recipients have gone on to serve the community as nurses,midwives, and in public health.
◼ Donation to aid Typhoon 19 victims in Fukushima
Typhoon 19 (Hagibis) struck Fukushima in early October 2019.
CWAJ responded by donating ¥200,000 raised through the 70th
Anniversary Raffle to aid typhoon victims in the devastated area.
The donation was given to Nagomi Kokoro no Care Center withwhich CWAJ has had a strong connection since our first relief
project in Fukushima.
◼ Denzen AwardThe Denzen Award, a woodblock print competition forelementary and middle school students, honors Aoudou Denzen,an Edo-period artist born in Sukagawa City, Fukushima. Thisyear, as it has since 2013, CWAJ will exhibit the captivating
prints by the young artists who won in each age category. Theyand their parents are invited to attend the Print Show.

President’s
Message
CWAJ is a vital organization that
Dear Friends,offers women many opportunities
to support women. We do this througheducation, art, community and friendship.
Women supporting women is exhilarating
and it is a privilege to be president of thisspirited organization.
Women who have moved to Japan from other countries willfind extraordinary possibilities for making connections
through CWAJ’s volunteer activities and cultural programs.
Japanese women make multicultural friendships and connect
to their home through meaningful volunteer work. All
members benefit from better cross-cultural understanding.
The bonds of friendship that are forged when women work
together to accomplish the mission of CWAJ are indelible.
Our primary mission is the provision of scholarships and ourscholars have made a positive impact worldwide. We raise
funds through a variety of activities. Because we are a 100%volunteer organization, all money raised goes towardsubsidizing our scholarships.
CWAJ relies on donations from kind supporters like you inorder to fully fund our scholarships. Allow me to express thegratitude of our entire organization for your support. For 70years women have found a home in CWAJ. With yourpatronage, we are looking forward to supporting women forat least 70 more years.
Sincerely,
Jane Grimes
CWAJ President

CWAJ ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020

3

CWAJ SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Seven Decades of Scholarships(SVI 2007), and Minami Tsubouchi (SA2004, one of the speakers).

In honor of CWAJ’s 70th year, theScholarship Committee awarded twoscholarships
titled“CWAJ70thAnniversary Graduate Scholarship forJapanese Women to Study Abroad.” Eachwas in the amount of 5 million yen, given
over a two-year study period. This award
was created to continue the assistance foroverseas education that was started with
Travel Grants (TG) in 1949.

The following seven Scholars, one fromeach decade, offer a small sample of the850 scholarship recipients of CWAJ
scholarships over 70 years. These womenand men are pursuing a range ofprofessions in sciences, arts, academia
and business, effecting positive change allover the world.
- Hiroko Nakamoto TG 1951: Founder,Hiroshima Gateway to World Peace;career in architectural interior design- Yoko Narahashi TG 1969: Casting
director, Film producer- Ryoichi Namai SVI-SJ 1978: First SVI
recipient; First totally blind person in

CWAJ is proud of the connections
maintained with Scholars. Attending theMarch 8th Symposium allowed five past
Scholars the chance to meet: Ryoko Narui(SA 2013), Lucia Vancura (IUC 2006),
Miiko Kodama (SA 1972), Rie Yasuhara

Japan to receive PhD in science; Professor,Kaetsu University- Masako Egawa SA 1984: First female
Executive Vice President of the Universityof Tokyo; Professor, Graduate School ofBusiness Administration, Hitotsubashi
University- Reiko Takahashi SVI-SJ 1990:
Subsection Chief of Universal Toy DesignSection, Takara Tomy
- Ewa Machotka NJG 2006: CWAJ 50th
Print Show scholar; Assoc. Professor,Japanese
LanguageandCulture,
Stockholm University, Sweden- Kentaro Fukuchi SVI-SA 2011:
Formerly at Japan Red Cross, now at JICA
to support minorities in developingcountries
See below for the meaning of theScholarship abbreviations.

2019 CWAJ SCHOLARSCWAJ 70th Anniversary Graduate
Scholarship for Japanese Women
to Study Abroad (SA) total \5 million

CWAJ Sano Chikara Scholarshipfor Non-Japanese Women toStudy in Japan (NJG) \2 million

each for two academic years

SAKON, Shio
PhD, Department of Physics,
Pennsylvania State University (USA)SHIIMA, Yuko
MRes Medical Research, Brighton andSussex Medical School (UK)CWAJ Cultural Exchange
Graduate Scholarship for NonJapanese Women to Study inJapan (NJG) \ 2 million
ERMILOVA, Mariia Eduardovna(Russian Federation)
PhD Environmental Science andLandscape Architecture, Spatial Planning
Laboratory, Graduate School of
Horticulture, Chiba University

ABOUT

CWAJ

CHOUCHANE, Hanna Mejah(Republic of Tunisia)
PhD Policy and Planning Sciences,
Graduate School of Systems andInformation Engineering, University ofTsukuba

CWAJ-Tokyo American Club
Women’s Group Graduate
Scholarship for Non-Japanese
Women to Study in Japan(TACWG-NJG) \2 million

CWAJ Scholarship for the
Visually Impaired to Study inJapan (SVI-SJ) \1.5 million each
MATSUOKA, Kotono
3rd year, Special Needs Program,
Department of Education and ChildDevelopment, Faculty of Psychology,
Meiji Gakuin University

YANASHIMA, ShunMS Mathematical Sciences, Graduate
School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan
University

CWAJ Fukushima Relief
Scholarship (FRS) \500,000 each
IIMA, Tamaki

ZABLACKAITE, Giedre(Republic of Lithuania)

3rd year student, Fukushima Medical
University School of Nursing

PhD Nuclear Engineering, Tokyo
Institute of Technology

TSUGAWA, Rina

The College Women’s Association of Japan,
a 100% volunteer organization is a singular groupof women supporting women through education,
arts, community and friendship. Founded in 1949,
our primary mission is the provision ofscholarships. These scholarships are funded bydonations and proceeds from the CWAJ Print
Show, an internationally acclaimed annualexhibition and sale that promotes contemporary
Japanese print art. CWAJ serves the community
by providing educational services for children and3rd year student, Fukushima Medical
University School of Nursing

adults, including innovative programs for visuallyimpaired individuals. Friendship is built by engaging
in meaningful volunteer projects together andjoining in shared interest groups. Opportunities toparticipate include activities that promote ourorganization's commitment to education and crosscultural understanding, and a wide range of uniquecultural and social events. CWAJ offers the chance tomake friendships with women from around the world
as well as to develop long-term links with Japan.
Please join us, contact: membership@cwaj.org

CWAJ ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS◼ Volunteers for the Visually
Impaired (VVI)VVI hosted various English language andoutreach activities including an English
Conversation Gathering (ECG) at The
Special Needs Education School for theVisually Impaired, University of Tsukuba
on Saturday, November 17th. Mr. Junichi
Kawai, a legendary Paralympic swimmer,
was invited as guest speaker. Mr. Kawai
spoke about his successful career andachievements. Visitors were allowed tohandle one of his gold medals which isinscribed with Braille. Mr. Kawai shared hisdaily, disciplined routine as a roadmap toachieving his goals. The discussion
concluded with a spirited Q&A. Participants
included VI friends, CWAJ volunteers,
students from Tsukuba School and theAmerican School in Japan who were given
a sound table tennis demonstration whichis played using a ball with a bell inside.
Visually impaired individuals follow thesound in order to play. Visitors andvolunteers were offered blindfolds and theCULTURAL PROGRAMS◼ Cultural Program
CWAJ's 70th Anniversary Culture Program
titled "Let's Get to Know Indonesia Through Music, Storytelling and Food,"
was held at Yotsuya Nicolas Barre Hall on
October 6th 2019 with 120 participants(two-thirds non-CWAJ members). All had
a good time.
Journalist Myra Junor, who lives in Tokyo,
talked about her country’s diverse terrain,
ethnicities, and religions, as well as women
who play an active role in their society andinternationally, including the first femalepresident Megawati (2001-2004).

Theparticipants
then enjoyed
anIndonesian folk instrument performance by
three performers from the group ‘Indha
Putri’ using the angklung (an instrument
made of bamboo) who played classical andJapanese pieces along with Indonesian folksongs. Although this was the first time
most of the participants had seen or heard
this instrument, everyone had a fun timeat the end trying their hand at a smaller

opportunity to experience sound table
tennis as a non-sighted person.
Recently, Mr. Kawai was appointed aschairperson of the Japanese Paralympic
Committee and the head of theParalympic delegation. Other VVI
Programs:- Twice-weekly
EnglishlanguagelessonsatJapan
Vocational
Development Center for the Blind, 25students.
- Twice-annual mock interviews at The
Special Needs Education School for theVisually Impaired, University ofTsukuba to help prepare students forEnglish proficiency exams.
- The VVI newsletter sent to 200 VI
friends three times in 2019.

4
Party and Kabuki Viewing events, andenjoyedlearning
about
traditional
Japanese arts, while 16 students including
four alumni and three FSC students’friends came to Print Show Visiting. It was
rewarding for FSC volunteers, who also act
as mentors for these students, to see thestudents listen intently to the guide’s
explanations of prints.

◼ English Outreach for Children(EOC)◼ Foreign Students’ Circle (FSC) Launched in March 2019, English Outreach

FSC had four events in 2019: Tea Party
for new students in April, Kabuki Viewing
in July, Visiting Print Show in Octoberand Visiting National Museum ofWestern Art in November. Twelve
students and alumni participated in Tea

version of the angklung used by theperformers. After expert instruction, allparticipants managed a full performance
together.
The program ended with tea time andnetworking while enjoying four kinds ofIndonesian sweets and Indonesian tea.
All proceeds were donated to CWAJ
Scholarships.

◼ Luncheon Program
CWAJ’s monthly general meeting program
offers unique opportunities for personalenrichment, promotion of cross-culturalvalues, entertainment and for connectingwith old friends and meeting new ones.
In 2019 CWAJ presented many diverse
programs - Kristin Newton taught
attendees to develop creativity through art,
Kenneth Tanaka spoke on Buddhism ineveryday life, celebrating individuality anddiversity, Izena Natsuko powerfullyillustrated that those with physicalchallenges
lead full personal andprofessional lives, participants learned
about the strength of women artists inFinland from Dr. Anna-Maria Wiljanen.
Lord Gregory Mostyn shared the life of a
Welsh royal and the Fujisawa Male Voice
acapella group serenaded the group at
Christmas time. Again this year, themonthly meeting program challenged ourthinking,educated,inspiredandentertained throughout 2019.

for Children (EOC) is a new program aimedat providing “fun-in-English” programs forresidents at St. Joseph Children’s Home.
EOC volunteers visit the home monthly
and children participate in a literacy-based
program. The highlight of the lesson is
post-reading activities such as acting out
the actions and adventures of the story,
crafts, fun games and singing. Special
programs are prepared for Easter,
Halloween and Christmas. The Home,
located in Nishi Tokyo City, western Tokyo,
was originally founded by a Catholic
missionary in 1946 to foster war orphans.

OTHER FUNDRAISING

This raffle was a great success andwelcome addition to this year's 63rd
Print Show.
Many donors generously provided 45
exciting prizes, proceeds from which
support CWAJ Fukushima Relief andScholarship Programs.
Air Canada provided the grand prize:
two round-trip tickets for the North
Americancontinent.
Otherprizes
included: a distinctive graphic art set andhigh-end pens from Faber-Castell,
RIEDELdecanterandglasses,
treatments from Hollywood Beauty,
European wine sets, and restaurant andentertainment vouchers.
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CWAJ (Ippan Shadan Hojin CWAJ)
2-24-13-703 Kami-Osaki
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0021
Tel/Fax : 03-3491-2091
https://cwaj.org/

SCAN ME