Earlham's
History with Japan: Earlham College & The Tomonokai
Read The Newsletters!
Ever
since Kaifu Chuzo and Yuri Watanabe became the first Japanese man and
woman to earn Earlham degrees, in 1893 and 1916 respectively, there has
been a steady stream of Japanese passing through Earlham.
The oldest and largest organized group of Japanese with ties to Earlham
is the group known as the "Earlham Tomonokai" consisting of alumni/ae
and friends of the college. Established in the 1960s as a way for alumni/ae
to keep in touch with each other, the organization now mails its annual
newsletter to over 200 recipients, including 4-year degree students, 1-year
exchange students, former faculty and staff members, their friends and
relatives, and others.
This
group meets regularly, mostly for fellowship, and also hosts receptions
for groups of Earlham visitors to Japan once or twice a year. There are
two other organized groups in Japan that refer to themselves as "Earlham
Tomonokai." Both of them are made up chiefly of Japanese public school
teachers who participated in the two-week study trip to Indiana known
as the American Education, Family, and Culture Institute, which was operated
by Earlham for nearly 25 years. Known as the January Institute for many
years, the program changed its name when it moved to November. The two
groups of former participants are based in the cities of Morioka and Utsunomiya,
and together their membership rolls contain close to 200 names.
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