The Internationalist
Nishimachi International School
Head of School
Director of Advancement
Advancement Office:
Marketing and Communications Manager
Alumni Relations/Advancement Officer
75th Anniversary Coordinator/ Matsukata House Museum Archivist
Karen O’Neill ’78
Mary Margaret Mallat
Martina Schaefer
Mayumi Nakayama ’90
Brittany Glassey
Designer Koa Kellenberger ’16
Contributing Editor
Anne Papantonio
The Internationalist, School Year 2024–2025 Vol.72, is published by the Advancement Office for the alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends of Nishimachi International School.
Article Contributors
Photography
Brittany Glassey
Katie Mayne
Mayumi Nakayama ’90
Catherine Noyes
Martina Schaefer
Robert Sharp ’84
Brittany Glassey
Koa Kellenberger ’16
Neil Krivonak (SchoolPix.me)
Kacie Leviton ’95
Mayumi Nakayama ’90
Benjamin Parks
Martina Schaefer
Carl Strycharske
The Tolman Collection Tokyo
A Milestone Moment
Welcome to The Internationalist. This special edition marks an extraordinary moment in Nishimachi’s history—our 75th Anniversary. It has been a year of celebration, reflection, and deep pride in all that our school has become since its founding in 1949.
In this issue, we begin by looking back at one of the most transformative changes in education: the arrival of computers in classrooms. From the earliest machines to today’s digital learning environments, we trace Nishimachi’s journey with technology and feature a heartfelt reflection from Robert Sharp ’84 on his first experiences with computers at school and at home.
Looking ahead, we share how our educators are preparing students for a future that is ever-changing and full of possibility. The commitment to innovation and excellence that has guided our school for 75 years continues to inspire all that we do. Katie Mayne, our Director of Learning and Innovation, helps us to Look Ahead.
You’ll also discover the story behind a stunning new woodblock print created in honor of our anniversary. It beautifully captures Matsukata House, the beloved family home of our founder, Tané Matsukata, and a symbol of our school’s heart and heritage.
School
Advancement Office
2-14-7 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku Tokyo 106-0046 Japan
学校法人 西町インターナショナルスクール 〒 106-0046 東京都港区元麻布 2-14-7
渉外開発室
03-3451-5520 advancement@nishimachi.ac.jp alumni@nishimachi.ac.jp communications@nishimachi.ac.jp www.nishimachi.ac.jp
And of course, we take you inside our 75th Anniversary alumni reunion—a joyful, four-day celebration held during sakura season that brought together generations of Nishimachi students, families, and friends.
Thank you for being a part of our community. We invite you to join us in honoring the past, celebrating the present, and looking forward to all that lies ahead.
Enjoy this special issue!
Karen O’Neill ’78 Head of School
Nishimachi International
Nishimachi’s Digital Roots: Growing the Future
by Brittany Glassey
Ensuring students have access to the best resources for learning has been one of Nishimachi’s primary educational values since the beginning, being especially apparent when it comes to technology. In the Matsukata House Museum Archives, decades-old articles in The Internationalist and the old student newspaper, Chiheisen, contain stories and student testimonials of the latest and greatest technology to arrive at our school. The excitement of the first computer at Nishimachi in 1980, later opened the way for Nishimachi becoming the first Tokyo Elementary or Junior high school to work with LAN in 1991—while we may take these advancements for granted today, the excitement for new technology still persists. As we all know from technology entering our households, as one new device replaces the other, the necessity for our old devices lessens, often piling up in drawers and cupboards. Throughout the decades, Nishimachi has built a collection of various technologies that entered our school,
John Montgomery with a student and IBM JX (mid 1980s)
hidden away in boxes and shelves, many of which are now difficult to find on the market. With the opening of the Matsukata House Museum and the 75th Anniversary celebrations, the opportunity came to bring out some of these artifacts to share with visitors and students, many of whom have not seen this tech in years, if at all.
This exhibition explored key milestones of Nishimachi integrating computer technologies throughout the school. While some artifacts were only for display purposes, we were fortunate to get many of our old computers working again, with two being available for use. The Macintosh SE/30 from 1991, formerly used by faculty and staff for word processing, along with the Power Mac G4 from 1999, used as the library server in the former Reischauer Memorial Library. An exciting discovery from the Power Mac G4 was that many of the games that students played at the time were still functional, along with an audio book by poet Shuntarō Tanikawa, who visited Nishimachi in 2004. These moments
of history were frozen in place as they were twenty plus years ago, serving as a perfect time capsule for our visitors to enjoy. While it makes some of us feel old to see the technology we used now in a museum, it certainly puts into perspective how rapid the development of technology has been. For many years, the computer labs were the digital heart of Nishimachi, with classes making a special trip to visit. While the labs have changed in appearance and location throughout the years, for many alumni it was their primary access to technology before it entered our households. The shift in our understanding and use of technology is especially apparent in our youngest generation, who visited the museum during the exhibition. Students today have their own assigned iPads, with one visitor seeming puzzled when looking at an iMac G3 (formerly used in the computer lab), thinking it must have been especially heavy for students back then to carry from class to class.
Fragments of past technology and our experiences still remain in today’s cultural zeitgeist, while many visitors recognized the floppy disks on display as relics of the past, one younger visitor exclaimed it to be
Students on iMac G3s in the computer lab (early 2000s)
a ‘save button.’ Even as computers have moved from the desk to our pocket, our use and interest in technology continues across generations, they just look a little different than they used to.
Nishimachi’s IT Director, Gary Kellenberger, contributed his expertise to the exhibition, especially with getting some of the tired old computers working again (with some proving to be easier than others!). Brittany Glassey curated and built the exhibition, as the Matsukata House Museum Archivist.
Messages from the Macintosh
One of the activities for visitors to the Matsukata House Museum was to try out some of the computers that were used at Nishimachi in the past. One being the Macintosh SE/30, the oldest computer in the exhibition. Made in 1991, the SE/30 has a monochrome display and was only used by faculty and staff at Nishimachi. It was not too dissimilar to computers used by students at the time, with the IBM JX only displaying sixteen colors.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors were invited to leave a message on the SE/30, by using its original keyboard and mouse (which only has one button and no scrolling wheel!). An optional prompt for visitors was: If you could send a message to the past, what would you say?
Reflections on Early Computers by Robert Sharp ’84
Once upon a time, in the early 1980s, a strange, plastic, beige box with a keyboard and monitor showed up at Nishimachi and the Sharp household nearly simultaneously. The year was 1980 and I was in Mr. Jensen’s 6th grade class. The more curious, math-oriented and scientificminded kids like Sen Nagata ’86 and Micah Sharp ’86 started practicing what appeared to be sorcery. They’d play games and write essays with this magic machine. They’d even create simple programs like calculators or quizzes using the BASIC programming language.
This strange device was of course the Apple II Plus. And little did we know it would change our lives forever.
At home we also had one, except it wasn’t technically an Apple. It was an Apple clone which
From Ben Ferguson
Message: My first computer was an Apple IIc but I upgraded to a Macintosh just like this when I was 14 years old. It’s so cool to use one again - it takes me back. Congratulations to Nishimachi on the school’s 75th anniversary!
From Aileen Ramirez
Message: Hello to my favorite teacher: Ms Torrens 5th grade teacher! I have very fond memories of you and your class! Thank you for being such a great teacher to all of us! I especially remember our ski trip as well! Hello to all my classmates - hope everyone is well! Sayonara for now!
From Leah
Message: Hi! My name is Leah and I like to learn about Nishimachi history. I am typing and my eyes hurt because the [screen] is [flickering]! Now (2025), we use our own iPads.
my dad affectionately called the “Ringo”. No one else called it Ringo, but our dad went so far as to engrave a metal plate with the name and stick it right on the front.
At home we were less serious and spent a lot of time playing “Odyssey: The Compleat Apventure” (title intentionally misspelled by the game developers). The game was distributed on a DOS 3.2-formatted disk without DOS itself, as the game’s programs utilized all available disk space. We had to boot the system using a separate DOS 3.2 disk before inserting the Odyssey disk and executing the RUN HAIL command.
In 1984 my sister had gone off to college. She and our dad stayed connected using The Source, one of the earliest online services, via a TRS-80 and a screeching acoustic coupler modem. The machine was lovingly called the “Trash 80,” and it was our window into a future that still felt like science fiction.
From Nishimachi to the Sharp household, we weren’t just learning computers, we were learning how to live in the world that was coming next. Little did I know that my career would be inextricably linked to computers as I spent the next four decades in San Francisco and Silicon Valley!
“Ringo” in the Sharp family home
Brittany Glassey and Gary Kellenberger in front of the various computers once used at Nishimachi.
Milestones of Tech
Mid 2000s
1980
First Computer at Nishimachi
Nishimachi purchased an Apple II Plus in early 1980, for the purpose of storing phone lists, addresses and student records.
1980
First Computer Class Held
Mr. Weber started a weekly computer class where each term three students in grades 4–6 would attend and learn about the school’s new computer. An article in the Chiheisen mentions the students especially enjoyed playing games from floppy disks.
2003 Wi-Fi Becomes Available
Towards the mid 2000s, the AirMac Extreme provided Wi-Fi throughout the school for the very first time.
Laptops for Teachers
In October 2003, most teachers received their own Powerbook G4 laptops. Towards the end of the 1990’s, computers were shared between teachers and located in the staff lounge.
2007
Library Upgrades
The Nishimachi Yashiro Media Center opened, introducing two new mobile labs with CDs, tapes, along with other reference material.
2000s & 2010s
Continual Upgrades to Computer Labs
2001
First Mobile Computer Lab
The 2001-2002 school year introduced several mobile computer labs to the school, using iBooks that were wheeled around between classrooms on a cart. Limited range Wi-Fi was available via AirMac Base Stations that travelled with the lab.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, computers continued to be upgraded for the Elementary and Middle School computer labs. Kindergarten would also receive upgrades, later receiving a shared iPad cart in 2018.
First Computer Lab
In the summer of 1987, Nishimachi received thirty IBM JX computers. These were mainly distributed in classrooms, but nine were used to form the Middle School computer lab.
2000
1991
Frontrunners with LAN
Nishimachi implemented LAN (local area network) within the computer labs, becoming the first Elementary or Junior High school to work with LAN in Tokyo.
1995
Library Goes Digital
The first digital catalog system (Winnebago) was introduced for the Reischauer Memorial Library, formerly located in the Matsukata House. This allowed students to search the library collection, pull up magazine articles and retrieve information from the internet or CD-ROM.
First CD Produced for Sale
As part of the 50th Anniversary, Nishimachi produced a CD comprised of songs performed by students, including a recording of “Let There Be Peace On Earth.”
1998
School Website Goes Live
While the domain for nishimachi.ac.jp was purchased in 1997, the website was not officially launched until January 13, 1998. The page was far simpler than it is today, but included school news, enrollment information, staff list and an alumni page.
iPads for All Students
From 2023 onwards, students at Nishimachi receive their own assigned iPads for learning. 2023
2024
Computer Exploratory
This year, an Exploratory was held for students to learn more about computers and how they have evolved over the years, organized by our IT Director, Gary Kellenberger.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Education
by Katie Mayne
Consider this: a child entering Kindergarten in 2025 will graduate in 2038. By then, many of today’s fastest-growing job titles, AI Specialist, Renewable Energy Engineer, Cybersecurity Analyst, may have evolved, or been replaced entirely by roles we can’t yet imagine. What will remain essential, however, are the mindsets and skills that transcend disciplines and endure through change: the ability to collaborate across cultures, to think critically in the face of uncertainty, to lead with empathy, to learn, always. This prompts a powerful question: What kind of graduates do we hope to shape? Those who simply know the answers, or those who have developed the skills to find them out?
Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future
In this milestone year of Looking Back… Looking Forward, we are reminded that while reflection connects us to where we’ve been, imagination and adaptability are what carry us forward. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025 report invites us to reconsider not just the future of work, but the future purpose and practice of education itself.
Drawing from the insights of over 1,000 global employers and 14 million workers, the report paints a picture of a world in flux. It’s not only jobs that are changing, but the skills, mindsets, and learning environments that will shape the next generation of contributors, creators, and global citizens.
A World of Shifting Skills
By 2030, nearly 40% of current workplace skills are expected to be obsolete. In their place, a new set of core capabilities is emerging: analytical thinking, resilience, adaptability, technological literacy, creativity, curiosity, empathy, and a deep commitment to lifelong learning. These aren’t seen as optional extras,
As the Director of Learning and Innovation, Katie leads our inquirybased approach as we prepare students for the future.
they are the foundation for success in a changing world. If the most valued skills are evolving, shouldn’t our curriculum and classrooms evolve too?
From Passive Learners to Curious Thinkers
For deep, lasting learning to occur, students must move beyond passively receiving information to actively engaging in the learning process. Engagement often grows in classrooms where curiosity is welcomed and nurtured. Curiosity becomes the catalyst. Pearl and Mackenzie’s Ladder of Causation highlights the power of questioning, of asking “why?” and “what if?”, in helping learners make meaning. Similarly, Bloom’s Taxonomy reminds us that higher-order thinking, analysis,
synthesis, evaluation, is reached through purposeful engagement, not memorization or regurgitation of facts.
When students are encouraged to ask their own questions, explore real-world problems, and connect their learning to contexts beyond the classroom, learning becomes both relevant and transferable.
As Kundu (2020) notes, students who “form specific academic goals and develop a continued agency” are often those who thrive. Realizing this vision requires a fresh understanding of the educator’s role.
The Changing Role of the Educator
As the workplace transforms, so must the classroom. The educator’s role has shifted from that of information-provider
to that of a guide and facilitator who empowers students to explore, reflect; a designer of learning experiences who create space for inquiry, independence, and reflection. Kath Murdoch puts it simply: the question is not “What do we need to tell them?” but rather, “How can we design an experience that supports students in uncovering ideas, not by themselves, but for themselves?” Through authentic, interdisciplinary challenges and studentdriven inquiry, teachers prepare learners not just for the next test, but for the next chapter.
Higher-order thinking, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, is reached through purposeful engagement, not memorization or regurgitation of facts.
Nurturing Lifelong Learners
In education systems driven by report cards, grading, standardized testing, and achievement metrics, the development of transferable skills can be sidelined. Trevor MacKenzie warns that this can lead to “transactional learning experiences that rely on recall, rote study and regurgitative performance” (MacKenzie, 2024). Amid this tension, Guy Claxton offers a powerful reminder: “In a complicated, fast-changing world, the intelligent path is to let go of being a Knower and embrace being a Learner” (Claxton, 2008). This shift in mindset, toward openness, adaptability, and lifelong curiosity, may be one of the most important changes of all.
Future Ready Learning
The future of education must be intentional, adaptable, and profoundly human. Core skills like empathy, creativity, and collaboration cannot be left to chance, they must be explicitly taught, modeled, and embedded into the rhythms of
everyday learning.
At Nishimachi, our inquiry-driven, personalized, and community-oriented approach offers a way forward into the future of education. By grounding learning in real-world contexts and fostering curiosity, we help students build the habits of mind and core skills that will carry them far beyond the walls of the classroom.
So as we look ahead, let’s not simply prepare students for what we think the future will be. Let’s prepare them to navigate the unknown with confidence, by equipping them with the skills that endure: the ability to collaborate across cultures, to think critically and creatively, to lead with empathy, and to be lifelong learning, always. Because in the end, it’s not just about what students know, it’s about their capacity to know deeply, care genuinely, and take action thoughtfully in a world that needs all three.
The Annual Walkathon
In November 2024, the Nishimachi community once again came together in support of our rare and impactful Outreach Scholarship Program—one of the few financial aid initiatives among international schools in Tokyo. Established in 2003, the program offers access to a diverse, meaningful education and helps nurture true global citizens.
The 12th Annual Walkathon brought together nearly 300 parents, alumni, students, and faculty, united in friendship and purpose. This cherished event continues to be a key driver of awareness and funding for our scholarships, which are entirely donation-funded.
Gifts of any amount make a difference. Donations received by July 31, 2025, will count toward our 2024–25 fundraising goal.
You can make a difference today!
Please donate to the Outreach Scholarship Fund.
nishimachi.ac.jp/giving/online-giving
Outreach Scholarship Program for a diverse community
Outreach Scholarship Program
community of learners
“
Being enrolled at Nishimachi has been a privilege and an honor. I was able to take advantage of the numerous opportunities the school provided, and I would like to thank the school for allowing me to do so.
— OUTREACH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Mark your calendars for the next Walkathon on November 22, 2025
We look forward to your participation and support!
Nishimachi International School 75: An Artist’s Perspective
by Martina Schaefer
Celebrating 75 Years of Nishimachi
Celebrating 75 years of Nishimachi, this milestone marks a journey of resilience and achievement. To commemorate the occasion, Taika Kinoshita (木下 泰嘉) has created a stunning woodblock print of the iconic Matsukata House, blending the traditions of the past with hopes for the future. This limitededition print is available for purchase, making it a meaningful keepsake of this special anniversary.
The commemorative woodblock print reflects the spirit of our classrooms - places where tradition and new ideas come together every day, a celebration of learning and growth. Just as each carved line in the artwork tells a story, every lesson and shared experience in our international school contributes to a rich and diverse learning environment. This piece of art serves as a tribute to the connections, curiosity, and creativity that define our community.
Workshop with Taika Kinoshita (木下 泰嘉)
As part of the commemoration of Nishimachi’s 75th anniversary, Mr. Kinoshita led a woodblock printing workshop with our Middle School Arts program. Students had the opportunity to learn directly from the artist, gaining insight into his creative process. Building on this experience, Ms. Fogle, Nishimachi’s Middle School art teacher, guided students in further exploring techniques in the spirit of this traditional art form in the classroom. Their work will be featured in Nishimachi’s 2025–26 School Calendar.
Please scan to view a video about the event:
For purchase information, visit: nishimachi.ac.jp/about/limited-edition-woodblock-print
75 Prints Only
Limited Edition Woodblock Print
Nishimachi International School 75
by Taika Kinoshita
nishimachi.ac.jp/about/limited-edition-woodblock-print
About This Artwork
This work was created using the traditional woodblock printing technique, in which the artist draws the design, carves the blocks, and prints by hand. The use of handmade washi and water-based pigments gives the print a unique texture and color quality. This highly limited print serves to be both deeply symbolic and beautifully commemorative.
About the Artist
(木下 泰嘉)
Taika Kinoshita was born in Hiroshima in 1957. He majored in printmaking at Sokei Academy of Fine Arts & Design and completed a printmaking specialized course. He has participated in and won many printmaking competitions in Japan and abroad. He mainly produces woodblock prints with flower motifs, Mount Fuji, and famous places in Japan. He also teaches printmaking to younger artists.
Anniversary th
Nishimachi has now stood for three-quarters of a century, starting from four students to now a community of thousands. Within that time, countless memories have been formed and bonds made that have lasted for a lifetime. To recognize how far we have come, we welcomed our community from near and far to join us to celebrate over the 75th Anniversary Weekend, a multi-day event that explored different parts of our legacy, from revisiting classrooms on campus, to returning to Kazuno. Our goal was to create a special event to celebrate how far we have come (looking back) and explore how Nishimachi continues to grow and thrive into the future (looking forward).
Anniversary A Weekend Recap
March 27–30, 2025
Thursday Night
Diamond Jubilee Reception
Nishimachi welcomed the weekend festivities with the Diamond Jubilee Reception. Held in a place dear to many throughout our community, the Ushiba Memorial Gymnasium was the site for two hundred alumni, parents of alumni, former faculty, staff, and their families to gather to share a toast and connect with others. As Nishimachi is proudly an international community, for some this was more than a standard commute, involving international travel from as far as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States. We are deeply grateful to have had so many eager to visit and partake in the celebrations.
The evening was filled with reunion and excitement, topped off with a sake barrel breaking by our Head of School, Karen O’Neill ’78, Board of Directors Chairperson, Chris Hathaway ’90 and Nishimachi Trustee, Richard Dyck.
Friday School Tours
During a beautiful Friday on the second day of the anniversary weekend, school tours were held for our visiting alumni, former faculty and their families. This was a school day, offering a wonderful opportunity to observe what a school day is like for our current students. While the classrooms were likely to be different to the experiences of some alumni, the energy of being a student clearly remained the same.
Attendees were welcomed by Craig Cantlie, Deputy Head of School, and Katie Mayne, Director of Learning and Innovation, who introduced our school’s learning goals and Nishimachi Learner Expectations (NLEs). This gathering also offered an opportunity for attendees to reflect on their experiences at Nishimachi, speaking with current students and sharing similar experiences across generations.
Preserving the past was a major focus in efforts for the 75th Anniversary. In 1970, Nishimachi was the subject of a NHK Camera Report, titled We are Little Internationalists [僕らは小さな国際人], which featured an interview with Miss Tané Matsukata. Gradually over time, the only known surviving copy of this airing had significantly deteriorated. This year, the audio was painstakingly restored and screened throughout the 75th Anniversary Weekend, allowing attendees to once again hear the words of Miss Matsukata and her passion for education.
Decade Dinners Friday Night
The Decade Dinner for alumni from the 1980s and 1990s turned out to be a joyful, heartwarming, and fun-filled evening. Close to 80 people participated, making it one of the most memorable gatherings in recent years.
Simultaneously, gatherings were taking place for alumni from the 1970s, organized by Debbie Krisher-Steele ’78 and by Kat Whatley ’10 for classmates from the 2000s and 2010s. Each gathering brought warm feelings of reconnection and the Alumni Office appreciates the work of all the organizers in making these events possible. Here is a first hand account of the gathering for the 1980s and 1990s.
Spearheaded by the ever-organized Anne Sharp Sands ’81, who led the charge for the ’80s group, the gathering was held at a cozy and welcoming BBQ restaurant managed by one of our own 1980s alumnus, Tomas Gristen ’84, making the evening feel even more personal and meaningful.
Those of us in the 1990s group appreciated joining with alumni from the 1980s for a wonderful evening. Anne made personalized name tags for everyone, featuring their old Ayumi yearbook photos, which sparked instant conversation and laughter.
People came from near and far—some traveling from overseas, others from just around the corner—to reconnect and reminisce. The gathering included several beloved former teachers and a counselor, who were warmly welcomed back into the fold. Seeing our former teachers was a special highlight of the evening and we thank all of them for making the extra effort to attend. Seeing your former teacher was a wonderful experience!
As the night drew to a close, no one wanted to leave. It was one of those rare and meaningful evenings where time seemed to rewind and the bonds of the past were celebrated in the most memorable way.
Saturday Activities at School
Visitors were welcomed back to Nishimachi on Saturday to participate in Family and Alumni Activities at School, which offered a means to not just see the school, but participate in activities that they may have done as students. This also welcomed the opportunity for families to join in on the fun and make new memories at Nishimachi.
While the weather was less in our favor, plenty of indoor activities were still available, including pottery and ikebana. Taiko led by Mokosensei provided an exhilarating demonstration from current students along with the opportunity to participate. Shodo written during Shimohigashi-sensei’s class also became part of Nishimachi history, being stamped with an exclusive stamp for the 75th Anniversary, which is now preserved in the Matsukata House Museum.
Additionally, the Matsukata House Museum offered shelter for many from the rain, allowing visitors to get up close to retro technology they may be familiar with, or were seeing for the first time.
Saturday Night
75th Anniversary Dinner
I offer, on behalf of you all, our thanks to Tané Matsukata for the wonderful legacy she has left us.
—HIH Princess Takamado, in her opening remarks
The Tokyo American Club has been strongly connected with Nishimachi and our community throughout the years, and was the gathering place for the 75th Anniversary Dinner on Saturday night.
Her Imperial Highness, Princess Takamado, was an honoured guest for this evening and spoke as to her experiences in diversity, herself being a former student at Nishimachi. Music was provided, starting with the school song, “Let There Be Peace On Earth,” performed by current Nishimachi students, with attendees joining in and filling the room with Viking spirit. Nishimachi alumna and harpist Naoko Yoshino performed four musical selections, including “Toccata” (Jean-Baptiste Loeillet) and “Au matin” (Marcel Tournier).
Decorated with a spectacular ikebana installation by Sogestu, the evening exemplified the incredible talent and feats of our community, brought together with a delicious dinner. All attendees entered the draw to win one of the exclusive anniversary prints by Taika Kinoshita, with the recipient being none other than Masamoto Yashiro, a pillar of the school community and former trustee, of whom the Yashiro Media Center is named after. His heart warming and delightful impromptu speech brought this special evening together in a way that could not have been previously imagined.
Sunday A Visit to Kazuno
The final day of the 75th Anniversary Weekend offered a trip outside of Tokyo, to visit Camp Rioichiro Arai (Kazuno). For some attendees it had been decades since their last visit, or it being their first visit entirely, drawn from hearing all the stories of adventure and discovery from students, past and present.
Cherry blossoms dotted the roads on the bus trip over, on a day where the weather couldn’t have been more sublime. Attendees were welcomed to a tasty lunch in the main building, before taking a tour of the facilities and revisiting the okura, a familiar sight to all alumni who visited as students. Among the intimate group that consisted of a range of ages, it was clear to see the familiarity and shared experiences of many, being expressed through telling stories, or by picking up a ball and to play with former strangers, who all remember playing in the same location. Prior to departure, a detour was made to visit Kurohone Elementary School and see the field where Nishimachi and Kurohone students carry on the tradition of planting and harvesting rice.
Stories from the Museum
The Matsukata House Museum has received a meaningful addition to its collection—a 1979 Girl Scout troop pin donated by alumna Aileen Ramirez ’83 during our 75th Anniversary Alumni Weekend in March 2025. This small but powerful item reflects a vibrant chapter in our school’s history and the enduring legacy of Girl Scouting in Japan.
Nishimachi was for many years home to active Girl Scout troops—Daisies, Brownies, and Scouts—thanks to the USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO) program. Originally created to support girls in American military families living abroad, the USAGSO helped new arrivals find community and continue beloved traditions. They created their own troop pins and badges unique to their international experiences. These global Girl Scouts, once called “Lone Troops,” first formed in Shanghai in 1925, eventually reaching places like Mexico, Guam, and Japan.
Nishimachi’s own Girl Scout troops, part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, welcomed girls from Nishimachi as they engaged in cross-cultural learning and leadership. Though our last Daisy troop met
A Girl Scout Legacy at Nishimachi
By Catherine Noyes
I am cheerful and courageous at all times.
I respect all living things.
I am a friend to all, and a sister to every Girl Scout.
— 3 common tenets of the Girl Scout Law
several years ago, the values of service, friendship, and empowerment remain strong.
Aileen credits Girl Scouts—and her mother, Magaly Ramirez, her troop leader—as shaping her confidence and leadership skills. Her donated pin, inscribed with “ガールス カウト日本連盟” (Girl Scouts of Japan), connects us to that personal and shared history. You can revisit past Brownie, Cubs and Scouts pages in our collection of Ayumis from decades past.
Aileen’s troop at Nishimachi.
POSTMARKS
We have removed the Postmarks section (pages 22 – 29) from the online version for privacy reasons.
If you are a Nishimachi-Kai member, please email us at alumni@nishimachi.ac.jp
Connect With Us
Keep in touch with Nishimachi through our social media.
Nishimachi International School
@NishimachiOfcl
@NishimachiOfficial
Nishimachi International School
Nishimachi International School
We have removed the Postmarks section (pages 22 – 29) from the online version for privacy reasons.
If you are a Nishimachi-Kai member, please email us at alumni@nishimachi.ac.jp
Connect With Us
Keep in touch with Nishimachi through our social media.
Nishimachi International School
@NishimachiOfcl
@NishimachiOfficial
Nishimachi International School
Nishimachi International School
Class of 2021 Universities Attending
Boise State University
Brigham Young University
Carnegie Mellon University
Case Western Reserve University
Dartmouth College
Elon University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Grand Canyon University
International Christian University
Keio University
Middlebury College
New York University
Northeastern University London
Northeastern University
San Diego State University
Santa Clara University
Smith College
Sophia University
Southern Methodist University
Stanford University
Syracuse University
Tohoku Gakuin University
Tulane University
University of Bristol
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Riverside
University of Florida
University of Hawaii
University of Kansas
University of Oregon
University of Rochester
University of Southern California
University of Toronto
University of Utah
Waseda University
Wesleyan University
Western Washington University
Yale University
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A. U.S.A.
Class of 2024 High Schools Attending
ACS International School Hillingdon
The American School in Japan
Aoba-Japan International School
The British School in Tokyo
Brentwood College School
Canadian Academy, Kobe
Highland Park High School
Hiroo Gakuen Senior High School
U.S.A. U.S.A.
U.K.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
Japan
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
Japan
U.S.A.
U.K.
U.S.A. U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A. Canada
U.S.A.
Japan
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
Hiroo Gakuen Koishikawa Senior High School
ICS Paris International School
The Innovation Fellowship International High School
International School of the Sacred Heart
Iolani School
Keio Academy of New York
Keio Shonan-Fujisawa Senior High School
Lord Byng Secondary School
Mazenod College Perth
Mita International School
Morrison Academy Taichung
Rugby School Japan
Saint Maur International School
Seiko Gakuin Senior High School
Seisen International School
St. Mary’s International School
Suffield Academy
UWC ISAK Japan
Willoughby Girls High School
Winchester Shoei Senior High School
Yokohama International School
Please accept our apologies if we overlooked your child’s school name in compiling the high school and university listings. This list was compiled with the help of class representatives, alumni, and parents.
Congratulations Class of 2024!
Retirement
Yumiko Shimohigashi 20 years MS Japanese/Japanese Social Studies ようこそ Yokoso 2024! Welcome to the Nishimachi Family!
Sayonara 2024!
June 2024 2023 – 2024 Departures
Charlotte Ashcroft, Kim Auker, Noel Bradshaw, Jan Gleeson, Matthew Hurtado, Yuji Kato, Nina Kelly, Yuko Kitamura, Nozomu Kuroyanagi, Damien Pitter, Ray Speed, Jordan Thomas
Good luck with your future endeavors!
Franco Alvarez ES Music
Jay Carlin MS Performing Arts
Kurt Davis Director of Business Operations
Alex Denholm MS Counselor
Caitlin McGing ES Counselor
Lena Sugihara Kindergarten
Moeko Sugiura MS Japanese
