The Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020 & Internationalist Fall/Winter 2020

Nishimachi Annual Report The Internationalist

2019-2020

vol. 65

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Nishimachi Annual Report 2020 is published by the Advancement Office

Governing Bodies of Nishimachi International School Board of Trustees

Head of School

Karen O’Neill ‘78 Director of Advancement

Matt McKinney Marketing and Communications Manager

Kacie Leviton ‘95 Managing Editor

Mayumi Nakayama ‘90 Editor

Anne Papantonio

Art Design

Akira Tomomitsu

Photos

Nishimachi Staff/Faculty

Address 2-17-7 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku Tokyo 106-0046 Japan Tel: 03-3451-5520, 03-3451-2167 Fax: 03-3456-0197, 03-3451-7551 E-mail: development@nishimachi.ac.jp URL: http://www.nishimachi.ac.jp

〒106-0046 東京都港区元麻布2-14-7

学校法人 西町インターナショナルスクール 渉外開発室

Virginia Anami Richard Dyck Philip Greenan Hunter Hale Jeff Hsu Michiyo Ikenaga Mary Katayama Satoshi Kubo Karen O’Neill Haruhiko Sakaguchi David Sneider Junko Thomas John Vandenbrink Masamoto Yashiro

Advisors

Paul Ch’en Eric Golden Paul Hofer Naotaka Matsukata Ken Matsumoto Yoshio Nakamura

Board of Directors

Philip Greenan (Chair) Jeff Hsu Tomio Kurihara Denise Miura (Vice Chair) Karen O’Neill Tokuya Sano Dan Weiss

Statutory Auditor Chris Hathaway Noriko Igarashi

Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Table of Contents

Welcome from Chairperson, Board of Directors .................... 4 Welcome from Head of School.............................................. 5 Fund Raising 2019-2020 Matt McKinney.............................. 6 Donations 2019-2020 (by Affiliation)...................................... 7 Individual Donors................................................................... 8 Organizational Donors......................................................... 10 Consecutive Donors............................................................ 11 Matsukata House 100th Anniversary Project........................ 12 Outreach Scholarship Program for Student Diversity........... 13 Admissions Report.............................................................. 14 Tomo No Kai 2019-2020..................................................... 15 Nishimachi-Kai.................................................................... 18 Type of Gifts........................................................................ 21 Endowment Funds Nourish Our Soil.................................... 22 How to Make a Contribution................................................ 24

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Welcome from Chairperson While we have entered a new and unexpected world at Nishimachi with the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been deeply inspired by the way our community has come together and has adapted quickly in these challenging and unprecedented times. Were we all on campus through the year, we would have been checking in on each other in the hallways, coming together at basketball games, and celebrating each other’s achievements during graduation. But it is precisely because we were unable to share these experiences together that we continued to find new and creative ways to stay connected. We saw the Nishimachi community rise to the COVID challenge with compassion, courage, and grace. I believe we are a stronger and better school because of our commitment to, and support for, each other during these times.

In spite of the challenges thrown up by the pandemic, the high school steering committee made tangible progress in our efforts to evaluate the building of a high school. While we were not able to make a final decision to commit to our target site, negotiations with the site owner advanced significantly, and we are targeting to make a final decision during the 2020 – 2021 school year. Separate from the site evaluation, the committee has made progress in making preparations to obtain the necessary funding, deepening our financial analysis, and getting further visibility into regulatory requirements. There remain significant hurdles to overcome, but SY19-20 saw us take several important steps towards our goals. We continue to welcome feedback and will update the community as we make progress through our evaluation process.

We also saw our community continue its tremendous support for the school. We closed our year of fundraising with ¥46.6m of total giving (+3% YoY), with participation from 264 community members.

Annual giving campaign donations reached ¥35.6m, a 7% increase over the previous year.

We owe much of the success of our fundraising to the commitment of an incredible team of volunteers, including the TNK executive board, TNK committee chairs and members, the Nishimachi-Kai board, Outreach Scholarship event chairs, the school trustees and board of directors, and many, many more.

Thank you for your continued generosity and vote of confidence in the future of Nishimachi. It is because of all of your dedication and energy that we are able to build an international educational community that celebrates Tané Matsukata’s philosophy and ethos.

Finally, I would like to express the gratitude of the board to our entire community for your tremendous support for our new head of school, Karen O`Neill, who has successfully completed her first year with us.

Transitioning her family from across the world to Tokyo, made all the more difficult by COVID-19, Karen has expressed to me on multiple occasions through the year her joy at the help and kindness that so many of you have provided to her.

It takes deep support and commitment from all members of our community to steward the Nishimachi we all know and love. I am truly grateful for all of your patience and resolve this year and look forward to working with many of you to reach new heights, strengthen our community, and forge new connections in the coming year.

With my warm regards and thanks,

Philip Greenan Chairperson Board of Directors

Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Welcome from Head of School Dear Nishimachi Community, It is my great pleasure to be sharing with you this year’s Annual Report, documenting the 2019-2020 school year. I begin by thanking all community members for your continued support and commitment in helping to maintain Nishimachi International School as an institution that offers world-class educational opportunities for all students.

This year, unlike most in our seventy-year history, was especially challenging. As the global pandemic unfolded, our community came together and navigated a particularly demanding set of events that continues to this day. Pivoting on short notice this spring, we moved to a remote program that allowed us to continue delivering high-quality educational content and curriculum. The flexibility of all teachers, staff, students, and parents was unparalleled, and I thank everyone for your commitment to student learning and to our mission. It is through our belief in our mission -- that we develop learners and leaders, who know, care, and take action, to bring value to others, and to make a positive impact on the world -that we grow as an institution. With your help, we are continuing to build on our institutional strengths while maintaining the safety and well-being of all students and staff.

It is in no small part because of your generosity that we are able to maintain the level of excellence that our students deserve. You have helped to equip us with technology, facilities, and outstanding staff who will continue to meet each challenge.

Our community is strong. As always, I look forward to continuing to build on our special traditions, in partnership with you.

My best,

Karen O’Neill ‘78 Head of School

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Fund Raising 2019-2020 Dear Nishimachi Community, It is my great pleasure to extend greetings to you as Nishimachi International School’s new director of advancement. I arrived in August to take over management of the Advancement Office (formerly the Development Office), just as the campus reopened for the new school year after a long, pandemic-induced closure. I could not fail to be moved by the excitement of the moment and to see for myself the legendary energy and enthusiasm of the Nishimachi community as students, teachers, staff, and parents celebrated a long-awaited reunion.

We are so grateful at this point to be able to move forward.

I am pleased to enclose a copy of the 2019-2020 Nishimachi Annual Report, which summarizes the support and gifts Nishimachi received during the 2019-2020 academic year. Despite the enormous challenges posed by the pandemic, you will see that the school received unwavering, and generous, support from all members of our community.

We would like to thank each and every one of you. Nishimachi strives to provide a rigorous educational program for our students. With your continued participation, Nishimachi is able to maintain high standards and its reputation as a superior educational institution.

Matt McKinney Director of Advancement

2019-2020 Annual Giving Annual Giving Unrestricted cash (annual fund)....................................................................................... .¥19,862,000 Unrestricted cash (CCP annual support).......................................................................... .¥11,000,000 Restricted cash .............................................................................................................. .¥15,762,000 Art ........................................................................................................... ¥163,000

Campus Development................................................................................... ¥50,000 Drama.......................................................................................................... ¥163,000

Endowment - Robert and Judith Sharp Family Fund.................................... ¥119,000

Endowment - Tané Matsukata Fund for International Education................ ¥1,220,000

Food Fair....................................................................................................... ¥54,000

Japanese Social Studies........................................................................... ¥1,000,000

Matsukata House 100th Project................................................................ ¥1,796,000

Music Arts Software..................................................................................... ¥120,000

Nishimachi-Kai Activities.................................................................................. ¥5,000

Outreach Scholarship Program................................................................. ¥4,172,000 PayPal .......................................................................................................... ¥29,000

Sports Program............................................................................................. ¥50,000

TNK Grant................................................................................................ ¥6,820,000

STEAM Lab & Resources................................................ ¥5,250,000

Bottle Filling Stations....................................................... ¥1,100,000

Japanese Books for B Students in MS................................ ¥400,000

Nishimachi Uniform Jersey for Sakura Books........................ ¥75,000 Total Giving .................................................................................................................... .¥46,624,000

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Donations 2019-2020 (by Affiliation)

Tomo no Kai

Current Parents

Corporations Board and Trustees

Nishimachi-Kai Organizations

Friends

Current Parents ....................................32% Board and Trustees ................................2% Nishimachi-Kai .....................................17% Friends ...................................................1% Organizations .........................................8% (companies, foundations, events) Corporations ........................................24% (CCP annual support) Tomo no Kai .........................................17%

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

The 1949 Society

(above 1 million yen)

Anonymous Tohru and Itoe Akaura Paul and Karen D’Attanasio Kazuki Inaba ‘76 Eitaro and Kazumi Kobayashi Jixun Lin and Ziwei Wang Masamoto Yashiro

Founder’s Circle

(500,000 to 999,999 yen)

Individual Donors Donation received from August 1, 2019-July 31, 2020

Levels of Giving (Individuals) The 1949 Society ¥1,000,000 and above Founder’s Circle ¥500,000 to ¥999,999 Leaders’ Circle ¥100,000 to ¥499,999 Educators’ Circle ¥50,000 to ¥99,999 Friends’ Circle ¥20,000 to ¥49,999 Vikings Club under ¥20,000

Reina ‘96 and Josh Boaz Frank and Kumi Clark Hitoshi and Sumi Fujii Masaya and Tomoe Fujita Yuichi and Hisako Fukuda Gan Family Simon and Nina Gerovich Gen and Chizuru Kimura

Leaders’ Circle

(100,000 to 499,999 yen)

Jun and Kiyoko Aketa Hope Anderson ‘74 Hisashi and Mikiko Aoyama Eric Carmichael ‘04 Richard Dyck Masayuki and Yuko Fukui Jin and Lalaka ‘90 Fukuma Lacy and Matthew ‘95 Goossen Michael and Naoko Halloran Kosuke and Rei Haruyama James Harvey and Sae Ikenishi Kuniyoshi and Emi Hayashi Patrick Hogan and Lien Do Taro ‘91 and Nobumi Hornmark Jack Hsu Jeff ‘77 and Hiroko Hsu Jerry C.R. Hsu John Hsu Mayumi and Daisuke Ikeda Koyu and Ryoko Izumi Yuzo and Elizabeth Kano Michael King and Makiko Nishimura Hirofumi Kotoi and Wei Chen Nina Marini ‘85 Thomas and Mizuki ‘91 McGrath Robert and Andrea McTamaney Terence and Motoko Murphy Tadao and Ayano Nagasaki David and Tina Y. Nishida Hiroshi and Yuka Nishimuro Karen ‘78 and Stephen O’Neill Andrew ‘87 and Makoto Ogawa Masayuki and Yukiko Okayama

Nir Platek ‘81 Hiko ‘88 and Miko Sakaguchi David Sancho Shimizu and Risako Shima Ema Scheidel ‘93 Kathryn (Brown) ‘94 and Ricky Schrag ‘94 Soshi and Tomoko Seo Robert L. Sharp III ‘84 Kotoe Shirakawa ‘00 and Masachika Akashi ‘94 Yoshinobu and Yuki Takahara Millie Takayama Atsushi and Maasa Takeiri Danforth and Junko Thomas Kenro and Minako Tsutsumi John and Donna Vandenbrink Tom and Wendy Watkins Mitsuru Yamagishi Shunsuke and Kikue Yamamoto Yugo and Emiko Yamamoto Makoto and Lisa Yano Hitoshi and Kazuha Yoshida

Educators’ Circle

(50,000 to 99,999 yen)

Yuko and Jin Akiyama Maki Ando ‘87 Chuck and Minhae Doherty Albert Drouart ‘91 Fergus Gifford ‘02 Yushi Katayama ‘96 Isao and Yukiko Ano ‘55 Kato Hikaru and Chihoko Kobayashi Daisuke and Ayano Kobayashi Tyler and Barbara Marciniak Mark H. Mitchell Kei and Miho Naito Eiko Olsen and Lillian Olsen ‘90 Junichi and Yasuko Suzuki Yukihiro Wada Takashi and Ayai Yokota Naoko Yoshino ‘82

Friends’ Circle

(20,000 to 49,999 yen)

David Brauer and Mitsuyo Hirasawa Andrew R. Deane and Yukiko Tokano Harald deRopp Albert and Julia Drouart Lieko Earle ‘90 Riku and Kelly Francis Lawrence and Keiko Greenberg Hunter D. and Suzanne Hale Patrick Hogan and Lien Do Toru and Noriko Igarashi

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Yuichi and Yukie Ito Yuminori and Masami Kataoka Shigeyasu and Wendy Kobayashi Eiko Kurosu James and Sherry Ladd Taiga Lewis ‘19 Hiroko Lockheimer Mark Miller Mahoshi and Yusuke Murata Elmer Z. and Mie Nakao Go and Namiko Nakayama Jun ‘83 and Natsuko Okuda Sang-Dae Rah ‘96 Andrew and Mariko Ras Timothy and Yumiko Reed Ravish Sachar ‘84 Yukie Sato ‘21 Hiroshi and Junko Shimase Kurt E. and Michiko Sieber Yuichi and Satika Takei Riku Tanaka ‘17 Caroline Watkins ‘00 Chris and Chika Wu Iris Wu ‘20

Vikings Club

(under 20,000 yen)

Anonymous Virginia Anami Maki Ando ‘87 Camilo Arjona Meena Beardsley John Beirne Mina Bessho Rie Yamaji Boxall Noel Bradshaw Diane and Pericles Caminis Creston Creswell and Kristy Topham Richard Dyck Hiroko Hara and Philippe Eymard Fergus Gifford ‘02 David Green Hiroko Hara Yasunori Haruyama Chisato Hasuda ‘13 David and Leslie Hill Andy Hill ‘86 Miwako Hongo Michael Masakimi Hotta ‘78 Tsuyoshi and Miho Iida Harukako Ikeura ‘00 Natsukako Ikeura ‘01 Taichu Jiang ‘85 Kiki Jiang Yamaguchi ‘87 Matthew “Butch” Joseff ‘85 Young-Jin Ju and Sayaka Nagatomo

Yasuhiro and Mihoko Karakawa Noriko Kawai ‘80 Philip Kirk ‘92 Yuko Kitamura Tomohiro and Sai Kitazawa Deborah and Taka Kobayashi Ryuji and Akiko Kobayashi Shigeyasu and Wendy Kobayashi Deborah Krisher-Steele ‘78 Ryoji ‘90 and Hanako ‘90 Kubo Aiko Kumamoto ‘01 Yhu Kuni ‘94 Marie Kuroda ‘01 Kei Kurosu ‘76 Mariko Laabs John Laudenslager Kacie ‘95 and Greg Leviton Ken Matsumoto Matt McKinney Denise and Toshi Miura Cecily Moffett and Family Masashi Murakami Aya Murata ‘85 Yukiko Muto Peter and Robyn Nadler Mayumi Nakayama ‘90 Yoko Nakayama Hiromi Narita Taro Nishimura ‘10 Mami Ohara ‘95 Richard Privman and Yumiko Miyano Ronald Quada and Kaaren Kunze Dorothy Jean Reiser ‘70 Suzan and Marty Rose Jerry and Marsha Rosenberg Michael Rosenstein and Kathy Kitayama Makiko Takayama Saito ‘87 Rumie Sakiyama ‘84 Tokuya Sano ‘86 Mari Sekine ‘00 Tazuko Shibusawa ‘67

Renge Shirai ‘18 Shumway Family Kurt E. and Michiko Sieber Maki Suzuki ‘88 Mari Takeuchi ‘76 Kento Terui ‘21 Jun Terui Mako Hara Tomita ‘86 Reiko Tomuro Naomi and Adrian Tschoegl Nancy Tsurumaki

Gifts-in-Kind

Anonymous Andrew Deane Yasunori Haruyama Noriko and Nils Hornmark Xiang Huang and Yingna Zhou Ikuko Iida Hiroyasu and Junko Ishiyama Kiki Jiang Yamaguchi ‘87 Meredith Lawson Mark H. Mitchell Kayo Morimoto Terry Morris Yukiko Muto Karen O’Neill ‘78 Jan Opdahl Claire Prowse Kalpana Rao Sachiko Reeve Yukiko Seki Yumi Shimohigashi Kotoe Shirakawa ‘00 Radim Sinkora Miya Sudo Maiko (Ina) Takahashi Reiko Tomuro Nancy Tsurumaki Daniel A. Weiss Saori Yamaguchi

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Head’s Circle

(5,000,000 to 9,999,000 yen)

Nishimachi Tomo no Kai

Leaders’ Circle

(1,000,000 to 4,999,999 yen)

Morimura Homeikai Foundation V. K. HSU AND SONS FOUNDATION LIMITED

Vikings Club

School Calendar Sponsors

Outreach Walkathon 2019

Levels of Giving (Organizations) Founder’s Circle ¥10,000,000 and above Head’s Circle ¥5,000,000 to ¥9,999,999 Leaders’ Circle ¥1,000,000 to ¥4,999,999 Educators’ Circle ¥500,000 to ¥999,999 Friends’ Circle ¥200,000 to ¥499,999 Vikings Club under ¥200,000

CCP Participating Companies

70th Anniversary Social

(500,000 to 999,999 yen)

Donation received from August 1, 2019-July 31, 2020

Asian Tigers Mobility Baird Brewing Company Cookie Time Japan Co., Ltd. MIKASA Corporation Biotronik Japan Inc. Capital Servicing Co., Ltd. Heidrick and Struggles Japan G.K. Hogan Lovells (Hong Kong) Limited INC Research Oak Lawn Marketing International Inc. PAG Investment Management Limited STMicroelectronics K.K. Terumo BCT Japan Inc. Tokyo Office Service Co., Ltd.

Educators’ Circle

Organizational Donors

Gifts-in-Kind

Friends’ Circle

(200,000 to 499,999 yen)

(under 200,000 yen)

Anonymous AmazonSmile Foundation Asian Tigers Mobility Azabu Gardens / Pembroke Real Estate Japan, LLC Goldman, Sachs & Co. I WAS A KIMONO Mercedes-Benz Japan Co., Ltd. Nishimachi-Kai PayPal, Inc. Santa Fe Relocation Services Japan K.K. The Wonderful Company Foundation, Inc.

Azabu Gardens / Pembroke Real Estate Japan, LLC Domino’s Pizza Japan, Inc. Endo Risk Reduction Services Mori Living Motoazabu Hills International Dental Clinic National Medical Clinic ONE WORLD international hair salon Pompadour Co., Ltd. Shiba International Coloproctologic Clinic Tokyo American Club Jason S. Wong D.D.S.

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Platinum Member

(over 25 consecutive years)

Nishimachi Tomo no Kai* John and Donna Vandenbrink

Over 20 years

Consecutive Donors - Loyalty Society to honor donors who make a gift every year

Philippe Eymard Lalaka ‘90 and Jin Fukuma Hiroko Lockheimer Cecily Moffett and Family Elmer and Mie Nakao Andrew and Mariko Ras Maki Suzuki ‘88 Millie Takayama Danforth and Junko Thomas Thomas and Wendy Watkins

Over 15 years

Charles and Minhae Doherty Taro ‘91 and Nobumi Hornmark Harukako Ikeura ‘00 Natsukako Ikeura ‘01 James and Sherry Ladd Therese McCarty 72 Morimura Homeikai Foundation* David and Tina Nishida Timothy and Yumiko Reed Kunimasa and Makiko ‘86 Tomita Adrian and Naomi Tschoegl

Over 10 years

The following individuals and organizations have made annual gifts to Nishimachi International School for five or more consecutive years since the start of the Nishimachi Annual Giving campaign. Nishimachi thanks them for their dedication and commitment to Nishimachi. 西町インターナショナルスクールでは、長年にわ たり個人の方々、そして企業から多大なるご寄 付をいただいてますが、5年以上継続してご寄付 をいただいた個人、企業を以下に紹介させてい ただきます。

Pericles and Diane Caminis Andrew Deane and Yukiko Tokano Douglas and Hiroko Freeman Jeff ’77 and Hiroko Hsu Yuko Kitamura Yhu Kuni ‘94 Masashi Murakami Aya Murata ’85 Terence and Motoko Murphy Mayumi Nakayama ’90 Jun ’83 and Natsuko Okuda Tokuya Sano ‘86 Derrick Schrag ‘94 and Kathryn

Brown ‘94 Yuichi and Satika Takei Nancy Tsurumaki Makoto and Lisa Yano

Over 5 years

AmazonSmile Foundation* Harald deRopp Hunter and Suzanne Hale Yasunori Haruyama Miwako Hongo Nils and Noriko Hornmark Jack Hsu ’81 Jerry Hsu ’83 John Hsu ’78 Koyu and Ryoko Izumi Kiki Jiang Yamaguchi ‘87 Yukinori and Masami Kataoka Isao and Yukiko Ano ‘55 Kato Gen and Chizuru Kimura Ryuji and Akiko Kobayashi Shigeyasu and Wendy Kobayashi Aiko Kumamoto ‘01 Staughton and Chiharu Lewis Nina Marini ‘85 Thomas and Mizuki ‘91 McGrath Yong-Jin Ju and Sayaka Nagatomo Yoko Nakayama Nishimachi-Kai* Eiko Olsen Peter and Jan Opdahl Outreach Scholarship Walkathon* Claire Prowse Martin and Suzan Rose David Sancho Shimizu and Risako Shima Ema Scheidel ‘93 Kenro and Minako Tsutsumi Chris and Chika Wu Iris Wu ‘20 Shunsuke and Kikue Yamamoto Masamoto Yashiro V. K. HSU AND SONS FOUNDATION LIMITED* (* indicates organization)

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

2019-2020 Donors

Matsukata House 100th

Anonymous 70th Anniversary Social Maki Ando ‘87 Camilo Arjona John Beirne Mina Bessho Rie Yamaji Boxall Noel Bradshaw David Brauer and Mitsuyo Hirasawa Creston Creswell and Kristy Topham Paul and Karen D’Attanasio Andrew Deane Richard Dyck Fergus Gifford ‘02 David Green Michael and Naoko Halloran Hiroko Hara and Philippe Eymard Chisato Hasuda ‘13 Andy Hill ‘86 Michael Masakimi Hotta ‘78 Taichu Jiang ‘85 Matthew “Butch” Joseff ‘85 Noriko Kawai ‘80 Tomohiro and Sai Kitazawa Deborah and Taka Kobayashi Shigeyasu and Wendy Kobayashi

Deborah Krisher-Steele ‘78 Ryoji ‘90 and Hanako ‘90 Kubo Yhu Kuni ‘94 Kei Kurosu ‘76 Kacie ‘95 and Greg Leviton Ken Matsumoto Denise and Toshi Miura Mahoshi and Yusuke Murata Go and Namiko Nakayama Mayumi Nakayama ‘90 Taro Nishimura ‘10 Mami Ohara ‘95 Nir Platek ‘81 Ronald Quada and Kaaren Kunze Sang-Dae Rah ‘96 Jerry and Marsha Rosenberg Makiko Takayama Saito ‘87 Rumie Sakiyama ‘84 Mari Sekine ‘00 Renge Shirai ‘18 Shumway Family Kurt E. and Michiko Sieber Mari Takeuchi ‘76 Kento Terui ‘21 Reiko Tomuro Makoto and Lisa Yano Naoko Yoshino ‘82

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

OUTREACH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM for Student Diversity Outreach Scholarship Program is dedicated to awarding partial scholarships to select students from a variety of socioeconomic, racial, cultural, and geographic backgrounds. To date, we have provided scholarships to twenty-six deserving students from Brazil, Cambodia, Denmark, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, and Ukraine. Our goal is to be able to offer scholarship aid to an even greater number of qualified applicants.

The school has seen how scholarship recipients and the community alike benefit from the program in the significant contribution these students make to the overall educational environment and to Nishimachi’s core mission of developing learners and leaders who know, care and take action to bring value to others and make a positive impact on the world.

We ask you to continue to be generous in supporting this important Nishimachi program.

Corporate Sponsors

Asian Tigers Mobility Azabu Gardens / Pembroke Real Estate Japan, LLC Cookie Time Japan Co., Ltd. Mercedes-Benz Japan Co., Ltd. Santa Fe Relocation Services Japan K.K.

Individual Sponsors

Noel Bradshaw Andrew Deane Philippe Eymard Hiroko Hara Yasunori Haruyama Patrick Hogan and Lien Do Kiki Jiang Yamaguchi ‘87 Shigeyasu and Wendy Kobayashi Tyler and Barbara Marciniak Matt McKinney Masashi Murakami Yukiko Muto Hiromi Narita Sang-Dae Rah ‘96 Timothy and Yumiko Reed Tokuya Sano ‘86 Kotoe Shirakawa ‘00 Kurt E. and Michiko Sieber Jun Terui Mako Hara Tomita ‘86 Staff and Volunteers Andrew Deane Philippe Eymard Yasunori Haruyama Ikuko Iida Maiko Ina Kiki Jiang Yamaguchi Meredith Lawson Kayo Morimoto Yukiko Muto Mayumi Nakayama ‘90 Karen O’Neill ‘78 Jan Opdahl Claire Prowse Kalpana Rao Yukiko Seki Radim Sinkora Miya Sudo Nancy Tsurumaki Daniel A. Weiss Terry Morris Saori Yamaguchi

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Admissions Annual Report for SY2019-2020 Applications The school received a total of 328 admissions applications, a 7% increase compared to the previous year. There were total of 157 kindergarten applicants, 1 more than the previous year. During the January Kindergarten screenings, 97 selected applicants were screened.

One hundred and twenty eight applications were received for grades 1 to 5, which represents 12% increase over the previous year. The number of applications received for grades 6 through 9 was 42, which was 17% more than the previous year.

Kiki Jiang-Yamaguchi Admissions Manager

Enrollment The 2019-2020 school year began with 471 students, 7 more than the previous year, which marked the highest enrollment for the start of the year. The school started the academic year with 107 new students and admitted 6 more during the year.

Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Tomo No Kai 2019-2020 Kaaren Kunze

TNK President 2019-2020

Congratulations to Nishimachi International School on celebrating its seventieth anniversary this last school year. Tomo No Kai (TNK), the parent association of Nishimachi International School, has supported and enhanced the Nishimachi community since 1981. TNK has several functions, but its core mission is to run social, educational, and fundraising events for the community, to enhance the school through the TNK Grants program, and to donate annually to Outreach Scholarship Program.

TNK is a parent-led organization, and every parent is automatically a member. All TNK events are organized and run by parents with hands-on assistance from the TNK Executive Board and committee chairs. Volunteers donate countless hours of their time through one of TNK’s seventeen committees. Each committee has a unique focus and creates opportunities to bring students, teachers, staff, and parents together through TNK events. This tight-knit community feeling has been a cornerstone of our school since it was founded by Tané Matsukata.

The 2019–2020 school year started with that same focus, working to connect everyone together. August is always a busy time as we prepare to return to campus, and this school year began as usual with a flourish of exciting annual events. The New Families Committee hosted a welcome picnic in Arisugawa Park. This picnic, a TNK event only in its third year, was organized as a way for returning families to meet and welcome new families before the start of the school year. In spite of the heat and humidity, the event was a great success with many families beginning new friendships and reaffirming existing ones.

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

The first day of school was an exciting day on campus, and the TNK Board was there with a welcome coffee in the courtyard. We also displayed the blue and white TNK backdrop, which provided a wonderful photo spot for students to memorialize the start of the new school year. Shortly after the welcome coffee, our Staff Appreciation Committee was busy planning a welcoming event for all of our teachers and staff.

In the fall TNK runs one of its largest fundraising activities, the Food Fair.

Over seventy parents attended the kick-off meeting, eager to participate in the fifty-third Annual Food Fair. In an unprecedented turn of events, the Food Fair was postponed to late November due to approaching Typhoon 19. Even though heavy rain fell on the rescheduled date, the wet weather did not dampen the community spirit, and the Food Fair was a giant success.

As mentioned above, one way TNK financially supports the school is through TNK Grants. The fall 2019 Grants were a huge success with strong parent support to fund several projects. The largest project was a 5.25 million yen grant to build a STEAM Lab and Makerspace. Two drinking fountain and bottle-filling stations on campus, new Japanese-language reading materials, and Nishimachi uniforms for Sakura Book Bowl teams were also funded.

Several of the TNK committees are responsible for supporting activities on campus for the students. For example, the After School Activities Committee administered a full roster of after-school activities for students of all grade levels, the Lunch Committee organized an online ordering service for bento delivery to the classrooms, the SciTEch Committee challenged students to think about science in the real world in after-school breakout sessions, and the Cross Cultural Committee brought cherished cultural activities to campus like tasty otsukimi (autumn-moon-viewing) rice dango, gingerbread decorating for the holidays, omochitsuki (traditional rice pounding) for the New Year, and other wonderful activities that the students look forward to year after year.

Other committees focused on events for parents. The Social Committee hosted a fabulous “White Party” to welcome parents, teachers, and staff back to school, the Otousan Club hosted monthly meetings that generated great enthusiasm and friendship among many Nishimachi dads, the Parent Education Committee offered several informative and interactive workshops while the Quilt Committee provided a creative and social meeting space for dozens of parents. All of these events were publicized in our weekly TNK Newsletter and on our interactive TNK Portal webpage, which were both 100 percent parent developed.

The second major fundraising event for TNK is our annual Gala Auction. The 2020 Gala Committee had a beautiful sakura theme planned, and they were well underway with planning a fabulous event when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Unfortunately, we were unable to hold our gala, but we thank all the parents who volunteered their time before it was cancelled.

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Donors 148 Juban 835 みやこ鍼灸 salon A Cut Above AEONSAVEUR Co., Ltd. ARYZTA Food Solutions Japan Co., Ltd. Asia Pacific Land (Japan) Ltd. Azabujuban Asa no Ha Baird Brewing Company Bellas Cupcakes Co., Ltd. Bio C’ Bon Ms. Anya Chavali Chocolate House Mon Loire Climbing Gym SPIDER Coca-Cola (Japan) Co., Ltd. Colonial Trade Co., Ltd. Colonial Trade Co., Ltd. Cosari New Korean Table Crisp, Inc. DC BBQ/DC Corporation Co., Ltd. Discover Japan evian Japan (Danone Japan Co., Ltd.) Frankie Melbourne Espresso Funroots Co., Ltd.

Gate Inc. Grand Hyatt Tokyo Hollywood Cosmetics Co., Ltd. Ikebana International Tokyo Ikon Europubs K.K. Insolité Beaute Jeroboam Wines John Masters Organics Group, Inc. Ms. Asako Kakehi Kamakura Ham Ms. Misato Kawada KCJ Group Inc. Kiwi Kitchen Knock Cucina Buono Italiana kumi kookoon Ms. Kaaren Kunze Ms. Kyoko Kurokawa Kyojin’s Stew House Let’s Party Tokyo Manhattan Margarita Mikasa Corporation MM Apothecary (K.K. Flug) Mom in Balance Tokyo Mori Building Co., Ltd. Ms. Mahoshi Murata

My Body My Pilates National Azabu Supermarket ONE WORLD international hair salon Pernod Ricard Japan Priya, The Indian Restaurant Ms. Sachiko Reeve Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts Shi-Fan Chinese Dining Sierra Resort Hotels Suntory Communications Limited Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi The Meat Guy The Peninsula Tokyo TNG Academy K.K. Tokiotours Tokyo American Club Tokyo Fitness K.K. (Club 360) Tokyo Seiyu Academy TY Harbor Brewery Village Cellars Ltd. Walker Shortbread / Mitsubishi Shokuhin Y.S. PARK SALON Yanone Sushi

Also, unfortunately, the Staff Appreciation Committee was unable to host its popular Staff Appreciation Luncheon in May. There is always a beautiful display of tempting fare made by parents to express their heartfelt thanks to the teachers, staff, and administrators who make our school a special place for our children to learn and grow.

The 2019-2020 school year ended during a very difficult time with the pandemic touching our lives in many ways. However, I was buoyed by the wonderful community of parent volunteers who supported TNK throughout the entire year.

Back at the beginning of the 1981 school year, many parents saw that teachers and staff were burdened with non-educational tasks in addition to their teaching responsibilities, which led to the creation of TNK. This need still exists today, and I witnessed firsthand how enthusiastically our parents volunteer to support our teachers, students, school, and the wider community. It was a wonderful collaborative experience and a great pleasure volunteering with so many Nishimachi parents. I was honored to serve as TNK President during this school year and enjoyed working side by side with my talented Executive Board members, Mina Bessho, Laura Huizi, Tracy Kao, Ali Gorman, and Ayako Golden. TNK is a vibrant and successful organization because our parents care and take action. Thank you to all the TNK volunteers.

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Nishimachi-Kai 2019-2020 Nancy Hashima ‘83 Nishimachi-Kai Chair

Nishimachi-Kai is the alumni association of Nishimachi International School, and its board plays an active role in the school community. We are invited to participate in, and support, various school activities, as well as organize events of our own during the school year.

Most importantly, Nishimachi-Kai sponsors booths at Nishimachi’s annual Food Fair in October and hosts the alumni BBQ in June. We are always pleased to welcome back a wide range of alumni from different generations and various parts of the world to these seasonal events. Although we were unable to host our annual June BBQ due to COVID-19, we had a remarkably successful Food Fair in October despite the cold rain.

Alumni Haruko (Kawai) Kohno ’85 and alumni parent Wendy Kobayashi did an incredible job decorating our booth at the newly renovated Green Building to look like a true alumni café. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the following donors who supported the October 2019 Food Fair.

Regardless of how much time has passed since any one of us was a student at Nishimachi, fond memories remain, and the school spirit lives on in the alumni community. This is true not just of our most ardent alumni, who frequently return to the school and lend support, but also of those alumni who have not been back to the school for decades but keep in touch from afar.

Our activities bring together all members of Nishimachi-Kai (alumni, parents of alumni, former staff, and friends of Nishimachi). We also do our best to reach out and strengthen our communication with the current Nishimachi community in order to pass on the distinct values of the school, which we learned as students, as well as the traditions some of us were fortunate enough to experience first-hand during Miss Matsukata’s time. Our long-time culture of working together with compassion and empathy continues to make Nishimachi International School truly strong and special today.

The founder’s foresight to educate children as true global ambassadors in a culturally diverse but family-like environment has positioned Nishimachi today in the forefront of excellent international education. The Nishimachi-Kai board will continue to work hard to ensure that current students and their parents can experience the same special educational and cultural opportunities earlier generations had during their time as students.

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Donors and Volunteers Cheerio Company * Go and Kaoru Abekawa Nahomi Aiko Sarah Brauer ‘16 Yukari Fackler Eriko (Sakamoto) Fukuyama ‘96 Lalaka (Ogawa) Fukuma ‘90 Fred Gifford ‘02 Fergus Gifford ‘03 Ricky Higa ‘94 Matthew Joseff ‘85 Momoka Kataoka ‘90

Izuru Kato ‘90 Kazuho Kawaguchi ‘97 Shige, Wendy, and Ellen Kobayashi Haruko (Kawai) Kohno ‘85 Olga Krajenbrink Stephanie Lee Risa Mackey Kit Nagamura Mayumi Nakayama ‘90 Yoko Nakayama Cathy Noyes Aki Ohtaka ‘12

Emi Omata ‘02 Austin Powell ‘18 Makiko (Takayama) Saito ‘87 Chikako Sato Hiroko Shiraishi Kotoe Shirakawa ‘00 Chikako Shumway Junko Sumiya ‘83 Rie Tanaka Mako (Hara) Tomita ‘86 Mayu Watanabe Langevin Yuko Yamada ‘90 * Corporate Donor

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Annual Fund Nishimachi’s unique and rich international program increasingly relies on outside funding to enhance further the school’s ability to individualize the educational experience. These unrestricted gifts make a difference to all Nishimachi students by underwriting the dayto-day needs of our music and arts programs, science and technology laboratories, athletic programs, facilities, and so much more.

Type of Gifts

Restricted Gifts Restricted gifts are given with the understanding that they be used to address specific, designated needs of Nishimachi. Such gifts have supported the Outreach Scholarship program, community services program, Japanese social studies, visiting author program, technology, Tané Matsukata Fund for International Education, sports teams, and specific departments within the school.

Endowment Fund Endowments create a permanent fund, from which interest income is used for the specified purpose.

Contributions are restricted gifts that establish or add to existing memorial or other funds. Currently, annual income from ten endowment funds supports scholarships, the library, Japanese social studies, music, photographic archives, and faculty professional development.

Nishimachi’s goal is to increase the current endowment so that changes in the economic climate do not adversely affect the quality of education the school provides. (See page 48.)

Corporate Matching Gifts Did you know that your company’s matching gift program could make your donation to Nishimachi go

even further? Many companies have programs through which they match the charitable contributions made by their employees.

Planned Gifts Planned gifts are made by individuals who include Nishimachi International School in their estate plans, or who establish a special gift or endowment with appreciated securities or real estate. Planned gifts can honor a former teacher, establish a scholarship in the name of a class or loved one, or support a specific program. For more information, contact Matt McKinney, Director of Advancement.

Gifts-in-Kind Gifts-in-kind are non-cash donations, such as services or equipment.

Computers, printers, musical instruments, books, and items used as prizes for special events have previously been donated. Such gifts are greatly appreciated and do much to enhance the learning environment for our students.

Corporate Contribution Program (CCP) The CCP is a special corporate scholarship program that is available for organizations that are responsible for covering expatriate employee’s educational expenses. Instead of paying tuition and applicable fees, companies agree to make donations to the school. The donations are used partly to fund special corporate scholarships, which are granted to dependents of participating companies. Nishimachi is thus able to receive annual donations that exceed what is required to fund the corporate scholarships. For more information, contact Matt McKinney, Director of Advancement.

Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Endowment funds allow Nishimachi to provide the broad range of programs and options needed to educate children in a highly complex, interconnected world.

These endowment funds will support, in perpetuity, particular and important educational areas in which donors have expressed an interest. The minimum threshold for establishing a permanent named fund is 2,000,000 yen ($20,000). The school publishes the following list in sincere appreciation of the generous donors who have established, and contributed to, these funds. (Note: The interest earned or accrued by the fund is utilized for the specified purpose. The principal is safely “held in trust” and restricted from use.)

Endowment Funds Nourish Our Soil

Tané Matsukata Fund for International Education

Shortly before her death in 1989, Tané Matsukata gave permission for her name to be used in establishing a permanent endowment fund to ensure the long-term prosperity of Nishimachi. Interest from this fund, which is our largest, provides financial aid to students who otherwise would not be able to afford an international education.

Ishibashi Foundation Endowment Fund

Endowed by the Ishibashi (Bridgestone) Foundation, this fund provides for annual purchases of books and materials for the media center.

Tomo no Kai Scholarship Fund

This fund was created in 1991 by Tomo no Kai, Nishimachi’s parent association, to provide tuition aid to Nishimachi students who qualify for financial assistance.

Morimura Homeikai Foundation Fund

Endowed by the Morimura Foundation, this fund supports our Japanese social studies program by providing students with opportunities to appreciate Japanese culture.

Robert & Judith Sharp Family Endowment

This fund was established in 2013

by Robert and Judith Sharp’s six children, all of whom attended Nishimachi, in honor of their parents’ service and contribution to the school spanning over four decades. Interest from this fund will provide scholarship assistance to Nishimachi students on the Outreach Scholarship Program.

U.K. Reunion Fund for Music

This fund was created in 1993 at a Nishimachi-Kai reunion in the U.K. Interest from the fund is used to enhance the music program.

Yaye Hirooka Fund

Yaye Hirooka, first grade teacher and vice principal, taught at Nishimachi for twenty-five years (1951–1976).

This fund is designed to support professional development for teachers.

Lynn Araki Takata Photography Education Fund

Lynn Araki Takata, fourth grade teacher for seventeen years (1966– 1983), was often seen with her camera taking pictures of students at school events. The fund is used to support the photography program as a means of insuring a visual archive of the school.

Dorothy Risser Library Collection

Dorothy Risser, seventh grade homeroom and junior high English teacher for fourteen years (1963– 1977), had a profound interest in Japanese culture and took joy in sharing her love for Japan. Interest from this fund is used to purchase new books about Japan, both in Japanese and in English.

Cindy Motai Memorial Scholarship Fund

This fund is made up of gifts from Junsuke Motai, parents, students, and friends, in memory of Cindy Motai, an Nishimachi parent who passed away in 1994. This fund provides financial aid to students who would not otherwise be able to afford a Nishimachi education.

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

将来に向けて 教育の質を高める 基金の数々

西町では教育の拡充ならびに安定した学校運 営をはかるために、各種の基金を設けていま す。奨学金、教科内容の充実、教員の研修など が主な基金の種類です。 なお、 これらの基金は 運用利益のみを事業費として活用しています。 また、 目的別の基金の新設も常時お受けしてお ります。新規基金は200万円(2万ドル)以上の ご寄付により開設することができます。西町が、 長期的な展望にたった教育をさらに推進する ために、皆さまのご協力を感謝申し上げますと ともに、今後もなお一層のご厚情を賜りたくお 願い申し上げます。

ロバート＆ジュディス・シャープ基金 この基金は、 ロバートとジュディス・シャープ夫 妻の6人のお子様達（全員西町の同窓生） によ りご両親の40年以上に渡る西町への尽力と 貢献に敬意を表して2013年に創設されたも のです。 この基金の利子は、 アウトリーチ奨学 金の一部として使用されています。

現在設置されている基金は次の通りです。

広岡八重子基金 広岡先生は1年生の教師として、 また後年は副 校長として計25年間奉職し、数多くの生徒た ちに慕われました。 この基金は教師の研究・研 修をサポートするために設置されています。

松方種子国際教育基金(奨学金) 創立者の松方先生の名前を冠した基金 は、1989年に発足しました。 この基金の利子 は財政的な援助が必要な生徒たちの奨学金 として用いられ、西町教育の推進をはかって います。 石橋財団基金 1991年から1993年の3年間、石橋財団(ブリ ヂストン)より継続した寄付により発足した基 金です。 この基金の利子はライシャワー記念図 書室での書籍購入に充てられています。 友の会奨学金 保護者会である友の会によって1992年設立 された奨学金です。 森村豊明会財団基金 森村財団から寄せられたこの基金は、 日本社 会科授業の一環としての校外学習や観劇な ど、 日本文化を理解し楽しむための費用に充て られています。

Endowment Balance July 31, 2020

英国同窓会記念音楽基金 1993年英国で同窓会が開かれた際に設立さ れました。 この基金からの利子は音楽学習プロ グラムのために利用されています。

荒木(高田)リン写真教育基金 17年間4年生の担任として勤められた荒木先 生は、学校行事の際には、必ずカメラをたずさ えていました。学校の歴史を残すため、写真の プログラムために使われるのがこの基金です。 D. リッサー・ライブラリー・コレクション 日本と日本文化をこよなく愛し、 中学部英語教 師および7年生担任として13年間奉職された リッサー先生を記念する基金です。利子は日本 関連の書籍購入費用に充てられています。 シンディ・モタイ・メモリアル奨学金 西町に在籍する小さなお子さん方を遺して 1994年に永眠されたシンディを記念するた め、 モタイ氏をはじめ、友人、生徒たちの篤志に よって始められた奨学基金です。

Tané Matsukata Fund for International Education Ishibashi Foundation Endowment Fund Tomo no Kai Scholarship Fund Morimura Homeikai Foundation Fund U.K. Reunion Fund for Music Yaye Hirooka Fund Lynn Araki Takata Photography Education Fund Dorothy Risser Library Collection Cindy Motai Memorial Scholarship Fund Robert & Judith Sharp Family Fund

as of Donations July 31, 2019 2019-2020 ¥134,803,135 ¥1,220,205 ¥30,000,000 ¥22,363,333 ¥6,206,228 ¥888,895 ¥956,005 ¥756,248 ¥1,147,650 ¥6,156,133 ¥2,100,398 ¥118,900

as of July 31, 2020 ¥136,023,340 ¥30,000,000 ¥22,363,333 ¥6,206,228 ¥888,895 ¥956,005 ¥756,248 ¥1,147,650 ¥6,156,133 ¥2,219,298

Total fund balance

¥205,378,025

¥206,717,130

¥1,339,105

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Ways To Give, Ways To Grow

How to Make a Contribution

We know how much each and every one of you holds dear the memories of the time you spent at Nishimachi, whether as a student—for the full ten years or just a couple of years or even months—or as a teacher, member of the staff, or parent. In addition to the rigorous academic curriculum, there were, and are, the ski trips, Kazuno, Sports Day, rice planting, Food Fair, Nishimachi Gala, and so many other memorable occasions on which the school community in whole, or in part, came, and comes, together. The torch passes from one class to the next, and each year a new generation goes out into the world and tests its wings.

As it has throughout its seventyyear history, Nishimachi relies on you, its loyal and dedicated friends, to help keep our academic and cultural programs vibrant and robust today.

Even more importantly perhaps is a commitment to, and investment in, the future, for the generations of students to come and the kind of learning they will need to prepare for their tomorrows.

For that too we ask for your support.

There are many ways you can make a gift to Nishimachi. You can give to the Annual Fund, which addresses high priority needs, or the Outreach Scholarship program; or this year you can make a special gift to the Matsukata House 100th Anniversary Project. Donors who give ¥100,000, US$1000, or more, to the Matsukata House 100th Anniversary Project will have their names inscribed on a plaque that will be placed in the lobby of the Matsukata House.

Be assured that every contribution is deeply appreciated, regardless of size.

A gift from one family, when added to that of another and then another, takes us far along the road toward our shared goals.

Nishimachi welcomes gifts by credit card, bank transfer, or check, in Japanese yen or in U.S. dollars. If you have already given this school year, we thank you. If you have not, please, we hope to hear from you soon!

Please contact the Nishimachi Advancement Office for more information.

Matt McKinney Director of Advancement

寄付の方法 生徒として、教職員として、 そして保護者とし て、西町で過ごした時間が10年以上にわたる ものであれ、 あるいは数ヶ月の短いものだった としても、 ここが皆様にとってかけがえのない 心温まる思い出の場となっていることと思いま す。質の高い教育プログラムだけでなくスキー 旅行、鹿角キャンプ、運動会、 田植え、 フードフ ェア、西町ガラなど、”西町コミュニティ”の一員 となって楽しんだ思い出がたくさんあったこと でしょう。 「西町」 の灯は卒業生から次の卒業 生へと連綿と受け継がれ、毎年新しい世代が 世界中に羽ばたいていきます。 これまで70年以上にわたり、学科の高度な アカデミックレベルと文化プログラムを、 さら に質を高め、 かつ時代の変化に合わせたものと しながら、子どもたちに提供し続けてこられた のは、一重に皆様のご支援の賜物と思ってお ります。 これからも次世代の子どもたちの教育 のため継続的な投資が必要となっており、皆 様のご支援が西町の教育を更に進化させる推 進力となります。 これまで同様にご支援をお願 い致します。 西町へのご支援には色々な方法があります。 優先度の高いニーズに対応する年次基金に寄 付すること、 アウトリーチ奨学金プログラムへ のご寄付、 または今年に限り、松方ハウス100 周年記念プロジェクトにご寄付頂くこともでき ます。松方ハウス100周年記念プロジェクトへ の寄付をご指定し、10万円、 もしくは1000ド ル以上ご寄付頂いた方には、 松方ハウスのロビ ーに設置される飾り板に名前が刻まれます。 寄附金額の多寡にかかわらず皆様からのご 支援に深く感謝致します。 お一人お一人のご支 援が集まることで、学校として大きな目標に向 けて邁進することが可能となります。 ご支援の方法は、 クレジットカード、銀行振 込、 または小切手で、 日本円または米ドルでの ご支援が可能です。 すでに今学年にご支援さ れた方々、 ありがとうございました。 詳しくは西町Advancement Office渉外 開発室までお問い合わせください。

マット マッキニー 渉外開発室 室長

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Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020

Gift in Japanese Yen:

Gift in US Dollars:

You can make a bank transfer to: Nishimachi International School MUFG Bank, Ltd. Azabu Branch Ordinary account #0279620

US dollar gifts may be made to Nishimachi Foundation. Please make your US dollar check payable to Nishimachi Foundation and mail to Nishimachi International School.

We also accept donations in cash at school.

You may also make your gift ONLINE with your credit card.

Any amount over ¥2,000, up to 40% of your income, is eligible for tax deduction.

US dollar bank transfer is also available: Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd., New York Branch 1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, USA Tel: 212-782-5800 ABA: 0260-0963-2 SWIFT Code: BOTKUS33 Account #: 110-700-031 Account Name: Nishimachi Foundation

(1) Nishimachi International School is certified as a Tokutei Koeki Zoshin Hojin (SpecialPublic Interest Promotion Organization) and our donation may be deducted from taxable income in Japan.

(2) Alternatively, in accordance with the amendment to the tax law for donations made by individuals, your donation may be deducted from your income tax.

You may choose either (1) or (2) when filing your tax return. Please consult your tax advisor.

日本円による寄付 当校では日本円あるいは米ドルでご寄付を 受けさせていただいております。送金に は次の方法がありますの でご案内申し上 げます。 銀行振込は: (学) 西町インターナショナルスクール 三菱UFJ銀行 麻布支店 普通 ＃0279620

現金の寄付は当校でもお受けしておりま す。 2000円以上のご寄付は、所得税控除の対 象になります。 寄付金の控除について

(1) 当校は特定公益増進法人に認定さ れており、個人の寄付金は所得控

Nishimachi Foundation is a non-profit organization approved to receive taxdeductible gifts according to Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S.Internal Revenue Code. Your donation may be taxdeductible. Please consult your U.S. tax advisor.

Credit Card Donation (US$ or JP¥)

クレジットカードでのご寄付 (USドル または 日本円）

除の対象となります。 (2) 平成24年2月23日より租税特別措 置法により税額控除制度の適用が 可能となりました。 確定申告時に(1) 特定公益増進法人による 寄金の所得控除、または(2)税額控除のいず れかを選択して申請してください。 ドル建て小切手の場合:

受取人を Nishimachi Foundationと表記の 上、渉外開発室までご郵送ください。 Nishimachi Foundationへの寄付は米国の 所得税から控除の対象になる場合もあり ます。

www.nishimachi.ac.jp/giving/online-giving

Head of School

Director of Development

Karen O'Neill '78 Matt McKinney

Marketing and Communications Manager

Kacie Leviton '95 Managing editor Mayumi Nakayama ‘90 Editor Anne Papantonio Art design Akira Tomomitsu (Mashup LLC)

The Internationalist, Spring/Summer 2020 vol. 65, is published by the Development Office for alumni, parents, students, faculty, and friends of Nishimachi International School.

Article contributors

Andrew Deane Vanessa Gay-Rice Joshua Gibson Nancy Hashima '83 Matt Marson Matt McKinney Mayumi Nakayama ‘90 Brian Webb Kyle Wilkinson (UNWFP)

Message from the Advancement Office 渉外開発室からのお知らせ

If you are receiving multiple copies of The Internationalist and/or the Nishimachi Annual Report—for you as alumni parents and for each of your children—and would like to reduce the number, please let us know. We are happy to send just one copy for the family, or, if you supply us with the current addresses of your children, mail all future issues directly to them. Please email your preferences to us at alumni@nishimachi.ac.jp.

The Internationalist Autumn/Winter 2020 Vol. 65

In This Issue...

Photography

Andrew Deane Vanessa Gay-Rice Joshua Gibson Toshiharu Kitajima Kacie Leviton '95 Matt Marson Matt McKinney Mayumi Nakayama '90 Eva Sachiko Popiel '96 Sayaka Sato '97 TOMURO Atlie + Kenichi Nakamura and Associates Brian Webb Nishimachi Staff/Faculty Hi Cheese!

Nishimachi International School Development Office 2-14-7 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku Tokyo 106-0046 Japan Tel: 03-3451-5520 Fax: 03-3456-0197 E-mail: development@nishimachi.ac.jp

alumni@nishimachi.ac.jp URL http://www.nishimachi.ac.jp 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 電話：03-3451-5520 ファックス：03-3456-0197 メール： development@nishimachi.ac.jp ウェブ： http://jp.nishimachi.ac.jp

Nishimachi Alumna Eva Sachiko Popiel ‘96 on

How She Got to Seoul and Became a Television Personality Mayumi Nakayama ‘90 Advancement Officer

3

10

New Management Staff Introduction

Vanessa Gay-Rice Director of Learning

Joshua Gibson

Brian Webb

Auxiliary Program Manager

ES Assistant Principal

Matt McKinney Director of Advancement

17 Nishimachi-Kai Updates

Matt Marson Director of Digital Learning

18 Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk: Why I Stand behind Our Outreach Scholarship Program Andrew R. Deane

MS Humanities, Grade 9 Advisor

POSTMARKS

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Yokoso - Welcome to the Nishimachi Family

27

2020 Retirement

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Bon Voyage

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The Matsukata House 100th Anniversary Project

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The Internationalist

Everything Happens for a Reason

Nishimachi Alumna Eva Sachiko Popiel ‘96 on

How She Got to Seoul and Became a Television Personality

Mayumi Nakayama ‘90 Advancement Officer

Autumn/Winter 2020 Vol. 65

D

uring the global COVID-19 stay-athome order at the beginning of 2020, how many of you signed up for online streaming services and binge-watched hours and hours of movies and TV shows like Tiger King and Game of Thrones? Some of you might even have seen Korean dramas like Crash Landing on You and Itaewon Class, which were two of the top must-watch Asian series during the lockdown. I for one devoured Korean TV on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Little did I know at the time that Nishimachi alumna Eva Sachiko Popiel ’96 was currently living in Korea and working as a TV personality—living the very life I was seeing on TV. Looking through Sachiko’s Instagram(@evapopiel), I realized that not only she was living in Korea, but that she was famous. I was ecstatic and decided to reach out to Sachiko through her older sister, my Nishimachi classmate Akiko, to see if I she would consider doing an interview with me for the next issue of The Internationalist. I hadn’t seen Sachiko in some thirty years, but Akiko put us in touch, and we were able to reconnect on Zoom. I had to find out what it was really like to live, and be a TV celebrity, in Korea.

Sachiko didn’t set out in life thinking about becoming a television personality, but, as often happens, one thing leads another, and when, as a language student in Seoul, an opportunity to appear on a one-time TV show came her way, and then another, she seized it, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Beginnings Eva Sachiko Popiel was born in Tokyo to a British father and a Japanese mother. She spent nine years at Nishimachi, starting out as one of the twenty-six students in Mr. Worster’s kindergarten class, and staying until she completed eighth grade. Sachiko (she used her Japanese name while growing up in Japan), or “Sacchan,” as she was known by many, cherishes the memories she has of her Nishimachi years—of the ski trips and of Kazuno. Kazuno was an oasis of “peace and quiet.” She loved sitting all alone out in the middle of an open field up there, away from her classmates, drawing or doing a writing assignment. Living then in bustling, brightly lit Tokyo, she treasured the opportunity to sit back and just absorb.

“I was so sad and ashamed that I had to leave Nishimachi after eighth grade!” Sachiko tells me.

She said it was a “thing” among the kids to stay until you graduated from Nishimachi in ninth grade.

That last year is such a special year. Students study and work in close proximity, cementing friendships and creating enduring memories.

The graduation ceremony in June tops it all off.

But Sachiko’s father was retiring the year before she was to enter ninth grade, and he wanted to return to London. Akiko was already there for her university studies, so it was a natural thing for the rest of the family to move to London.

In London, she liked her new school, the all-girls’ Marymount International School, but she missed Nishimachi. She echoed what so many Nishimachi alumni tell us when they move on. It wasn’t that Nishimachi was the only school she had ever known, but that she deeply felt the loss of the close-knit community and intimacy of the smallschool setting that made her feel she was not just a student, but part of a large family.

Off to College!

Sachiko attended Durham University, where she majored in Chinese and management studies.

China was growing rapidly, and companies across the world were investing in it. She loved to travel, learn new languages, and get to know other cultures, but didn’t realize at the time how difficult and consuming an undertaking studying Chinese was to be. After all, she told herself, she knew Japanese and had mastered kanji. She got the basic conversation down, but there were just too many kanji she didn’t know that remained to be learned.

Sachiko spent her second university year at Renmin University in Beijing. This was at the beginning of the new millennium, and she found her life as a student in Beijing challenging. She learned a lot, however, and looks back on her time there as a positive and enjoyable experience.

Along the way, she did have to deal with a few inconveniences, though. The hot water in her dormitory ran for only one hour in the morning and one in the evening. The residents in her building all took showers at the same time, either in the morning or in the evening, which rapidly drained the supply. Then there was the elevator, which did not operate after midnight. Coming home late

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Korea on Her Mind Sachiko landed a position in Tokyo with L’Oréal Japan in the international education department of its subsidiary Shu Uemura, a well-known Japanese cosmetic brand, and this took her back to Asia.

Although she was able to reconnect with a number of classmates from Nishimachi and enjoyed living in Tokyo, something was missing. She started flying to Korea on long weekends to see friends, enjoy the food, and sightsee. With every visit, she became all the more enamored—and determined to become proficient in the language. But she realized there was only one way to do that and that was to move to Seoul.

after an evening with friends, she discovered this the hard way when she had to clamber up multiple flights of stairs in high heels.

Change in Plans She met quite a number of Korean exchange students while in Beijing, and, unbeknownst to Sachiko, this would quite soon alter the trajectory of her life. For the moment, however, this group of friends added a little light and laughter to her time in Beijing and provided a welcome respite from the pressure she felt from her Chinese-language studies.

She screwed up her courage and went to her boss to explain. When she said she wanted three months off, six tops, to take a short language course in Korea, her boss, much to her surprise, laughed and said, “Popi-chan [her nickname at work], quit this job and go! I know you’re never coming back to Japan!” What to do? Should she quit? What if she wanted to return? Would she have to find a new job all over again? Her boss put her fears at rest, assuring her she would have a job at Shu Uemura if she wanted it. The boss wasn’t alone in sensing Sachiko’s move would be permanent. It was clear to others as well. Sachiko was the only who didn’t know.

Super Junior’s Full House

Her friends introduced her to Korean culture, food, language, K-pop music, and K-drama. She liked Korean culture so much she wanted to know more and decided to start by learning Hangul (the Korean alphabet) on her own; it was so much easier to read than Chinese and, amazingly, “took me only a day. Just like the alphabet, you learn the individual letters and put them together to read the word. You may not understand the meaning, but you can pronounce it.”

She packed a small suitcase and off she went to Korea, planning to take a one semester (threemonth) language course at Kyung-Hee University.

One semester turned to two, and she ended up staying for three semesters, for almost a year in total. One day one of the teachers beckoned her.

“There’s a TV program looking for foreigners. We think you should audition.” Sachiko agreed to give it a try and was taken to a classroom set up with a camera, where she had to state her name and age, and make a few random comments. That was it.

Sachiko’s interest in Korea ballooned to the point where she enrolled in beginning Korean-language classes after she returned to Durham. She wanted to continue her studies following graduation, but her mother suggested that she “get a job.”

To her surprise, the broadcasting company called her in for a second interview. She had no idea what she was getting into but got the job, along with a girl named Anya from Russia, for a TV program called Super Junior’s Full House, with a

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then brand-new Korean boy band, Super Junior, where they played games and talked about Korea.

This marked Sachiko’s first TV appearance in Korea. Although the show aired for only a few months in 2006, core Super Junior fans remember Sachiko to this day and ask for photos and autographs if they run into her on the street.

That show whetted her appetite for more television work, but she didn’t know how to go about it.

By coincidence, a former colleague from Shu Uemura Korea happened to mention a oneoff TV talk show which was looking for girls of different nationalities to discuss the similarities and differences between wherever they came from and Korea. Sachiko auditioned with KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) and got the job.

When it rains, it pours. She hadn’t even left the building when someone approached her and asked if she would be interested in auditioning for another program. They were looking for an English speaker to host an English-language quiz show.

As luck would have it, Sachiko, went in for one job, and came out with two.

A Big Step Forward It turns out that that one-time Global Talk Show (미녀들의 수다), as it was called, was a huge success on Korean TV. The names of the girls who appeared were among the “top three most searched” categories in Korea. The public, it seems, was extremely interested in what this group of girls had to say.

About two months later, Sachiko was called back to the Global Talk Show, only this time, they were planning a program that would air weekly. It was so popular it ran for four years, and Sachiko was there for all of them. She attributes its success to the fact that this was one of the first programs to have a number of

foreigners who spoke good Korean. Foreigners speaking fluent Korean in Seoul are fairly common, but, outside of Seoul, it’s a whole different story.

Koreans who had no occasion to interact with Korean-speaking foreigners were stunned.

Suddenly, right there on their TV screens, they saw all these girls from around the world speaking Korean, all of them interested in Korea.

In Japan, as early as the eighties, there were quite a few gaitaré (“gaijin talent,” or foreign entertainers), but in Korea, this was a whole new concept. As a result, Sachiko’s career moved forward at a very fast pace. She was a panelist on the Global Talk Show and an English teacher on Star Golden Bell (스타 골든벨). Suddenly a celebrity, she would be stopped in the middle of Seoul. Everyone knew who she was. She started getting advertisement contracts and doing TV commercials, her auditioning days now a thing of the past. “My photo was on the side of buses and taxis, and that was fun to see!”

Actress? No, Travelling Entertainer!

“I see you were in a movie and a TV drama series at one point,” I say. She laughs, “I was in the movie for like five seconds!”

“Then how about the TV series, Likable or Not? ( 미우나 고우나)” She gives me a bitter smile and tells me it was “painful.” She did not like acting, and, frankly, wasn’t very good at it either.

“I’m not the acting type. My sister, Akko-chan, is, but never me.”

I’m curious. “But if you liked acting, wouldn’t it be easy for you to get an acting job?”

Sachiko shakes her head no.

Although she speaks Korean and understands most of what is said, her accent is not native. Because of her Eurasian features, she would always have to play non-Koreans. In Likable or Not she was cast as a woman from Uzbekistan.

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skiing instructor in the summer, was her teacher. They got married in 2010, and welcomed Luca, their first son, in 2013, followed by Noah, their second son, in 2016.

Despite her disappointment at not becoming an actress, she had other things on her plate. Her love of travel and sports came to her aid here.

She hosted a travel show that first aired in 2010 in which she would go to a location abroad and live there, like a local, for about three weeks. The first episode took her to Bali, where during the course of her stay, she attended a local wedding and a funeral. She loved the travel and the focus on culture and subsequently visited Singapore and Denmark.

Her biggest thrill came when she was sent to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London as a reporter for SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System).

She loves sports, and this was a dream come true. She spent a month in London, reporting on the events of the day and interviewing athletes from around the world, as well as all the Korean athletes, broadcasting every evening live from one of London’s iconic, bright red, double-decker buses turned studio. With her official Olympic staff pass, she was able to get in to see any sports competition she desired. “I would have paid to be at that Olympics! Especially because it was held in the UK, where I have a passport. But instead, I got paid to do it! What’s not to like?”

Double Duty as Mom and Television Host In between her TV appearances, Sachiko found love and settled down with her boyfriend, now husband, Kyung-Gu Lee, whom she met on the snowboarding slopes in 2008, the friend of a friend. The following summer, she decided to learn to water ski, and Kyung-Gu, who was a water-

Sachiko, like most Korean mothers, stayed at home during the boys’ younger years and took care of them while her husband worked. “I was happy to be able to spend time with them while they were young, but it was a struggle for me, because I love working and appearing on TV.” After their marriage, the couple moved to the suburbs of Seoul. Sachiko thought her friends would visit on weekends and holidays, but instead she found herself isolated and felt trapped without any interaction with people from outside her immediate family.

That continued for some time, as she was unable to find the right balance between motherhood, housework, and work, until last year, when she and her husband came up with a happy medium.

Sachiko would work during the week while her husband took care of the kids, and on the weekends, their roles reversed.

A Modern Korean Family Sachiko is learning to cook Korean food and says she isn’t good at it but does make her own

Autumn/Winter 2020 Vol. 65

doenjang jjigae (the Korean version of miso soup), kimchi jjigae (kimchi soup), jjimdak chicken (Korean braised chicken with a soy sauce base), and a lot of bulgogi (Korean grilled beef). Her husband is the real chef in the family (“It was one of the many reasons I married him!”). He also helps with housework.

The family has a passion for the outdoors and enjoys camping. Having only a sister and no brothers while growing up, Sachiko had to learn how to play with sons very quickly. They run around, of course, and play sports, like football, soccer, and ice hockey, but also spend time with their mother baking cookies and bread.

While on the topic of cooking and food, there was something I had to know: “Do you go to your mother-in-law’s house to make kimchi as they do in the Korean dramas?” She chuckles and says, “Kyung-Gu’s mother will let me know that on such and such a day they’ll be doing this year’s gimjang [the female members of the family get together for a day and make kimchi], and sometimes I go and sometimes I don’t. It’s usually in October or November. Last year my family was featured on a reality TV show, and all four of us were filmed going to Kyung-Gu’s parents’ house. It’s usually for women only, but since my husband was there, he helped make kimchi too.”

That surprised me. My Korean TV programs made it quite clear men were not involved in making kimchi. It was always the mothers and daughters or daughters-in-law. Sachiko says, “That’s generally true. Korean society is very conservative, and even after all this time I can still be taken aback by certain customs.” Not surprisingly, since he’s such a good chef, Kyung-Gu’s foray into kimchi making was successful.

One Day, Like Oprah In the little free time she has, Sachiko finds time to work out and volunteer. She used to be extremely active in Zumba, pole dancing, and working out with a personal trainer but has since stopped going to classes since the COVID-19 pandemic to keep her family safe. She goes to the gym to work with her personal trainer and does workouts at home and posts them on her Instagram account.

Her over 13,000 followers are interested in her workouts, diet, and healthy lifestyle. Just recently,

she placed second for the Fitness Model Category at the Fitness Star Competition.

Sachiko has been the public ambassador for an organ donation awareness campaign in Korea for the last ten years. Koreans do not have a positive attitude about organ donation in general so she gets involved in events that try to shift public opinion. Oprah Winfrey is a role model for that.

“I used to watch a lot of TV when I first arrived in Korea,” she says, “and the Oprah shows really cheered me up and made me want to be like her.

Someone who motivates others with upbeat and positive messages.”

Until We Meet Again Our interview went well over the time allotted, and we ended up talking for ninety minutes. I am grateful to Sachiko for sharing her story and insights with the Nishimachi community. Until it is safe to travel once again and see the world, we are fortunate to have television and the internet to turn to for entertainment, information, and a broadening of minds. And to see old friends. If you want to see Sachiko, and happen to be in Korea, she is now appearing on a weekly show that started up about five months ago, My Love to You (내 사랑 투유), where the guests are singers who talk about their music and their personal lives.

It airs Tuesday mornings at 10:30 on TV Chosun. I highly recommend it!

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New Management Staff Introduction

Brian Webb

ES Assistant Principal

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, I started my overseas teaching career with my wife, Leila, in 2003 in Cairo, Egypt. We enjoyed all that Egypt had to offer for two years, then moved to Nagoya, Japan, for seven years, which is where our daughter, Luna, was born. Our next stop was Busan, South Korea, for two years, then on to Seoul, where I began my career as an elementary school administrator. My current role at Nishimachi is elementary assistant principal, and I have the good fortune of working with a terrific group of educators within a wholly supportive community.

I didn’t always know I would be a teacher. After cycling through a few different majors while earning my undergraduate degree at Temple University, I finished with a B.A. in public relations under the journalism umbrella. Because I wasn’t ready for the traditional workforce after graduating, I spent time doing a series of odd jobs, which were enjoyable until they weren’t: working as a bicycle messenger, cleaning houses, delivering bread, and parking cars. I then moved on to more stable employment in the journalism field as a writer and researcher for an internet company (AOL) and broadcast television, as well as an adjunct instructor of media and communications at a few local universities.

I then had an idea to give back to society somehow, so I became a volunteer tutor to adults who needed to strengthen their literacy skills.

Once a week I worked with an older gentleman at the local library to help improve his reading and writing skills; reading the newspaper was a challenge. I was thrilled with my role as a tutor and providing the skills I took for granted: the ability to read and write. I felt I was providing something

that was worthy and noble and that could help change someone’s life. That experience led me to apply for a teaching position with the School District of Philadelphia. My first elementary school teaching job was in kindergarten while I went to graduate school at night.

One of the most important factors of my success from my time as a university student to my present position as a school administrator has been the role of mentors who have provided guidance, support, and encouragement. For those, such as my wife, who have helped me, I am forever thankful. It’s one of the reasons I have stayed in education: to inspire, motivate, support, and teach others.

It may be a cliché to say one joins the education force to make a difference and effect change. But it’s hard to argue with that notion: education is a force that does make a difference and create change. I have yet to experience a more fulfilling way to enjoy each day.

In my free time, I enjoy bicycling, taking photos, playing basketball, and exploring Tokyo with my family! Our amazing seven years in Nagoya had cemented the idea for us to one day return to Japan. I am grateful for the opportunity Nishimachi International School has provided, and I am honored to join the school’s administration as its first assistant principal.

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New Management Staff Introduction

Matt McKinney Director of Advancement

I am excited to join the Nishimachi community this year as the new director of advancement.

The Advancement Office, formerly known as the Development Office, manages fundraising, communications, and alumni and parent relations for the school.

I am from North Carolina and first came to Japan over twenty years ago to teach with the JET Program. I wasn’t able to have an international experience during college, which I craved, so I came to Japan to work as a teacher on the recommendation of one of my best friends from college, who grew up in international schools here in Tokyo. Little did I know that during that first year living in Tokyo, I would meet my wife and then spend almost half of the next twenty years living and working in Japan and throughout Asia.

After my first experience of working in Japan, I went back to the US for graduate school and then pursued a career in higher education fundraising and development. One of my earliest university positions was serving as the director of the annual fund for the University of Notre Dame Law School.

From there I moved back closer to my family in North Carolina and served as an alumni and development officer for the University of Virginia (UVa) for ten years.

During my first five years at UVa, I worked with their medical alumni development and supported several medical departments in the health system.

Around the time that my son was five years old my wife really wanted to return to Japan, so that our son could develop a strong Japanese-language base. My wife obtained a position in Hokkaido, my son switched to Japanese school, and I became the first alumni and development officer for the University of Virginia covering all of Asia, traveling from my home base in Hokkaido. It was a really nice home base. Our family developed a strong love for Hokkaido and winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, and, like many elementary school students in Hokkaido, our son had to learn how to speed skate in PE classes throughout elementary

school. I learned to skate too, but all the falls were painful. We are also very big basketball, baseball, and American football fans.

When my son was in fifth grade we returned to the US, and he started school in English for the first time. Two years later, for family reasons, we returned to Japan, and my son started attending international schools. He is now a tenth grader at ASIJ. During the 2018-2019 school year, I had my first opportunity to work as an advancement director for an international independent school at Singapore American School (SAS). At SAS I served as the interim director of advancement for one year, while my family stayed back in Japan. Other than missing my family, I found it an incredible experience. I really enjoyed working in a school and supporting such a rich multicultural experience in an American curriculum school.

Joining Nishimachi as the director of advancement has similarly given me the exciting opportunity to work to support, fundraise, and help strengthen an already exemplary international school education.

Living in Tokyo, I had already heard so much about the high quality of Nishimachi’s educational experience with a US-based curriculum and daily Japanese-language learning. I also learned about how tight-knit and supportive the Nishimachi community is, and that has been very evident in my short time here.

This year I am so excited to get to know many of you, and I look forward to the time that we can have more in-person meetings and events where I can really get to know the community well. I look forward to working with our parents, alumni, and former parents to build an even better Nishimachi, and to help provide the best international school experience in Japan.

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New Management Staff Introduction

Vanessa Gay-Rice Director of Learning

Growing up in small-town Alabama with little to do other than play outside, learning to cook, and read books, I found myself drawn to books and learning about the myriad of places around the world. My books always allowed me to be taken away to areas I could only dream of as a child. As opportunities to live abroad opened for me and my family, we all became excited at the prospects.

My husband, Robert (of thirty years), and I with our three children, Robbie, Gabby, and Kyle, moved to Abu Dhabi seven years ago. Living abroad helped us to see the importance of experiencing and learning new cultures and sharing that with our children. This recent move to Japan has been most rewarding, and I am very excited to be the new Director of Learning at Nishimachi, where I plan to focus on expanding Tané Matsukata’s vision while experiencing Japanese culture.

As a young adult, I dreamed of becoming a pediatric nurse; however, after working as a daycare provider, I realized that I loved working with children and providing opportunities for them to learn and grow. I decided to go back to school for my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and eventually a Master’s in Educational Leadership. I began with teaching Kindergarten

and over time I taught grades one, four, five, six, and seven. I’ve received many accolades, including being named Teacher of the Year twice from my schools in the state of Florida. During my twenty-plus years in education, I have served in many capacities such as teacher, department head, director of professional development, interim principal, and secondary and elementary vice principal. Most recently, I served as the Head of English at an American curriculum school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The recent pandemic has allowed me to hold true to the very same aspirations that drew me to children in the first place: to see them grow socially and academically. I have not forgotten what it is like to be an educator in the classroom making learning engaging for all students, no matter the circumstances. I love collaborating with teachers, providing and having the opportunities to be an active part of the learning that takes place. As I journey on the Nishimachi path, I plan to accomplish my professional goals by continuing to educate myself, empathizing with the teachers, and supporting learning for the students that will promote self-awareness and global productivity.

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New Management Staff Introduction

Matt Marson

Director of Digital Learning

I am excited to be in Tokyo and to be part of the Nishimachi family as Director of Digital Learning. The school’s reputation for embracing technologies and innovation was one of the key factors that motivated me to apply for the position and I am looking forward to working with likeminded innovators in education. My philosophy for learning, and the role technologies play in learning is student-centered. This provides opportunities for transformational and redefined learning experiences.

I can trace my aspirations for working in education back to an early age. I remember the names of the teachers who inspired and encouraged me at school in the UK, and the teachers who innovated, built relationships and made learning come to life.

My teaching career started while I pursued my undergraduate degree in Business Management while training simultaneously to become a Business Education and IT teacher in the state sector. Before leaving the UK, I taught and held leadership posts in an urban, state-funded Catholic High School for seven years. I started my international career with a four-year role in the small developing island-nation of the Seychelles.

Here I joined the only international school and supported leadership and faculty through a period of extensive change and development as Director of IT. I was also Head of Sixth Form before moving to a start-up school project in the Malaysian capital and bustling metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, where I spent four years. In my role as Deputy Principal for Learning Innovation, I was responsible for the school-wide 1:1 iPad device program which led to the school being recognised as an Apple Distinguished School. During my time in Malaysia, I was also recognised as an Apple Distinguished Educator.

On a more personal note, when I moved into international education, I had the opportunity to follow one of my passions: travel. Of all the countries and continents I’ve been to, Asia is by far my favorite. The welcoming atmosphere and

melting pot of cultures across the countries I have spent time in influenced my decision to come back and settle in Tokyo. I enjoy getting lost in the city while cycling, and taking my dog, Snoop, on walks around the neighbourhood has become quite the celebrity in our local coffee shops! I am excited to explore all aspects of Tokyo and Japan and look forward to experiencing the arts, local food, and all aspects of daily life here. It’s been a long journey to where I am now, but I am thankful for everything that has brought me here. I am open and ready for what comes next!

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New Management Staff Introduction

Joshua Gibson Auxiliary Program Manager

I met my wife, who shares my passion for the environment, surfing, snowboarding, and working with children, at that time. With our second child on the way (and finding myself getting older), I yearned for the nine-to-five days again so that I could spend more time at home with my family.

We bought a place near the beach in Chigasaki, Kanagawa, because we wanted to give our daughters a real home. It’s been wonderful. Our local community has beach clean-ups and other water-based gatherings for connections.

My search for a change in my career led to several interviews, to another camping company, to universities, to some prospects back in the States, and, of course, to Nishimachi.

Before and after the interviews here at Nishimachi, people were so friendly I felt I was catching up with old friends. Even the Matsukata House had a feel of “home” for me.

Home. That is the feeling I have every day at Nishimachi. Growing up in Southern California, I had many homes. My early days were spent in East Los Angeles, then on to confusing times in a San Diego high school, and eventually to an Orange County university, which challenged my beliefs. I was always looking for that “home” feeling. It wasn’t until I completely moved out of my comfort zone fourteen years ago to Japan, that I realized “home” isn’t a place, but a feeling. You can take it with you wherever you go.

Before I came to Nishimachi, I found myself bored with your typical nine-to-five lifestyle, so I created my own outdoor company. We would go rafting, canyoning, and even bungee jumping.

The pleasure I got watching kids challenge themselves, and grow in confidence and strength before my eyes, was worth every minute I spent working with the company. Having a chance to create everlasting memories for children keeps me positive and optimistic daily.

As the new auxiliary programs manager here at Nishimachi, I have the good fortune to run after-school activity programs, utilizing all of Nishimachi’s facilities from Kazuno to the gym and everything in between to maximize enriching activities. I am more than honored to share my passion for creating memories for children and solid programs for all in the community. I have many big ideas that I want to share to further connect friendships old and new.

Speaking of creating memories, my family enjoys throwing Thanksgiving and Superbowl parties in our home. It may be smaller here in Japan, but the more the merrier. My wife is a big Dolphins fan, but as a Dallas fan I try not to hold it against her.

Nobody is perfect, but I’m enjoying the ride and love creating bonds that will last a lifetime.

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School Updates

©TOMURO Atelier + Kenichi Nakamura and Associates

Guardhouse and Gate

Thermal Cameras

Since the summer, a number of improvement projects have been underway on campus. One significant development has been our decision to enhance our overall school campus security. This will entail building a new guardhouse, adding a new security access system, and installing a new gate. Our campus, while small, has multiple exits and many visitors daily. After reviewing our security systems with the help of the U.S. Embassy, we felt it necessary to upgrade our systems.

With the unpredictability of the COVID-19 virus in Tokyo, the school is taking measures to prepare for all eventualities, including the use of thermographic cameras for daily temperature checks. While we were looking into the purchase of a thermographic camera that best fits our needs, current Nishimachi parents Masaaki and Eri Suzuki and their daughters (grades two and five) stepped forward and donated two thermographic cameras to be used at the gates as well as yet a third one for the entrance of the Matsukata House for use by the receptionist. The cameras installed at the gate are able to detect the temperatures of students without contact as they walk in through the gate in the morning. Thank you to the Suzuki family for their generous and timely support!

Please see below for photos of the guardhouse and the new front gate. When completed, the gate will become the primary access point to the school for students, parents, and guests. Visitors will check in at the guardhouse rather than through the front office in Matsukata House.

In order to have a more accurate count of who is on campus at any one time, we are planning to add a new digital system for opening gates and tracking access, combined with a new badging system to improve the visibility and identification of all visitors to our campus. We are also investigating whether we can integrate student attendance tracking as part of the same system.

The schedule for the security project has been delayed due to COVID-19 and a slowdown in the permit process, but we have been able to move forward at a good pace, and the gate and system are scheduled to be, and the gate and system are scheduled to be in place in the spring of 2021.

Gym Refacing Before this past summer break, we engaged in a “health check” of our campus facilities. In addition to the restoration work on Matsukata House’s exterior and interior over the next two years, we learned that it was necessary to reface the outer surface of our gym wall because of crumbling concrete. Once the wall was repaired, we created vivid banners displaying our Nishimachi Learner Expectations (NLE) that now cover the gym wall.

We hope that students enjoy the additional splash of color to the campus that serve as reminders of Nishimachi’s learner attributes.

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Class of 2020 High School Choices

Class of 2017 University Choices

The American School In Japan, Japan x 16

Amherst College, Amherst, MA

Archbishop Mitty High School, U.S.A.

Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA

Bellarmine College Prepatory High School, U.S.A.

Chapman University, U.S.A.

Brentwood College School, Canada x 2

Colby College, U.S.A.

British School in Tokyo, Japan

College of William and Mary, U.S.A.

Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, U.S.A.

Columbia University, U.S.A.

Christian Academy in Japan, Japan

Cornell University, U.S.A. x 3

Collège Alpin Beau Soleil, Switzerland

Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, Switzerland

Cranbrook School, Australia

Haverford College, U.S.A.

De La Salle High School, U.S.A.

International Christian University, Japan

Glenbrook North High School, U.S.A.

Keio Gijuku University, Japan x 2

Hong Kong International School, Hong Kong

Lake Forest College, U.S.A.

Horace Mann, U.S.A.

Loyola Marymount University, U.S.A.

International School of Sacred Hearts, Japan x 3

McGill University, Canada

KAIS International School, Japan

New York University, U.S.A. x 2

Keio Academy of New York, U.S.A.

Pitzer College, U.S.A.

The Lawrenceville School, U.S.A. x 2

Pomona College, U.S.A.

Lycee Lesage, France

Santa Clara University, U.S.A. x 2

Northwest Guilford High School, U.S.A.

Savannah College of Art and Design, U.S.A.

Peddie School, U.S.A.

Swarthmore College, U.S.A.

Seisen International School, Japan

Tallahassee Community College, U.S.A.

Singapore American School, Singapore

Tufts University,, U.S.A.

St. Mary’s International School, Japan x 3

University of California at Davis, U.S.A.

St. Maur International School, Yokohama, Japan x 5

University of California at Los Angeles, U.S.A.

Tanglin Trust School, Singapore

University College of London, U.K.

United World College ISAK Japan, Japan

University of Arkansas, U.S.A.

Wenona School, Australia

University of Cambridge, U.K.

Woodside Priory School, U.S.A.

University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A. x 2

Yokohama International School, Japan x 4

University of Melbourne, Australia University of New South Wales, Australia University of Notre Dame, U.S.A. University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. University of Sydney, Australia University of Toronto, Canada Vanderbilt University, U.S.A. Wake Forest University, U.S.A. Wake Technical Community College, U.S.A. Yale University, U.S.A. Gap Year x 3

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Autumn/Winter 2020 Vol. 65

Nishimachi-Kai Updates

Although the Nishimachi-Kai board was unable to host its usual annual activities this past year due to COVID-19, we continued to be busy supporting the school. On behalf of the N-Kai board, Yhu Kuni ’94, treasurer, addressed new graduates during the virtual graduation ceremony held in June, along with special guest speaker Tetsuya Sakaguchi ‘91, alumnus and father of new graduate and ten-year Nishimachi veteran Reika. Nishimachi-Kai was pleased to welcome the class of 2020 as new Kai members at that time.

High School Update

Nishimachi’s board of directors chair, Philip Greenan, and its vice chair, Denise Miura, hosted a webinar to update the Nishimachi community on the high school project. To view the webinar, please go to the link from the QR code. Password is: 9E&%zX+0 If you would like to address any comments or questions, please contact Head of School, Karen O’Neill.

Matsukata House Restoration Project

Matsukata House turns 100 years old this school year. When the school underwent a “health check” of campus facilities

recently, it became apparent that the structure will require exterior and interior work over the next two years. The school is seeking the support of the community at this time to cover the cost of restoration. Any amount is appreciated. The names of all donors who contribute JPY 100,000, US$1000, or more, will be inscribed on a plaque that will be placed in the lobby of the Matsukata House. For details, please see https://www.nishimachi.ac.jp/ giving/online-giving

Staff and Alumni News

The school has welcomed sixteen new staff members this new school year. For alumni, it was sad to say thank you, and good-bye, to long-timers Hottasan, Nurse Nancy, and Philippe Eymard, but we are happy that they remain with us as members of Nishimachi-Kai. Matt McKinney, our new director of advancement, is Philippe’s successor. Please extend a warm welcome to Matt and continue to send updates on what is going on in your lives to alumni@nishimachi.ac.jp. We look forward, as always, to receiving your news.

The N-Kai board is continuing its efforts to locate missing alumni. If you know of classmates who are not receiving the online newsletter or copies of The Internationalist, please have them complete a change of address form: https://www.nishimachi.ac.jp/ address We will keep you posted on our news via the Nishimachi-Kai newsletter.

On behalf of the Nishimachi-Kai Board of Directors, Nancy Hashima ‘83

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The Internationalist

Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk: Why I Stand behind Our Outreach Scholarship Program

by Andrew R. Deane MS Humanities, Grade 9 Advisor

Our mission is clear: we are a community of people who know, care, and take action; we bring value to others; and we make a positive impact on the world. Tall orders at the best of times, but better by far to be ambitious than to linger in mediocrity. Our graduate statement is equally unequivocal: our students will make ethical decisions; they will inspire and empower others; they will “think globally, understand other cultures, value difference and show compassion.”

Such aspirations cannot be achieved through a homogenous community perpetuating the status quo. To be effective global citizens, we must not only embrace diversity and multiplicity; we must actively cultivate it in ourselves and in others.

We are now in the eighth year of our annual Walkathon, and I am proud to say that I have been involved every year as the coordinator of our course marshals. I am also proud to say that I have donated modestly to our Outreach Scholarship Fund for as many years and more.

I want to share my motivations for my long-term connection to this program, and I want to explore the values that I think propel our actions as a community.

Our Mission To develop learners and leaders who know, care and take action to bring value to others and to make a positive impact on the world.

One reason I support the Outreach Scholarship program is because I know what it feels like to be dependent on others for a place at a great school. My family moved to Canada at a crucial moment during my preparatory schooling, and I found myself ill-suited to schooling as it was then practiced in Canada. My parents were hesitant for financial and socioemotional reasons to return me alone to my prep school in Surrey, England. These obstacles were resolved by a great aunt who defrayed the costs of multiple annual airfares, and

Autumn/Winter 2020 Vol. 65

by an aunt and uncle who welcomed me into their home and sent me to my cousins’ boarding school near Bristol to conclude my preparatory schooling.

Their generosity and hospitality meant that I was able to lay down the bedrock of a lifelong education that continues today to help me improve as an educator. Two years ago, I returned to university to study for a second master’s degree, and this time it was my Canadian boarding school that substantially funded my studies through a scholarship set up to assist alumni in pursuing postgraduate degree programs. As I begin my dissertation in the final year of my program, I am cognizant once more of how much I want to pay forward these blessings.

While raising money remains an essential part of any scholarship effort, it represents neither the heart of the program nor the prime motive of many contributors. While I endeavor to literally pay back the generosity I have received, I am substantively motivated by the lessons my mother taught me.

She was a lifelong volunteer, a woman driven by unconditional love for others and an intense desire to make the world, or at least her tiny corner of it, a kinder, healthier place. In England, she worked for Barnardo’s and the Sue Ryder Foundation, and, in Canada, she volunteered for many years at a home for children with mental disabilities and sang at care homes for the elderly. More recently, she gave her time and energy for over twenty years to teaching stage make-up at a local school on Vancouver Island until, aged eighty, her dementia finally overwhelmed her. Whenever asked why she gave so much of herself to her community, she would humbly reply, “It’s the right thing to do, dear.” But I think she might have cited, had she been pushed for further explanation, her strong Christian values, her own experience as a foster child, and her infectious and unconditional love for any and all people. As child psychologist Margaret McFarland astutely remarked, “Attitudes aren’t taught, they’re caught.”* “It goes without saying that scholarship recipients benefit greatly from the program.

Less obvious, however, is the significant contribution these students make to the overall educational climate and to Nishimachi’s core mission of ‘fostering sensitivity to, and respect for, individual talents as well as differences’.” From “Outreach Scholarship” (https://www. nishimachi.ac.jp/giving/outreach).

But even the lessons learned from my mother and the desire to pay forward my blessings fail to tell the whole story. Since its inception in 2003-2004, more than twenty students have brought diversity to our community as worthy recipients of our Outreach scholarships. Our earliest beneficiaries are already paying forward by attending walkathons and making all manner of contributions to our school community. Their cultural, linguistic, religious, racial, and national diversity is crucial if we are to educate our students and ourselves to become open-minded global citizens. Actively ensuring that our campus benefits from the dividends that diversity brings not only fulfills our Nishimachi Learner Expectations (“We cultivate meaningful connections between people, cultures and ideas” and “We respect differences, are empathetic and work to find solutions on a global and local level,” for example), but also aligns us with our accreditation criteria.

I sincerely hope that sharing some of the reasons I stand whole-heartedly behind our Outreach Scholarship program will affirm your own inclinations to participate fully in our annual fundraising events. Our school vision, explicitly expressed in our graduate statement, points to the central reason for my sanguine attachment.

But, on a personal level, I have found myself unimaginably enriched through my contact with our recipients. They have brought to me, and continue to bring, a plurality of perspectives and a multiplicity of refreshing values, and I can affirm without hesitation that I am a more effective educator for having known and taught them. It may be somewhat passé to quote Sir Winston Churchill, but time and again his pithy aphorisms have served to illuminate a truth I struggle to articulate: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Thank you for supporting this worthy program. * Cited by DJB in ‘Attitudes aren’t caught, they’re caught”; retrieved 22 Oct 2020 from https:// moretocome.net/2017/10/16/attitudes-arent-taughttheyre-caught/.

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The Internationalist

POSTMARKS

We have removed the Postmarks section from the online version for privacy reasons. If you are a Nishimachi-Kai member, please signup at www.nishimachi.ac.jp/address to receive the hard copy in mail.

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Autumn/Winter 2020 Vol. 65

Yokoso - Welcome to the Nishimachi Family

Laura DuttonGallagher

Sayuri Fujita

Hayley Jeanes

Akiko Kikuchi

Grade 2

MS Counselor

Emily Morley Grade 3

Nurse

ES Japanese

Eri Okitsuka

Front Office and Security

Vanessa Gay-Rice Director of Learning

Joshua Gibson

Auxiliary Program Manager

Susan Grigsby

Isao Hayakawa

Head Librarian

Business Planning Specialist

Kazutora Kiyomatsu

Anita Lee ES Music

Director of Digital Learning

Matt Marson

Matt McKinney

Victoria Robinson

Kathryn Rutherford

Marie Staples

Brian Webb

Plant and Facility Manager

Grade 4

MS Humanities

Kindergarten Assistant

Director of Advancement

Assistant ES Principal

2020 Retirement

Kazuhiko Hotta 37 years

Philippe Eymard 23 years

Nancy Tsurumaki 20 years

Bon Voyage - Good luck with your future endeavors. We’ll miss you!

Tom Dowden Eoghan Fitzgerald Jessie Harter Carol Koran

Stephen Skelton Jonathan Stroud Sherry Tappert Lee Wilson

Leslie Wise Hiromi Yamamoto Nao Yoneda

The Matsukata House 100th Anniversary Project

A Restoration

A campaign to restore the Matsukata House to showcase the school’s history was kicked off at the school’s 70th anniversary celebration on February 14, 2020. The campaign runs through July of 2021, and our goal is to raise 20 million yen. Donations received thus far total over 7.1 million yen.

We invite members of our community to consider donating to the Matsukata House 100th Anniversary Project. All donors who give 100,000 JPY, $1000 USD, or more, will have their names inscribed on a plaque that will be placed in the lobby of the Matsukata House.

Photo by Toshiharu Kitajima

Annual Fund 年次基金 Give to Nishimachi

Outreach Scholarship Program

西町へのご支援

アウトリーチ奨学金

Matsukata House 100th Anniversary Project 松方ハウス100周年記念プロジェクト

Credit Card Donation クレジットカードでのご寄付

www.nishimachi.ac.jp/giving