The Ambassador. Fall, 2023

The Ambassador Fostering a community of inquisitive learners and independent thinkers, inspired to be their best selves, empowered to make a difference.

ROOFTOP GARDENS Second graders get planting

Fall/Winter 2023

The American School in Japan

KAI McGUIRE ’14

HARUKA KOKAZE ’18

Advancing the president

ASIJ Young Alumni Changemaker Award

MASTER PLAN

The future of the Chofu Campus

Stay Connected

It’s all about connections... ... that’s why our alumni portal is designed to make it easier than ever for you to stay in touch with us and your fellow ASIJers around the globe. Mustangs Online is a dynamic site for alums, alumni parents and former faculty packed with news, information about upcoming events and reunions, photo galleries, internship and job opportunities, and directory. It also hosts digital copies of yearbooks going back to 1919, past issues of The Ambassador magazine and a selection of Hanabi articles and content from the archive.

To make the most of this service, we’ll need your email so we can send you information and help you get started. If we don’t already have your up-to-date email, please take a moment to drop us a line at alumni@asij.ac.jp.

Our Alumni Services Alumni Directory Alumni Portal Regional Alumni Connect Networks Regional Receptions Class Reunions ASIJ Alumni Connect Industry Meetups Internship & Job Listings ASIJ Alumni Impact Award ASIJ Young Alumni Changemaker Award The Ambassador Magazine Monthly Newsletter Yearbook Archive Transcript Services

Don’t miss out! Contact us: alumni@asij.ac.jp https://asij.ac.jp/alumni (+81) 0422-34-5300 ext 710

Follow us on social media: asij_official asijtokyo asij the-american-school-in-japan

In this Issue Features

06

Advancing International Relations

Interview with Kai McGuire ’14 on his work in The White House

10

Re-imagining ASIJ’s Chofu Campus

A look at our Master Plan for the future

16 18

Mustangs in Love

A bridal shoot on campus with Saki Fujita ’14 and Yosuke Higashi ’14

Searching for Susie-chan

Susie Bauman Ziemer ‘81 on being the face of Yamazaki Pan for over 50 years

20

The Roots of Learning

Second graders get planting at the rooftop garden

23

Bridging Culture, Building Support

Young Alumni Changemaker Award recipient Haruka Kokaze ‘18

27

Strength and Courage Award

Interview with the founders of Enough is Enough

More 03 \\ ASIJ Highlights 29 \\ Fundraising 43 \\ Alumni Receptions 48 \\ Alumni Connect Events 52 \\ Reunion Round-up 55 \\ Upcoming Reunions 56 \\ Alumni Council Report 57 \\ Artifact 58 \\ Class Agents 59 \\ Obituaries 64 \\ The Big Short

Director of Communications Matt Wilce Interim Director of Advancement Claire Lonergan Interim Director of Giving Nikki Torchon Alumni Coordinator Miranda Liu Data Specialist Catherine Iwata Digital Communications Officer Zelda Edmunds Graphic Designer Johnson Lin Graphic Designer Anwar Suhaimi Intern Daniela Ruiz Santos Student Intern Erika Kasuga

Editorial Inquiries communications@asij.ac.jp alumni@asij.ac.jp — The American School in Japan 1-1-1 Nomizu, Chofu-shi Tokyo 182-0031, Japan The Ambassador is published

by The American School in Japan ASIJ alumni, families, faculty, and friends receive The Ambassador

2

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

ASIJ

Highlights

ARTS

Sherlock: The Baker Street Originals

Sherlock Holmes, the greatest detective in the world, is missing. And just when London needs her (yes, her) the most! With a string of high profile kidnappings sweeping the city and a notorious villain on the loose, it is up to a small band of orphans to save the day. That was the plot of this year’s High School Fall Play, which saw over 50 cast and crew bring the story to life in the Black Box. “Like many great individuals, Sherlock Holmes’ accomplishments were often aided by servants, orphans, pickpockets, chimney sweepers, and all sorts of “undesirables” who lived their lives unseen by Victorian society. Sherlock Holmes: The

Baker Street Irregulars pulls these characters into the spotlight, as it is now up to them to save the day,” says director Damon Shearer. To take a look behind the scenes and learn more about the show, which took a gender blind approach to casting with a female Sherlock Holmes, watch the video linked through the QR code below.

ht tps://w w w.youtube.com/ watch?v=K2In8aBk9AU

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

3

ASIJ

Highlights

ARTS

Seussical the Musical Jr. In this year’s Middle School Musical The Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos, who Horton must protect while guarding an abandoned egg that's been left in his care. Staged on a colorful, multi-layered set in the ASIJ Theater, the show spoke to the power of friendship, loyalty, family, and community.

See more on YouTube @asij_TV

4

ATHLETICS

ACADEMICS

CULTURE

Sports Day

The Outsiders

One Potato, Two Potato

Once again Japanese sports day saw the White and Red teams battle it out on the field. The fun competition happened to coincide with our drone shoot, which gave a whole new perspective on things.

After reading the classic novel The Outsiders and consulting with a lawyer, seventh grade humanities students took part in The Trial of Johnny Cade. The unit’s purpose was to dig deeper into personal identities and group identities, and connect these ideas with characters in stories so students could think critically about how our identities evolve and how we find our place in the world.

As is our fall tradition, the ELC headed to a local farm to dig up sweet potatoes, while our Chofu Kindergarten students pulled up the imo growing on campus. Students enjoyed getting their hands dirty and will explore various ways to use the potatoes and vines in their learning.

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

ASIJ

Highlights

ATHLETICS

Courtside Excitement Schools around Japan as well as Chadwick and Seoul Foreign School in South Korea and UWC South East Asia in Singapore participated in ASIJ’s YUJO volleyball tournament.

The three-day event was a great success with the ASIJ boys team finishing as tournament champions.

The girls volleyball team found success elsewhere as champions at the Taipei Invitational and were runners-up at the Far East Tournament.

ATHLETICS

CULTURE

CAMPUS

Mustang Spirit

Rice is Life

Barbie and Her Boo!

Campus was buzzing at Spirit Day on October 21st, with families enjoying a wide range of sporting activities, a sumo experience, activities and great food. The day, organized by the PTA, culminated in the football game against MC Perry which saw the Mustangs leave the field victorious. A week later the team continued their successful season by winning the Far East Division II football final at Zama.

Following the harvest of our oncampus rice field at the end of September, fifth graders headed back outside to thresh the dried rice with the help of a local farmer. You can find more coverage of the rice project on our social media channels.

The annual Elementary School Halloween Parade saw a variety of monsters, princesses, dinosaurs and a whole cohort of grown up Barbies and Kens walk through campus before they gathered on the field for a huge group photo.

Check out Instagram @asij_official for more!

Check out Instagram @asij_official for more!

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

5

Advancing International Relations Kai McGuire ’14 speaks to Matt Wilce about his work in the White House as part of President Biden’s advance team and his pathway there.

W

hile many people in many different jobs handle challenging logistics, complex schedules, and international travel arrangements, the stakes are somewhat higher when your role is Advance Coordinator at the White House and you're supporting the work of the President of the United States. “I work in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and when I go into work my day revolves around what the President's schedule is going to look like over the next few days, weeks, and months,” says Kai McGuire ‘14.

“Advance is a weird word when you think about it, because it can be a noun or a verb or an adjective depending on the context in which you use it. In this case we use it in a verb form — advancing a ‘principal,’ advancing a person — so in my case, I’m advancing the president,” Kai explains.

6

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

“Every time the President leaves the 18 acres of the White House, there’s a group of people who go out ahead of him, anywhere from seven to 10 days, that are from the Secret Service, White House Communications, White House Military Office, Press Advance, Staff Advance, and the Medical Office,” former Presidential Advance Director Kelly Gannon Russell explained in a 2022 interview. ”They would all go out and handle all the logistics for all the President’s movements, but also all the staff that travel with him and security, and the media. They’re the people who have to make the trip possible for the principal.”

“We have to understand where the principal is going to be walking, where are they going to enter a building?

If they're making a speech, what sort of stage are they going to be standing on? What is the backdrop going to be? What kind of people are they going to be interacting with? Is it open press? Is it closed press?... Is it going to be political? Is it going to be in the principal's official capacity? There are a lot of different questions that have to be answered,” Kai says. In addition to planning the specifics of each trip or activity ahead of time, the advance team also accompanies the principal on their visits.

Coordinating current and future logistics, moving team members around the country — and often the world — requires a lot of planning. “A lot of my day revolves around looking at the schedule and understanding what our needs are based on the specifics and the peculiarities of the trip itself. That involves the logistics of getting travel, getting our advance team to these locations, and making sure that they have the tools that they need to do the job,” Kai says. Beyond that, Kai considers “what is the cadence of what we're going to be doing? How many people do we need to be sending out?” He describes the work as being like an air traffic controller. “We have many different trips going on, we have different advance teams, and we need to circulate and allocate our resources to all of these different trips. And a lot of times they're very complicated because they involve different stops along the way.”

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

7

Kai at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in May 2023

Kai's yearbook photo from the 2014 Chochin

In addition to the planning, there is also the execution of the trips, and the other main part of Kai’s work involves accompanying the President when he travels. It was in that capacity that Kai recently had the opportunity to return to Japan, the place he grew up, as a member of the team attending the G7 Summit in Hiroshima. “That was a really meaningful experience for me because it was a homecoming in many ways,” he says. “I was really proud to be back at home and able to represent the administration and the important work that we were doing there. It felt really meaningful and just a great opportunity to connect my different worlds — different parts of my upbringing.”

Kai spent many of his formative years in Tokyo, attending ASIJ from 2005 until he graduated with the Class of ‘14. His family have strong connections to the school with his younger brothers Ian ’17, Hugh ’20, and Lee ’22 all fellow Mustangs.

Kai’s father Matt McGuire (AP ’05–22) also served on the school’s Board of Directors for three years. “My mother is Japanese and my father is American, and growing up in Tokyo and going to ASIJ, I think was always very aware of the fact that the United States and Japan share this very

Kai was voted "best smile" in the senior superlatives in the 2014 Chochin

8

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

special relationship, this very special alliance, which in many ways, you could say I am sort of a direct product of.”

Kai particularly remembers the impact that his education and the trips he took at ASIJ had on his understanding of that context. He particularly remembers trips to Kiyosato Educational Experiment Project (KEEP) and Izu in middle school as well as taking Japan Seminar (JSEM) with Kathy Krauth (AP ’00–12) in high school. “That was a really important class for me, a really formative experience,” he says. The class provided him the opportunity to really understand and peel back the layers of the country he grew up in. “I think it was that experience of understanding the United States and Japan's history, and the history of the relationship, and getting a better, deeper understanding of the work that it takes to create a relationship like that that really, really inspired me.” Kathy remembers Kai as a stellar social studies student, who excelled in JSEM. “He was curious, intelligent and was able to make meaningful connections across time and space,” she told us. “He was, and I am sure remains, a kind and funny person.”

Od moluptat verum as simusciis acepudaest volum facculpa dessero tentur,

Kai boarding Air Force One through his work as an Advance Coordinator for the White House Opportunities to travel and explore his own cultural background “teach you how much you actually don't know about the world. And it always made me very curious,” he says. “I think what's sort of really sparked my interest in trying to understand more about the parts of the world that I had never been to or that I hadn't encountered yet in my life.” That influenced Kai’s choice to study international relations, firstly at Tufts where he majored in International Relations, Russian and European Studies, and currently at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service where he is a McHenry Fellow pursuing a master’s in Asian Studies. It was also “what inspired me to study abroad when I was in college twice, first in the Republic of Georgia and then in Russia,” he says. “I think that the service trips, the field trips [at ASIJ] were all really formative experiences because they really get you out of the bubble of Tokyo and get you out into Japan, meeting people who you wouldn't normally interact with,” he reflects. “And I always remember coming away from those trips and feeling like, oh, there's so much of the world I just don't know.”

Kai was able to leverage his international background and language skills early in his career working for the Embassy of Japan in the United States for two years as a Congressional

Coordinator. He later joined McLar ty Associates, an international strategic advisory firm that specializes in commercial diplomacy. There, Kai managed a global client portfolio focused on the firm’s work in Northeast Asia and Japan. He then moved to the White House, beginning his time in the administration as an advance associate in 2022.

“I always felt a very strong call to public service — I think since I was young, I knew I wanted to be in public service and that everything I studied and did in my work was going to be toward that.”

Kai credits much of his perspective and success to his experience at ASIJ. “Being the beneficiary of such a robust educational program, being around such great faculty, being in such a really loving community, and having great friends, I felt really fortunate to grow up in that environment.” He goes on to reference the phrase “to whom much is given, much is required” in the context of his desire to give back.

“I feel very fortunate to have had an education at a school that really impresses upon students the value of being a global citizen,” he says. “I really just felt a call to live up to that principle and to try to make use of my education — the education that I feel so fortunate to have received — and I felt really compelled to pay that forward in some small way.”

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

9

Re-imagining ASIJ's Chofu Campus From our beginnings as the Tokyo School for Foreign Children in 1902, our school has weathered major world events and reinvented itself many times, on many campuses, while continuing to evolve how we provide a world-class education. After over sixty years at the Chofu Campus, it’s time for us to re-imagine our facilities again and look to the future needs of our students and teachers.

A

fter decades of incremental reform in schools, it is important that ASIJ’s community recognizes the landscape of education is evolving at a breathtaking pace. A confluence of powerful social, economic, scientific, and technological drivers has compelled schools to interrogate not only what they teach, but also why and how. We are approaching an inflection point where schools must either choose to engage these disruptive challenges or remain anchored to familiar systems, practices, and pedagogies that are comfortable, but poorly equipped to meet the challenges of our time. If premiere schools like ASIJ share a common imperative in today’s changing landscape, it is that we must lean in, urgently, otherwise we risk failing a generation of students destined to enter adulthood in an increasingly complex, diverse, and rapidly changing world.

10

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

We believe this Master Plan, developed in partnership with Ennead Architects, represents a bold new vision for our Chofu campus that will help us meet our obligation to our current generation of students and those that will follow. This plan envisions facilities — for learning, for the fine and performing arts, and for our athletics programs — that will be world-class. These facilities will confirm ASIJ’s position as a premier international school in Japan, while also permitting the school to re-establish itself as one of the leading international schools in the world.

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

11

A River of Learning During their time on campus, Ennead met with a lot of groups and Ennead asked the question: “What does the campus need? What could we add to this campus to make it more powerful, more effective, to allow it to build a stronger community?” In one of the sessions, a very creative fourth grader said, “I think it needs water. I think we need a river running through campus.”

"We are not proposing to build a river through the middle of campus, but we are going to create a transformational educational environment that’s every bit as powerful as the river that inspired it.”

Our river of learning begins at the Elementary School and flows in one continuous building through the Middle School and onto the Performing Arts Wing before it culminates in the High School.

12

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Elementary School

Middle School

As the starting point for the “river of learning” the elementary school structure remains low and approachable. It is primarily a two-story structure with a partial third floor with an accessible green roof area. The ground floor level houses the elementary library, dining hall, and other communal spaces with access to the elementary gymnasium in the basement level. On the second floor, classrooms are organized by grade with each cohort converging around a shared pod-like space.

This provides opportunities for flexible collaborative space that can be used for large multi-classroom activities or be divided for small-group learning. The third floor houses specialty classrooms for art and music, as well as a maker space taking advantage of the ample daylight on the high floor as well as an accessible rooftop for outdoor learning.

The ES playground, on the roof of the bus parking structure is directly accessible from the second floor as well as via stairs from the ground floor.

At the center of the “river of learning” the Middle School sits prominently on the campus green and is the feature building for the bus drop-off roundabout. This primary location requires that the Head of School office and prominent entrance also be located here, on the ground level. The Middle School administrative offices and shared programs are also located on the ground floor with the MS library located such that it shares adjacencies across the campus green from the High School commons. The academic classrooms on the second floor are also laid out in a cohort mode, but feature a more varied mix of break out space types that are suitable for students who are starting to learn independently and work on individual projects. Though organized by grades, the academic classrooms span two floors with specialty classrooms located on the third floor.

High School At the end of the “river of learning,” the High School sits five stories high, taking advantage of the limitless height allowance on the Fuchu area of our campus. Like the Elementary School and Middle School, the first floor houses shared spaces that create community administrative functions. Unlike the other buildings, the high school organizes the academic spaces in a courtyard model with classrooms along the perimeter surrounding a central, shared collaboration space. This ageappropriate collaboration space supports individualized learning, while providing a range of space types, from open areas to fully enclosed areas, that support the needs of groups as well as individuals. The fourth floor houses science labs, and the fifth floor houses art studios, with both floors having access to roof terraces that support outdoor learning and experimentation. All the floors are connected by a wide communicating stairway.

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

13

Honoring our Heritage The building design and landscape of the Master Plan aim to capture the spirit of ASIJ by drawing inspiration from the beloved Elementary School Donut and its Japanese Garden as well as other historical elements. The Elementary School and High School buildings wrap in on themselves creating lush, open circle courtyards reminiscent of the historic Donut building. Elsewhere there are further nods to the iconic form such as the circular cut-outs in the cafeteria canopy, through which trees rise.

The historic school gate, which dates from 1934, takes pride of place in the new campus green, remaining a focal point for alumni and an integral part of the School’s identity.

Other beloved heritage elements will also find new homes on campus.

Subtle yet distinct Japanese architectural elements that add an aesthetic charm to the overall look and feel of the spaces.

These elements, ranging from traditional to contemporary, are reflected in the materials used and the spatial composition.

The use of wood and stone, commonly found in traditional structures, has made a comeback as a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. The fins and patterns adorning the facades draw inspiration from traditional shoji screens and kōshi patterns, not only enhancing the building’s composition but also providing shade and privacy for specific programs.

The extension of canopy structures towards the courtyard and Campus Green are reminiscent of the engawa terraces commonly found in traditional Japanese homes and temples, that blend the interior and exterior spaces.

14

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

What's Next?

Completing all six phases will require between 10 and 16 years. There are logical points when the process could be paused – for example, after Phases 1 and 2 are complete. The school’s future needs and opportunities will be regularly assessed throughout the process. The timeline can be accelerated if the construction of one phase overlaps with the design of a future phase. The timeline can also be slowed down, if necessary, if financial considerations or construction fatigue become issues.

ASIJ’s Board of Directors is currently working on steps needed to move the vision presented in our Master Plan forward. The first is to conduct an externally supported planning study around advancement, to define the strategy and resources needed to execute a capital campaign. The School has engaged CCS to guide us through that process, and we are fortunate to have an ASIJ alumna as part of their team working with us. The second step is for the Board to consider the total financial impact of moving forward with the Master Plan, and a taskforce has been formed to study and report back to the board on our financing options.

There will be myriad opportunities for our community to engage in this process, including in each of the design phases. Those opportunities will be well advertised in due course.

Community members interested in supporting the work are welcome to notify ASIJ’s Head of School <head@asij.ac.jp> or Advancement Office at <donate@asij.ac.jp> to discuss those opportunities.

T he complete Mas ter Plan bro c hure and an accompanying video are available here:

Brochure

Video

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

15

Mustangs in Love Miranda Liu speaks with Saki Fujita ’14 and Yosuke Higashi ’14 about their journey from ASIJ prom king and queen to husband and wife.

S

he peeks through the doorway, eyes sparkling with excitement as loose wisps from her elegant updo frame her face. She lifts the hem of her ornate gown, stepping into the room and grinning joyfully as she meets his eyes.

His expression lights up as he sees her, his gaze full of love as he holds his hand out to her, looking stately in his formal suit, and everyone in the room can tell that love is in the air.

Watching this scene play out at ASIJ, an onlooker might assume that it’s April and prom is just around the corner… in fact, prom is but a magical memory for these two mustangs in love — one that took place almost ten years ago — because for Saki Fujita ’14 and Yosuke Higashi ’14, ASIJ set the scene for the start of their love story.

16

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Both Saki and Yosuke enrolled at ASIJ in high school — he from freshman year, and she from sophomore year — and they first met in chemistry class in tenth grade.

“The infamous story is that I couldn’t remember his name,” Saki admitted with a sheepish chuckle. “We were lab partners, and I was supposed to write my partner’s name on the beaker, but I wrote someone else’s name.”

Things turned around the following year when Saki’s friend on the tennis team mentioned there was a particularly handsome boy on the team who was “super good at tennis.” Saki was surprised to discover that it was her lab partner from the previous year and sought out Yosuke in the library. Before long, they started dating, and Saki joined the tennis team the following year — they also ran track together. Yosuke’s inventive promposals no doubt contributed to them being voted prom king and queen their senior year.

The couple remained together despite attending college in America in different states on the east coast — Saki at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and Yosuke at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. After college, while Saki stayed in the Baltimore area, Yosuke took a job in Silicon Valley. “That was pretty brutal,” Yosuke admitted, “because I would take the red eye to see her once every month or two. I would stay from Saturday to Tuesday, then get up at 4am and be back in San Francisco from 10am to go to work on Wednesday.”

Luckily, Saki and Yosuke’s work situations allowed them a chance to move closer together again. First, Saki decided that after several years using her degree in biomedical engineering at a medical device startup, she wanted to go to graduate school for physics, and moved back to Tokyo to pursue that in 2021. Yosuke, who had been working at

Waymo, the self-driving car company under Google, was happy to follow, making the leap back to Tokyo to work at an AI startup and finally be back in the same city as his high school sweetheart. And after two very successful promposals almost a decade earlier, he faced his newest challenge: a real-deal marriage proposal.

“I was actually planning to propose on our tenth anniversary,” Yosuke shared, “but on the morning of that day, it turned out I had COVID. So I had to cancel.” Once he was well again, he tried again on New Year’s Eve. He had the day all planned out, but kept being thrown for a loop when Saki asked to change the plans throughout the day. Eventually, the couple ended up taking a romantic stroll through the park… until misfortune struck yet again. “It was freezing cold. I was wearing heels for some reason, which I never do, so my feet hurt like hell,” Saki shared. “And then a bird pooped on my head. And I was just, like, I want to go home!”

Yosuke persevere, found a better spot and finally proposed.

“That made my day a little better,” Saki told us with a grin.

And so ten years after they started their senior year together, Saki and Yosuke returned to campus, this time for a wedding photoshoot prior to their wedding ceremony in October. The Alumni Office was thrilled to help them reenact their high school memories from the beginnings of their relationship, and to welcome them to the ranks of the nearly 100 ASIJ alumni who are married to fellow Mustangs. Congratulations to Saki and Yosuke!

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

17

Searching for Susie-chan Susie Bauman Ziemer ’81, the model behind the famous mascot “Susie-chan,” speaks to Miranda Liu about her experience becoming the face of a bread company and her time at ASIJ.

F

or decades, a cute little blonde girl biting into a slice of white bread has been the corporate mascot for bread company Yamazaki Pan. Its trucks bearing the image of the girl known only as Susie-chan regularly roam the streets of Japan and for many years her real identity was forgotten.

Last year, a certain corner of the internet tried to get to the bottom of the mystery, prompting ASIJ to wonder whether Susie-chan was a former student. We were right and the little girl on the trucks turned out to be Susie Bauman Ziemer ’81.

18

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Susie’s family came to Japan in 1964, when she was just six months old. Her father worked with Northwest Airlines, and Susie and her siblings Steve Bauman ’76 and Ann Bauman Schulte ’78 attended ASIJ while modeling on the side. “I did a lot of jobs when I was younger,” Susie recollects, as did her siblings. “I was in an an and non-no and all of those magazines.”

Susie and family visit the Yamazaki Pan offices

The Yamazaki Pan job started out just like any other job.

Susie was picked from a selection of photos of child models through the modeling agency, and on the day of the shoot, her mother, Joanne Bauman (AP ’64–78), fixed her hair and picked out the blue dress that would become famous all over Japan. The concept of the shoot was easy for a threeyear-old — look cute while eating bread. “I loved bread, so I was happy when they had me take a bite out of the bread,” Susie shared with a laugh, “But every time they took a new photo, they needed a new piece of bread. My mom said that I would cry and get upset, because the staff would say, ‘We’ll bring you another one,’ but I just kept wanting to eat the bread in my hands!”

Susie, who was paid ¥4,000 at the time for her work, knew that Yamazaki Pan was still using her photo 57 years later from friends and family members sharing photos, but she wasn’t in touch with the company. “I didn’t get free bread for life or anything, just the money,” she commented with a chuckle.

Despite the fact that she received no royalties for being the face of the Yamazaki Pan company for nearly six decades, Susie recalls her time in Japan fondly. “I loved ASIJ,” she

shared. “I was a swimmer and a cheerleader. I loved being with all different kids from all over the world. Great teachers, great classes, great everything.” She was devastated when her family was transferred back to the United States in the middle of her high school career.

Eventually, several decades later, Susie was contacted by friends informing her that Yamazaki Pan was looking to see where she was now. After several setbacks, Susie made it back to Japan this year with her whole family, where they were welcomed to the Yamazaki Pan offices like royalty. “It was a crazy experience,” Susie commented with a laugh.

“They rolled out the red carpet for us, and took us to every floor of the building, introducing us to everyone, so many people bowing to us. It’s something we’ll never forget.”

But despite being basically a celebrity, Susie made time to visit ASIJ as well, with her husband, Mark, and three of her children. “ASIJ is such a dear, special place for us,” she shared. “It’s so wonderful. We think this is the best place to grow up.”

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

19

The Roots of Learning Nikki Torchon learns about our second-graders' green thumbs and their exploration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as they plant our rooftop gardens.

20

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Students prepare garden plots on top of the CAD Center

affect the garden, and so on,” Hardi explains.

All the units were separate before, and now this second-grade community garden will be the cornerstone of these lessons, which also incorporate partnerships with multiple grades and departments.

The learning — and fun! — began with students idea-mapping and sorting what they already knew about gardens. On second-grade teacher Alicia Strycharske’s wall, answers on a rainbow of Post-its surround the sizable question “How can gardens benefit nature, the economy, society and our wellbeing?” Her students thoughtfully gave answers ranging from food and homes for bees, to health, to selling tea, to a tasty “mint drink!”

T

he Creative Arts Design Center is the newest building on campus. It’s the one where Glowforges hum as they laser-cut precise designs, where ideas become objects at the 3D printers, and where design tech labs and maker spaces inspire hands-on opportunities to create.

Just a floor above all this technology, an entirely different medium is inspiring its own lessons.

Awash in sun, and with an added burst of warmth from the rays reflecting off the shiny building, the L-shaped garden on the roof of the CAD Center is quite literally ready to sprout possibilities, all because of some hard working second-graders.

In second grade, the science curriculum is inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Life on Land and Climate Action.

The curriculum has long included lessons on pollinators, erosion, and how plants grow, but this year, the second-grade team, in partnership with Hardi Fichardt, elementary school design teacher, is trying something different. By weaving together the disparate units on things like changes in the earth’s surface, the role of pollinators in an ecosystem, and erosion, individual areas of inquiry have been brought together in a monthslong exploration centered around gardening and watching plants grow.

“This year, we want to build the story throughout the year. So the students will plant the seeds, watch the plants grow, talk about how erosion might

The students then played Garden Heroes, a trading-card style game created by Hardi with Challenge Cards that feature problems supplied by different classes and teams across campus.

“In the game, we looked at some statistics about which flowers would survive best in the winter, which would have fragrant smells, which Chef David [Charron] could use…” Alicia said as she gave an outline of the game. Challenges set by groups across campus included requests such as “Veggies and herbs make dishes magical! We need onions, spinach, and oregano for our High School Beyond the Plate club.” Another was, “We’re making eco-friendly paper and your flower expertise is key. Small dried flowers will make our paper look and smell fantastic.”

Students divided into teams and, after identifying their Challenge Card and developing a strategy for that Challenge, traded with other teams to solve the Challenge they had. As they played the game, they learned about the strengths and weaknesses of various plants.

Our budding gardeners (pardon the pun) spent two sessions preparing these spaces: first, discussing safety in the rooftop garden area and in the sun, learning how to use different tools, and working together to weed; second, creating their garden designs and planting their seeds. Each class has space in the rooftop garden to plant crops in raised beds or directly in the ground, as well as space in their classrooms to plant seeds to sprout in pots.

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

21

Students play the Garden Heroes trading card game

A student identifies his pots as the future homes of daisies A student plants seeds on top of the CAD Center “These seeds are TINY!” a student exclaimed as he carefully dropped snapdragon seeds into soil. At other desks around him, his classmates were planting daisies and pansies, methodically covering the seeds with dirt and watering gently.

After adding flags with carefully drawn blooms identifying the pots, students placed them in the sunbeams shining in through their classroom windows.

The other half of the class planted vegetables and herbs in the plots on top of the CAD Center. As Hardi instructed students how to water – not drown! – their crops, students gleefully passed off the hose to take turns.

Other students loved recounting the weeding process. “I like weeding because I like to pull things out. It’s good for the plants to weed because the weeds will take out all the nutrients,” said second-grader Jin. Students will continue to weed and water their gardens and monitor what their gardens might need, including nutrients. “Hopefully the [elementary school] sustainability club will help us there with their compost,” said Hardi.

22

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

As autumn falls and we head into winter, students will consider earth changes and the impact on the garden. They will learn about weathering and erosion, and participate in smaller-scale experiments that will help them make decisions about how to support their larger gardens. They will watch the weather forecast and think about how to protect plants in case of snow or heavy rainfall or wind. Their explorations may take them to observe other gardens and farms in the neighborhood, including Nogawa Park.

Their hard work and tender care of the gardens will lead to a bountiful harvest and plentiful blooms, which parents will be able to see when they visit campus in the spring. Students will work with Japan Center co-directors Mariko Yokosuka and Kyoko Takano to decorate classrooms with Ikebana arrangements, symbolizing peace, balance, and simplicity.

“In the cafeteria, Chef David is asking for carrots because he wants to make us carrot soup. I like carrots when I eat them at snack time,” said one student. “If you eat too many carrots, you turn orange,” another replied. Perhaps that’s another line of inquiry our budding botanists can take in the future!

Bridging Cultures, Building Support Miranda Liu speaks to inaugural ASIJ Young Alumni Changemaker Award recipient Haruka Kokaze ’18 about how her experiences at ASIJ and beyond shaped her passion for multicultural and transnational psychology.

I

t is an honor to announce Haruka Kokaze ’18 as the inaugural recipient of the ASIJ Young Alumni Changemaker Award.

The award recognizes young alumni who graduated in the last 10 years that have brought about a significant positive change to a community or institution through service work, policy, advocacy, or the nonprofit sector. Haruka embodies the spirit of the award through her tireless research and advocacy to increase awareness and availability of mental health services for those of Asian heritage in the United States.

Haruka, who is currently a graduate student pursuing an accelerated program in counseling at New York University,

was 14 when she joined ASIJ as a freshman, and in some ways her story is a typical ASIJ story. Born in Hyogo Prefecture, Haruka spent her early years back and forth between Tokyo and New York. At ASIJ, she enjoyed taking part in student service and spent two years doing Kyogen – she has fond memories of learning from Kyogen masters Yasutaro Yamamoto and his younger brother Noritaka. She made a lifelong friend in Myriam Bouchard ’18, with whom she is still in touch despite living in different countries since they left ASIJ. Unfortunately, like many ASIJ students, Haruka’s time at the school was cut short due to father’s next assignment in Houston, TX.

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

23

Haruka Kokaze ’18 as seen in the 2017 ASIJ senior yearbook.

W h e n h e r f a t h e r ’s transfer was confirmed, Haruka’s parents gave her the option of moving to Houston, or remaining in Tokyo with her mother to finish her last year at ASIJ. It was a tough call, and Haruka found herself caught between the desire to stay with friends and the potential for growth facing the unknown. She sought the advice of trusted friends and teachers about the choice and ultimately decided to move.

“Naito-sensei [Machiko Naito-sensei (FF ’07–18)] advised me to move to Houston and take in all that Texas had to offer if I wanted to develop into a distinctively global individual, because my time in the South would be significantly different from my previous American experience in New York,” Haruka shared. “Thinking back, Naito-sensei was correct, and I’m incredibly appreciative that she pushed me to acquire such unique experiences that few Japanese people have. Even though it was one of the hardest choices I had to make, it turned out to be one of my best ones yet.”

The transition to Texas was a difficult one, but also led to some of the most important influences in Haruka’s life. Not only was the school a Scottish Episcopal school with only 25 students in each grade, where Highland dance and playing the bagpipes were the most popular after-school activities, Hurricane Harvey led to classes being moved to a Chinese church in the middle of Texas. Despite the culture shock, Haruka enjoyed her senior year after graduation, Haruka began her first year at NYU as an Early Childhood and Specialized Education major, pursuing an interest in working in a field that most influences emotional development.

After attending seminars and working at field sites, Haruka quickly realized teaching was not for her and she decided to take a gap year. She volunteered full-time at Houston's MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital and Memorial Hermann Health System Cancer Center, overseeing therapeutic play sessions for kids with cancer and their siblings to promote self-expression and coping. She collaborated closely with the hospital's care staff at Memorial Hermann as a trained Oncology Patient Lay Navigator to improve patient outcomes.

“I loved getting to know more than 200 patients and their families on an emotional level and helping them discover necessary resources like housing, insurance, transportation, and support groups to remove any barriers to care,” Haruka shared. “I spent the rest of my gap year thinking about how

24

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Haruka with mentors Dr. Takashi Matsuki, Dr. Kathleen Pike, and Fred Katayama at the USJC's NY Regional Committee's "Mental Wellness: Trends in the JA/Japanese Community" panel, which she took the lead in organizing. to make the most of my time at NYU while pursuing my newfound passion for counseling. After learning that NYU had recently launched a new accelerated program that would allow me to earn a BS in Applied Psychology and an MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness in just five years, I decided to switch my major and return to school.”

The program, made up of a 10-person cohort, was a perfect fit for Haruka and has provided her the opportunity to study graduate-level foundations in counseling from her junior year. It also grants her the opportunity to apply for New York State Licensure in Mental Health Counseling after completing all of the requirements. As Haruka progressed through the program, her curiosity in multicultural psychology and realization that mainstream mental health practices and resources frequently don’t work for non-Western populations, began to grow. During her gap year volunteer work in Houston, she saw oppressed and marginalized global majority groups express their need for mental health care that is best tailored to them. As one of the three Asians in her cohort and the only Japanese student in the program, Haruka experienced first-hand the inequalities that continue to cause difficulties for Asians and other racial groups in the field, which harkened back to previous experiences and lit a fire in her to work towards much-needed change.

“What made me ver y passionate about my current aspiration was seeing Texas become a popular state for Japanese corporations to house their headquarters and the rise of Japanese expat families,” Haruka shared. “This caused a rise in the demand for bilingual and multicultural mental health professionals who can communicate and understand the difficulties of assimilating into a distinctive American culture across the States.” Haruka became highly dedicated to incorporating her unique background to help her community. After all, who better to help than someone who had experienced moving back and forward between Japan

and the United States, someone who had gone through ESL and struggled to write in English with confidence, someone who truly understood both sides of the cultural rift?

Haruka worked with numerous faculty when she interned at the Columbia-WHO Global Mental Health Program who helped her connect with their colleagues and secure research assistant positions at labs that matched her research interests. Through this network she had the opportunity to become the undergraduate research assistant at a lab whose principal investigator is Dr Lisa Suzuki, a Japanese American Haruka with mentor Gary Moriwaki at the Honjo Graduate Scholarship female Counseling Psychologist.

Dinner hosted by The Japanese American Association of New York, Inc., “I am incredibly thankful that I finally at which Haruka was awarded found a role model that looks like me and is willing to mentor me,” Haruka commented, reflecting on relationship through people-to-people connections. Haruka the importance of diverse role models in the mental health field. is active in their New York Regional Committee and Mental Wellness Affinity Group. When she struggled with isolation Networking and communication skills have been key in and anti-Asian sentiment during the height of the pandemic, Haruka’s career. After first becoming aware of Dr Takashi the USJC community helped Haruka find her inner strengths Matsuki, an attending psychiatrist in the Mount Sinai and inspired her to continue pursuing her dream. “I have Morningside and West Hospitals' Comprehensive Psychiatric finally found a beautiful chosen family,” Haruka shared warmly.

Emergency Department, when Japanese expats around her “And because at least one or two members at events are were seeking mental health treatment from him in Texas in either ASIJ parents or alumni, USJC feels like an extended 2017. Dr Matsuki, who has extensive clinical training in Japan, community of ASIJ.” offers bilingual telepsychiatry services in twelve states through web-conferencing platforms and is one of the few options in It was through USJC that Haruka first met former ASIJ the United States for Japanese-speakers in need of therapy. Board Member Dr Kathy Pike (AP ’99–’10) in January 2022.

“Since I first learned of his practice, I’ve always wanted to “Dr Pike’s background initially piqued my interest because reach out to Dr Matsuki, but my inner Japanese told me she has extensive clinical and research experience in Japan there was no way a respected Japanese male doctor would for over a decade as a non-Japanese psychologist. I was thus reply to a random email from a Japanese female college thrilled to learn that she is the Director of the Columbia-WHO student,” Haruka admitted. “However, at the same time, my Center for Global Mental Health at Columbia University, American side told me that the worst that might happen is which provides summer internships for graduating senior that I don’t hear back; therefore, there is nothing to lose.” In undergraduate students, and even more thrilled to learn September 2021, Haruka finally reached out to Dr Matsuki that her children attended ASIJ and the same elementary and he responded immediately. He invited her to his office school as me in Scarsdale, New York!” Haruka was chosen as for a short chat between appointments, and upon hearing the only Japanese student intern in the 2022 cohort, which her pitch of herself, he simply replied “Kokaze-san, would allowed her to assist Kathy directly in drafting a chapter you like to intern for me?” The internship has continued for on her research on rethinking eating disorders from global almost two years now and has been a life-changing for Haruka perspectives, a role which Haruka continued even once the and a huge step towards her future goals. “It has been an internship ended. As of October 2023, Kathy and Haruka had amazing honor to learn directly from him and witness the secured the publication of a peer-reviewed manuscript on this rise in demand for Japanese mental health professionals research in Springer. “What makes this even more thrilling with backgrounds similar to mine,” she shared. is that Dr Pike has generously granted me the role of first author!” Haruka shared excitedly. Furthermore, Haruka and Another huge influence has been Haruka’s time interning Kathy will speak together later this fall on a panel discussion with the US-Japan Council (USJC), a non-profit organization hosted by the Global Citizens Initiative, an organization — which she discovered through ASIJ — that develops founded by Yumi Kuwana ’86, on youth mental health, and and connects global leaders to create a stronger US-Japan Haruka will be joining Kathy’s team at One Mind at Work, a

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

25

Haruka in the role of Yamabushi in ASIJ's performance of the kyogen play Kagyu during the 2016-17 school year

global coalition of leaders committed to improving workforce mental health to support human thriving for which Kathy serves as President and CEO. The role will evolve around enhancing workplace mental health, with a specific focus on member companies with headquarters in Japan and their subsidiary locations in America.

Haruka’s projects and accomplishments are so impressive in breadth and depth that it’s difficult to fully comprehend all of the work that she’s done in the past few years while also completing her degree — from leading multiple panels and events on mental health through USJC to providing individual and group psychotherapy counseling to people struggling with substance abuse and alcohol addiction and beyond, her resume is beyond impressive. Her most recent project was researching cancer stigma amongst people living with HIV in Vietnam, for which she presented the complete results at the American Psychological Association 2023 Convention in Washington, DC as the first author of the study while continuing to intern for Dr Matsuki, in addition to her work with Kathy Pike.

Haruka continues to strive towards her short-term goal: to work as a provider for Japanese clients in New York, Texas, and other states. “After getting clinical experience, I also want to pursue a PhD in Counseling Psychology where I hope to study the mental health trends of Japanese and Japanese Americans, evaluate the cross-cultural validity of the current assessment tools, and create tools that are inclusive of our culture,” she shared. “I want to study workplace mental health and provide advice on developing better wellness initiatives tailored to Japanese workers in the United States to aid Japanese subsidiaries in expanding their operations.

26

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Finally, I hope to eventually open my private practice and partner with other clinicians, organizations, and companies to improve my community's mental health and well-being.”

But Haruka understands more than anyone the importance of self-care, so her life certainly isn’t all work and no relaxation.

“I strive to put my mental health first and constantly remind myself that I am only human,” she shared. She also recently began seeing a therapist herself, as all of her graduate professors stressed how crucial it is for students studying mental health and wellness to seek therapy early in their careers if we want to become competent counselors. “I didn't understand it until I discovered that if we don't allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we can't be ready to welcome and support clients doing the same in front of us. Therapy has changed my life in that it has helped me understand how I respond to different kinds of stress and how to manage it,” she expressed. “Unfortunately, there is still a stigma around mental health,” Haruka shared.

“This award represents a tremendous acknowledgment of the labor of love and service to our community that my colleagues and I have put forth,” she shared sincerely. “The recognition served as a motivating factor for me to continue working towards my goals and making a positive impact on my community and beyond. I felt proud, excited, and honored when I found out I was selected,” she added. Her final piece of advice: “Always prioritize your mental health.

Not everyone has a mental illness, but everyone has mental health, whether you are a CEO or a student at ASIJ. Mental health doesn’t discriminate by your race, socioeconomic status, or access to care. Asking for help is never a sign of weakness; it is one of the bravest things you can do.”

Strength and Courage Award Miranda Liu speaks with Sola Corrado ’23, Laura Fujii ’23, Hana Ito ’23, and Moeka Sugiyama ’23 about establishing a new initiative, Enough is Enough, at ASIJ. Their work earned them the Strength and Courage Award.

T

he eighth annual Strength and Courage Award was announced to the high school in June of this year. The award of ¥1 million is presented annually to a senior who has displayed courage and personal strength during their time at ASIJ. Students are nominated by faculty, counselors, and administrators at the end of the first semester, and invited to submit a personal statement to complete their candidacy.

Submissions are reviewed by the Child Protection Task Force composed of students, counselors, administrators, and members of the Board of Directors. Nominees are then interviewed as a part of the selection process.

While the award usually goes to an individual, this year we honored four deserving students who worked together to initiate formal discussions within the student body and the high school administration to bring about positive culture change at ASIJ. Sola Corrado ’23, Laura Fujii ’23, Hana Ito ’23, and Moeka Sugiyama ’23 founded the initiative Enough is Enough, a student advocacy movement whose goal is to spread awareness and education to combat sexual harassment and assault. Sexual harassment includes many types of unwelcome verbal and physical sexual attention while sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior, often physical, that occurs without consent.

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

27

The group leveraged their networks in the school community.

As members of groups like Students Advocating for Gender Equality (SAGE) and Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Sola, Laura, Hana, and Moeka had strong connections to faculty members they knew they could trust and fellow students who could provide support. These connections were crucial to the success of the movement. “I'm so proud of our class, because we have such strong social advocates in our grade.

We knew exactly who to go to,” Moeka comments.

Moeka, Hana, Sola, and Laura being awarded at the HS awards ceremony with faculty nominators Beth Crissy and Kathy Krauth (AP’00–12) and Safeguarding Coordinator Emily deLéon High school faculty members Kathy Krauth and Beth Crissy felt strongly that Sola, Laura, Hana, and Moeka stood out amongst their peers, commenting, “These young women have courageously taken on the momentous challenge of calling out an entire system, and with the collaboration of a number of their peers, have taken real and meaningful action toward realizing this needed change in our school culture.”

As children develop, they become more curious about their bodies, about gender, and about sex. This awakening can sometimes manifest in negative ways, including making demeaning comments and unwanted physical advances.

According to the US National Institute of Justice one in ten adolescents who have had romantic relationships reported that a partner kissed, touched, or forced them to have sexual contact against their will.

Enough is Enough started as a series of casual, unassuming conversations between friends about this topic. “I was talking to Sola one time, and before we knew it, it spread into an hour-long conversation, and then another conversation with teachers, and then more and more students were getting involved. And then it really grew from there,” Moeka explains.

“I think finally we were all like, okay, this is actually enough.

We don't want to tolerate this anymore,” Hana shares. “Part of the reason this group was so powerful and so strong and so authentic was because it started from vulnerability.” Laura says. “It was founded on these big conversations where people were so genuine and authentic, and everyone could feel that.” The strength of the high school community at ASIJ allowed for a space where students felt comfortable to speak honestly, which allowed Enough is Enough to build momentum in the student body.

28

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Sola, Laura, Hana, and Moeka created a number of projects and encouraged leadership of them by different classmates, eventually involving 75 students in this initiative. Subgroups accomplished a projects covering a breadth of areas in just one term, such as working with Safeguarding Coordinator Emily de León to make anonymous reporting of sexual harassment and assault more accessible to students. “We wanted to make it easier to submit a report, because what can the school do if they're not even aware of what's going on?” Hana comments. Another area of focus was improving culture within athletics, and they worked with team captains to take responsibility for ensuring that toxic behavior wasn’t tolerated on sports teams. The group also planned a largescale high school assembly featuring guest speaker Shiori Ito, a journalist and author of Black Box who was included on Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020 for her activism. The solidarity and advocacy work by Enough is Enough has provided a safe space for more and more students to speak up about their experiences and push for change.

Despite the fact that they were the catalyst for such an important movement, Sola, Laura, Hana, and Moeka were intentional about making Enough is Enough about the cause and the activism, not about themselves. One of their major goals, they expressed, was to “plant seeds” for future growth in the area of education and advocacy around sexual assault.

“I know that technically it's hard to change culture, but I do think that at least for this year we did change the school culture a lot,” Sola shares. She shared that leading up to the first party after the assembly with Shiori Ito, seniors stepped up on social media to remind their friends that sexual assault was not going to be tolerated at student parties. “It made me feel like the assembly was so valuable. It did change the tone and did change the culture and I think people did feel safer,” she commented.

All four young women are off to college to study their various areas of interest. They agree that they want to continue their activism into their next chapters. And with new leaders chosen for Enough is Enough for the 2023-24 school year, they’re also looking forward to seeing the culture in the high school continue to change. “I'm excited to see, now that the conversation has started, how are they going to continue?”

Moeka commented. “I feel like there's a lot more trust in the high school community now.”

FUNDRAISING UPDATE

22–23

Last year was a tremendous one for ASIJ. With your support, we raised ¥123 million for the ASIJ Annual Fund, surpassing our goal of ¥120 million for our 120th year. We are deeply grateful to the hundreds of Mustangs, named in the following pages, who helped us honor our anniversary year and contributed to the strongest year of fundraising in our school's history.

In addition to surpassing our Annual Fund goal, ASIJ’s endowment continued to grow. Last year, five new restricted funds were established within our endowment, bolstering our school further and building on the legacy of our school. You can learn more about our endowment on page 41.

It is a privilege to be part of such a generous community. Your support is incredibly meaningful, and ensures ASIJ students both today and in the future, have access to the kinds of transformational experiences that have made ASIJ special for you and your family.

Thank you to those of you who have already made a gift to ASIJ this school year! We are extremely appreciative of your loyal support. Donations of every amount make an immediate impact on our students and contribute to the every-day magic of learning at ASIJ. We ask all Mustangs to consider making a gift. Beyond the financial impact, it is participation in our donor community that is most important.

Additionally, we’d like to thank our community of volunteers, particularly those involved in the Advancement Committee, PTA Annual Fund Committee, and the Alumni Giving Committee, for dedicating their time and efforts to share the importance of giving back to ASIJ and contributing to the success of our fundraising program.

We look forward to another wonderful school year and continuing to share the amazing things our students are doing every day at ASIJ with your help.

With appreciation,

Claire Lonergan Interim Director of Advancement

Nikki Torchon Interim Director of Giving

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

29

FUNDRAISING UPDATE Salaries & Benefits 81.6% Instructional Support 7.4% Facilities 5.7% Administration 5% Other 0.3%

Tuition 89.3% Annual Support 2.1% CCP/SDC 4.1% Other 4.3% Investments 0.2%

ASIJ ANNUAL FUND

Gifts to ASIJ’s Annual Fund are used in the current fiscal year.

They help bridge the gap between tuition and operating expenses, and give the school flexibility to allocate funds where they are needed most. The Annual Fund has grown steadily, thanks to the generosity of the ASIJ community.

¥150m ¥123,690,390

¥120m

¥102,120,880

¥90m ¥60m

¥76,534,396

¥85,521,398

¥64,716,376

¥30m Annual Fund 2018-19

30

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Annual Fund 2019-20

Annual Fund 2020-21

Annual Fund 2021-22

Annual Fund 2022-23

DECADE CLUBS

Quadruple Decade Club Blizzard, Jan '71 & Craig Boatwright, David '73 Burkart, Ned '48 & Pauline Cohen, Rick '69 & Topper-Cohen, Barbara Downs, Vicky Glazier, Ken '67 Haines, Andrew '60 & Lisa Nicol, Joanna '52 Nielsen, Jeannette '59 Pietraszek, Margaret & Henry Schaffer, Sally '76 Shimizu, George '39

Triple Decade Club

Adams, Nancy & Jim Cooper, Peter & Pam Fattal, Leon '57 & Suzanne Floch, Patty & Bruzek, Ken Francischetti, Mark '72 Harnik, Peter '69 & Yoko James, Larry Jones-Morton, Pamela (PhD) Kobayashi, Albert '42 & Betty Kroehler Magnuson, Jody '73 & Magnuson, Clark Livingston, Jerry '81 & Bonnie Lund, Andy '81 & Denise Lury, Dick '65 & Gemma McCoy, Will '59 & Lynne Meyer, Mary '65 Moss, Carolyn '73 & Hawkins, Daniel Tunis, Jeffrey Wakat, Barbara '88 Walsh, Bob '81

Double Decade Club

Buchanan Pierce, Lucia '68 Coopat, Tom & Cheryle Duke, Sue '83 Ewart, Emilie '97 & Jake Fujishima, Julie '84 Huo, Eugene '96 Huo, Jeffrey '94 Kidder, Paul '76 & Terry Kuroda, Mitzi '77 & Elledge, Stephen Mera, Yuhka '81 Morgenstern, Fred '83 & Kendra Nishida, David & Tina '85 Norris, Peggy '65 & Charles Plum, John & Mimi Porté, Thierry Sanders, Mike '87 & Jun Squier, Mid & Carol Stokes, Paul & Rose

Decade Club

Berkove, Ethan '86 & Kyra Bernier, Jeff & Seiko Cannon, Alan & Kitakado, Fuyumi Ehrenkranz, Andra '83 & John Greig, Katherine '94 Harte, Esther Kamano, Hiroyuki & Harumi Martino, Bill '63 & Betsy Meller, Louise '63 & Lukowski, Jay Miller, Scott & Mary Mizuno, Toshizumi & Junko Morgenstern, David '88 Nakashima, Amane & Chizuru Nishikawa Fu, Hiroko & Fu, Ming-Xia Piez, Catherine '82 & Whatford, Mark Schlichting, Richard & Cynthia Seltzer, Susan & Theo Snell, Richard & Fran Sult, Nathan '75 & Tarter, Beth Taffel, Max '04 & Yang, Allen Takada, Yuko Turner, Sally '66 Wilce, Matt & Suzuki, Sho Yao, Alejo & Lusan Zee, Jinly '90 & Tsujita, Kazuya

I had the good fortune to attend ASIJ for grades 7–9. In retrospect, it was the opportunity of a lifetime — an amazing academic and cultural experience. My only regret is my family had to move back to the United States after three years and I couldn’t stay longer! Hopefully my donations — combined with those from many others — help ASIJ offer this same opportunity to future students for years to come.

—David Morgenstern ’88 Decade Clubs recognize donors who have given for 10, 20, 30, 40 or more consecutive years. Donations of any amount count toward Decade Club status. Decade Club members have a tremendous impact at ASIJ with their sustained support.

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

31

GIFT CLUB MEMBERS 1902 Founders Circle ¥5,000,000 and more

Predeek, Shane & Nao Zee, Jinly ’90 & Tsujita, Kazuya

Black & Gold Society

¥2,000,000—¥4,999,999 Anonymous (1) Ciganer Albeniz, Archie & Yoko DiCicco, Daniel ’89 & Yuko Lai, Steve & Yuriko Little, Drew ’87 & Jennifer Nishikawa Fu, Hiroko & Fu, Ming-Xia Noddin, Bob & Janette Ryu, Roy ’77 Sasanuma, Catherine & Taisuke Seltzer, Susan & Theo

Lantern Society ¥1,000,000—¥1,999,999

Anonymous (2) Acton, Jeff & Akiko Arriaga Lee, Armando & Serok Caldwell, Dale & Megumi Folsom, Richard & Stephanie Go, Taka & Aiko Griffin, Grace (Ting) ’61 & Griffin, Michael Laughlin, Morgan & Sato-Laughlin, Rumiko Mukherjee, Jaya & Mukhopadhyay, Abhijit Murakami, Yumiko & Moses, Todd Nakano, Akinori & Mariko Ogawa, Andy ’90 & Makoto Sacca, Crystal ’93 & Chris Shiotani, Keita Silecchia, Tom & Tate, Saori Tahara, Kunio & Eriko Takahashi, Tomomichi & Yoko Tsusaka, Miki & Jun Wright, Roger & Toshimi Yamada, Daisuke & Seiko Yoshikawa, Tatsuo & Miho

32

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Meguro Circle ¥500,000—¥999,999

Anonymous (2) Agud Ruiz, Jordi & Vila Viñas, Raquel Bernier, Jeff & Seiko Cohen, Rick ’69 & Topper-Cohen, Barbara Dan, Basil & Chieko Furukawa, Tak & Natsumi Galvin, Jeff & Miki Graffagna, Michael & Takenaga, Mika Guillemette, Eddie & Chi Harada, Mary ’81 & Peterson, Greg Hattori, Keiji & Mayumi Imai, Eiji & Hiromi Iyobe, Makoto & Chen, Claire Kondo, Taro & Reiko Ku, Wei & Utsuki, Mina Lee, David ’86 & Kaori Michels, Nancy & David Nakamura, Mariko & Hiro Neureiter, Kirk & Mariko Norris, Peggy ’65 & Charles Otsuka, Taro & Tomoko Park, Chiman & Seo, Alice Piez, Catherine ’82 & Whatford, Mark Porté, Thierry Reese, Lenore & Isenberg, Joshua Reilly, Ken & Debbie Smith, Charles & Emi Takamiya, Toshiro & Shino Thota, Parthasarathy & Kamalavani Wu, Wengang & Jiang, Mingzhu Yuson, Rusty & Sowder, Stuart

Head of School’s Circle ¥200,000—¥499,999

Anonymous (1) Bidinger, Michael & Keiko Caldwell, Paul & Sawada, Mayumi Chavali, Cram & Anya Conrad, Andrew & Chitose Cook, Justin & April Dennis, Thurman Downs, Vicky

Drabkin, Mark & Miwako Edmunds, Eric & Misa Edo, Masato & Yoshiko Fink, Jim & Mika Fujishima, Julie ’84 Fujiwara, Fuyuki & Tomoko Fukikoshi, Akihiro & Tomoko Gonzalez Gonzalez, Carlos & Murrieta Fernandez, Andrea Green, Michael ’89 & Yuki Gustin, Corey & Yasuko Guthrie, Jeff & Sakura Hardin, Jim & Marti Hassan, Matthew & Ojima, Mari Hershon, Andrew & Mika Higa, Ernie ’70 & Aya Holjo, Mats & Hiroe Hori, Shinichiro & Suzuko Hu, Hua & Gao, Shan Hyland, Jason & Cvetkovikj, Andrijana Idezawa, Takeshi & Aiko Kamano, Hiroyuki & Harumi Kampa, Stephen & Kaori Kanda, Yasuyuki & Aya Katayama, Akira & Keiko Kim, Dennis & Oh, Jiyoun Kim, Sinbae & Lim, Eunjung Kobayashi, Terumi & Takashi Kudo, Yoshiaki & Maya Kumar, Partha & Lia Kwan, Sora & Jason Lee, Jihyo & Song, Soyeon Lee, Kevin & Stephanie Li, Nan & Bai, Ye (Emily) Matsui, Kathy & Koll, Jesper Miller, Kristen & Richard ’97 Muir, Jim & Kanai, Miwa Murai, Noriko & Yeskel, Bill Nakayama, Tetsu ’84 & Ayumi Nelson, Michael & Laurie Nishimi, Tetsuya ’94 & Kiyoko O’Neill, Stephen & Karen Ohashi, Hiromasa & Momoko Okada, Hikaru & Yoshiko Okamoto, Tet ’98 & Eri Okubo, Ryo ’98 & Yukiko Okuno, Marcus & Kazuko Onuma Ledbetter, Phaedra ’81 & Mark Oshima, Robert ’68 Pike, Kathy Possman, John & Shoko Roth, Alan & Perilman, Blair Salathé, Regina & Gregory Sano, Kenjiro & Keiko

Semaya, David & Masako Sloan, Erika ’04 & Schaeffer, Kevin Suzuki, Shunsuke & Saeka Taffel, Max ’04 & Yang, Allen Takami, Manabu & Miyuki Takebe, Tsuyoshi & Maki Talbot, Jay & Yuki Tanaka, Yuko & Chikara Tsujiguchi, Hironobu & Maki Umeno, Ko & Misato Xu, Bin & Hou, Rachel Yan, Jack & Moriyama, Natsuko Yang, James ’62 Zhang, David & Momohara, Rie

Mustangs League ¥100,000—¥199,999

Anonymous (6) Akaishi, Masahiro & Maki Akiyama, Gen & Yuko Armstrong, Peter ’52 Baker, Frederick ’88 Benner, Michael & Noriko Bhasin, Taro & Sayoko Boatwright, David ’73 Boaz, Reina ’99 & Josh Cannon, Alan & Kitakado, Fuyumi Cascio, Joe & Tricia Cashell, Kieron & Haga, Kotoha Chen, Qingyang & Xie, Yiqiu Cheng, Baldwin & Cheung, Fan Chuang, Peter & Harumi Corrado, Dickon & Toshima Corrado, Ito Daver, Roxana & Massion, Peter Dornoff, Jeff & Deanne Ehira, Hiroaki & Nao Ehrenkranz, Andra ’83 & John Fujisaki, Koa ’99 & Daisuke Fukuda, Junsuke & To, Rika Gohdo, Hitoshi & Yukari Golden, Eric & Ayako Graham, Seth & Suzuki, Akemi Hashimoto, Noriko ’07 & Akinori Hastings, Paul ’00 & Wissel, Debbie ’99 Hirano, Pina & Yoko Hisada, Michie Inoue, Katsuo & Asami Inoue, Yasutaka & Kanako Ito, Masatoshi & Kumi Ito, Taeko & Katsuhiro

Juanda, Johnson & Aya Kasamatsu, Rika & David Jun Kato, Tadashi & Mena Kikuya, So & Haruko Kindred, Jon & Sachiko King, Mike & Nishimura, Makiko Kirpalani, Kamal & Brinda Kobayashi, Manami & Masatoshi Koga, Shuhei & Sayako Koike, Junji & Aya Kothari, Preeti & Vivek Lee, KJ & Won, Monica Leuck, Daniel & Terada, Mika Lin, George & Yayoi Lury, Dick ’65 & Gemma Ma, Sam & Quan, Veronica Majid, Nasir & Chie Marini, Nina ’88 Matsudaira, Aki Matz Matsutoya, Tamako Mentzas, Spyro Mera, Yuhka ’81 Miller, Chad & Kitahara, Cathy Miller, Tony & Melin, Cecilia Mizuno, Toshizumi & Junko Nagasaki, Tadao & Ayano Nakajima, Ikutaro & Mika Nakashima, Amane & Chizuru Nakatomi, Ryosuke & Moeko Nelson, Brian ’85 & Aileen Nishida, David & Tina ’85 Niwa, Hideo & Kazuko Ogawa, Ryuzo ’99 & Tomoko Oh, Jisa Okamoto, David ’86 & Martin, Ferne Oline, Mark ’78 & Rebecca Ozaki, Hiroya ’08 & Kyoko Ozeki, Arthur & Kaya Platek, Nir Plum, John & Mimi Polashek, Michael & Hashiuchi, Mitsuko Rahman, Farida ’68 Richardson, Kay ’76 & Wynant, JS Sakamoto, Tomo & Kana Schmelzeis, Joseph ’80 & Mizutori Schmelzeis, Yuko Sclafani, Matthew ’87 & Jennifer Seki, Ichiran & Wu, Iris Shirakawa, Kotoe ’03 & Tomohiro

Shrestha, Shambhu & Manandhar Shrestha, Rachana Silver, Nick & Yumiko Smith, Gary & Jeng, Amy Sumida, Shiori ’99 Suzukawa-Tseng, Linda ’72 Takada, Yuko Takahashi, Hal & Tomoko Takahashi, Masaki & Yamaguchi, Yumi Takahashi, Masumi & Hiromi Takahashi, Yoshiro & Rie Takizawa, Sayo & Eiji Tanaka, Rick ’67 & Catherine Tawara, Nakao Tawara, Ted & Lia Terao, Sayumi ’07 & Kobayashi, Kazuki Tilley-Bouez, Lara ’01 Toyama, Kentaro ’87 Tsuchida, Carol Turner, Sally ’66 Wang, Jianfeng & Ting Watanabe, Shinsuke & Kanako Watkins, Clive & Sprague, Tasha Whitson, Tom & Misty Xiao, Simon & Wang, Lesley Xu, Yeren & Wang, Fan Yamada, Leslie D ’64 Yamagata, Satoshi & Erina Yamamoto, Takeshi & Waka Yamasaki, Paul & Afifah Yamasaki, Shinji ’03 Yamazaki, Masahiro & Toyoko Yokosuka, Masato ’98 & Mariko Yoshida, Katsuhisa Zhang, Charles & Shen, Shirley

Tomodachi Club ¥50,000—¥99,999

Anonymous (5) Aiba, Isao & Lisa Anderson, Rusty ’76 & Lori Aoyagi, Matthew & Nagako Asano, Takahiro & Naoko Barboriak, Laura & Eric Barger, John & Elizabeth Bastick, Lisa ’82 Bender, Brian & Ayako Bender, Dan & Ruth Bernier, Kenichiro ’19 Boardman, John & Antonia Brubaker, Debbie ’80

Buford, James & Ali Chapman, Paul & Sonobe-Chapman, Yoko Chen, Changyu & Nakao, Ai Chen, Luyi & Xu, Ruby Chew, John & Tomoko Chuchro, Katie & Doug Cromwell, Penny ’67 D’Honau, Billy ’84 Early, Robert & Hitomi Epstein, Jonathan & Liu Esparza Pedroza, Gonzalo & Esparza Gaucin, Martha Eto, Batara & Midori Fitzpatrick, Tod ’63 Fukuma, Lalaka ’93 & Jin Gordon, Samuel & Katayama Gordon, Tomoko Habib, Tarek & Bahgat, Naila Haddad, Caroline & Scott Hafeez, Omar & Shah, Aine Hamaty, David & Michiko Hashimoto, Yutaka & Hisae Hattori, Enna ’11 Havenar, Dustin & Caron, Inna Hiramoto, Hideyuki & Shiobara, Fumiko Hoffman, Christian & Mikiko Hokari, Goro & Nami Holland, Kate ’94 & John Imoto, Yoh & Anna Izushima, Yasuhiro & Noriko Kaneko, Jun & Akane Kawahara, Jun & Noriko Keyes, Justin & Sasaki, Mai Kitakoshi, Akihito & Alisa Kitao, Toshiki & Masayo Kobayashi, Takashi & Toshiyo Kohara, Rinya & Eleanor Kuwahara, Kei ’09 L’Heureux, Marc & Heidi Lang, Benjamin & Aki Livdahl, Sonia ’04 & Song, Daniel Lloyd, Aaron & Chiho Ludlow-Ortner, Julia ’72 & Ortner, Robert Makita, Akira & Yuko Mallat, Mary Margaret & Deck, David Marini, Buddy ’85 & Hitomi Martino, Bill ’63 & Betsy Matsumoto, Toyokazu & Naomi McCready, Amanda & Jim McNeeley, Kevin & Nobuko McNeill, Jeffrey & Kazuko

Merino, Stefan & Ione Miller, Mark Minamisawa, Toshiyuki & NingNing Modderman, Eelco & Hengeveld, Emily Morgenstern, Fred ’83 & Kendra Nagata, Paul ’74 & Susan Nakano, Teruki & Yoko Naoi, Nozomi ’02 Niimi, Reiko ’75 Nixon, Nik & Choi, Choi Oba, Yusuke & Junko Okamoto, Takeshi ’96 & Satomi Oku, Seiichi & Miki Opitz, Sean & Amanda Parsons, Terry ’65 & Chase, Richard Peralta, Mel & Acevedo Peralta, Nyoka Piscopo, Albert & Kara Prieb, Roy & Walsh, Miho Rice, Stephen ’64 & Kimiyo Rich, Motoko ’87 & Topping, Mark Rieger, Christopher & Ann Saitoh, Yasuhiro & Yayoi Sarashina, Toshiyuki & Riany, Arie Sasao, Toshi & Masami Savarese, Lynn ’73 & John Schlichting, Richard & Cynthia Sekiguchi, Heather & Shuhei Suzuki, Erie & Tamami Suzuki, Yuimi Takano, Kyoko & Hiroyuki Takeda, Hiro & Yuka Tanaka, Rei & Hollie Tanaka, Hiroko Tanaka, Wakana Tsuchida, Kosaku & Yurifa Upadhyay, Bhupesh & Sajala Villasana Davila, Jaime & Nakayama, Sachiho Weingarten, Neil & Andi Witt, Gene & Janet Yamazaki, Yuichiro & Miki Yan, An & Hu, Grace Yang, Chengwen & Gong, Jian Yoshinami, Velvet ’74 & Arthur Zhang, Jessica & Zhao, Changming Zuber Meehan, Amy & Meehan, Phil

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

33

PARENT DONORS Donors

Anonymous (29)

Chuchro, Katie & Doug Chung, Tiy & Mak, Linda

Giro Quincke, Alfredo & Martin Rivas, Maria Gracia

Imai, Eiji & Hiromi

Abe, Minako ‘88 & Shelton, Michael

Ciganer Albeniz, Archie & Yoko

Go, Taka & Aiko

In, Jaejun & You, Sunyoung

Acton, Jeff & Akiko

Cokerdem, Shayne & Cokerdem-DePriest, Diane

Gocsei, Renaud & Higashio, Aya

Inoue, Katsuo & Asami

Confer, Dwain & Miah

Gohdo, Hitoshi & Yukari

Inoue, Yuko

Akaishi, Masahiro & Maki

Conrad, Andrew & Chitose

Golden, Eric & Ayako

Ito, Shinji & Satoko

Akiyama, Gen & Yuko

Cook, Justin & April

Ito, Taeko & Katsuhiro

Aomi, Shinya & Emi

Copty, Anthony & Jourdi, Rita

Gonzalez Gonzalez, Carlos & Murrieta Fernandez, Andrea

Aoyagi, Matthew & Nagako

Gordon, Samuel & Katayama Gordon, Tomoko

Iwata, Ken & Catherine

Arai, Kensuke & Yoko

Corrado, Dickon & Toshima Corrado, Ito

Arriaga Lee, Armando & Serok

Crockett, Rigel & Janzen, Ariel

Graeme, Llywelyn & Athena

Izushima, Yasuhiro & Noriko

Asano, Mifumi ‘02 & Yoon, Ki Jong

Curtis, Jeremy & Angela

Jain, Gaurav & Vibhu

Dan, Basil & Chieko

Graffagna, Michael & Takenaga, Mika

Asano, Takahiro & Naoko

Daniels, Todd & Amy

Graham, Seth & Suzuki, Akemi

Johnson, Mark & Gessert, Rebecca

Ball, Kyle & King, Myra

Davis, Lennie & Tamera

Grant, Thomas & June

Juanda, Johnson & Aya

Barger, John & Elizabeth

de Leon, Emily & Roberto

Green, Michael ‘89 & Yuki

Benba, Selim & Aygun Benba, Deniz

Demirkol, Ozgur & Ozge

Groeneveld, Lee & Sasha

Kakihara, Saori & Chang, Yongjin

Dickinson, Nadine & Michael

Guillemette, Eddie & Chi

Kampa, Stephen & Kaori

Bender, Brian & Ayako

Drabkin, Mark & Miwako

Gunzburger, Joni & David

Kanda, Yasuyuki & Aya

Benner, Michael & Noriko

Draper, Alan & Lisa

Gustin, Corey & Yasuko

Kaneko, Jun & Akane

Bernier, Jeff & Seiko

Duncan, Russell & Tiffany

Guthrie, James & Misaki

Kaneko, Tetsuya & Sofia

Bhasin, Taro & Sayoko

Durfee, Peter ‘88 & Megumi

Guthrie, Jeff & Sakura

Kanematsu, Tohru & Yoko

Bidinger, Michael & Keiko

Early, Robert & Hitomi

Kano, Yuji & Megumi

Boardman, John & Antonia

Edo, Masato & Yoshiko

Gutierrez, Alex & Mangle, Lydia

Bregeon, Denis & Desperques, Karine

Ehira, Hiroaki & Nao

Habib, Tarek & Bahgat, Naila

Kashiwagi, Blake & Jill

Elstrom, Deanna ‘86 & Peter

Haddad, Caroline & Scott

Katayama, Akira & Keiko

Bryson, Sayako & Robin

Epstein, Jonathan & Liu

Hafeez, Omar & Shah, Aine

Kato, Ryotaro & Junko

Buford, James & Ali

Hamaty, David & Michiko

Kato, Tadashi & Mena

Bussman, Randy & Hiromi

Esparza Pedroza, Gonzalo & Esparza Gaucin, Martha

Harigaya, Masatomo & Tomoko

Kawaguchi, Kaz ‘00 & Maki

Caldwell, Dale & Megumi

Eto, Batara & Midori

Harrison, Jeff & Manon

Kawahara, Jun & Noriko

Caldwell, Paul & Sawada, Mayumi

Evans, Daniel & Shiho

Keyes, Justin & Sasaki, Mai

Faulk, Laura & Andy

Hashimoto, Noriko ‘07 & Akinori

Carrillo, Christy & Littlefield, Tim

Feldman, Bradford & Joyce

Hashimoto, Yutaka & Hisae

Kikuya, So & Haruko

Fichardt, Hardi & Emily

Kim, Dennis & Oh, Jiyoun

Cascio, Joe & Tricia

Fink, Jim & Mika

Hassan, Matthew & Ojima, Mari

Cashell, Kieron & Haga, Kotoha

Fu, Howard & Yukimi

Hattori, Keiji & Mayumi

Fu, John & Ito, Ai

Havenar, Dustin & Caron, Inna

King, Mike & Nishimura, Makiko

Chapman, Marc ‘95 & Matsuhisa, Yoshiko

Fujii, Gene & Amy

Hershon, Andrew & Mika

Kirpalani, Kamal & Brinda

Fujishima, Julie ‘84

Heur, Dan & Nicole

Kitakoshi, Akihito & Alisa

Chapman, Paul & Sonobe-Chapman, Yoko

Fujita, Chikara & Jianru

Kitao, Toshiki & Masayo

Fujiwara, Fuyuki & Tomoko

Hiramoto, Hideyuki & Shiobara, Fumiko

Chavali, Cram & Anya

Fukao, Tsuyoshi & Mariko

Hirano, Pina & Yoko

Kobayashi, Manami & Masatoshi

Che, Karl & Yasuda, Naomi

Fukikoshi, Akihiro & Tomoko

Hirasawa, Naoko & Taku

Kobayashi, Takashi & Toshiyo

Chen, Changyu & Nakao, Ai

Fukuda, Junsuke & To, Rika

Hisada, Michie

Kobayashi, Terumi & Takashi

Chen, Luyi & Xu, Ruby

Fukuma, Lalaka ‘93 & Jin

Hoffman, Christian & Mikiko

Koga, Shuhei & Sayako

Chen, Qingyang & Xie, Yiqiu

Fukumoto, Daisuke & Naomi

Hokari, Goro & Nami

Kohara, Rinya & Eleanor

Cheng, Baldwin & Cheung, Fan

Furukawa, Tak & Natsumi

Holjo, Mats & Hiroe

Koike, Junji & Aya

Chew, John & Tomoko

Galvin, Jeff & Miki

Hori, Shinichiro & Suzuko

Kondo, Taro & Reiko

Idezawa, Takeshi & Aiko

Kothari, Preeti & Vivek

Agud Ruiz, Jordi & Vila Viñas, Raquel

Chuang, Peter & Harumi

34

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Imoto, Yoh & Anna

Inoue, Yasutaka & Kanako

Ito, Yoshi & Kae Iyobe, Makoto & Chen, Claire

Kasamatsu, Rika & David Jun

Kieffer, Lawrence & Rieko

Kim, Sinbae & Lim, Eunjung

Ku, Wei & Utsuki, Mina

Nakano, Akinori & Mariko

Salathé, Regina & Gregory

Kudo, Yoshiaki & Maya

Nakano, Teruki & Yoko

Sano, Kenjiro & Keiko

Timms, Ryan & Yamaura-Timms, Aya

Kumar, Partha & Lia

Nakatomi, Ryosuke & Moeko

Sano, Yutaka & Kyoko

Toppino, Stephanie & Jon-Paul

Lai, Steve & Yuriko

Nakayama, Tetsu ‘84 & Ayumi

Tsuchida, Carol

Lang, Benjamin & Aki

Nakayoshi, Yasu ‘90 & Ikuko

Sarashina, Toshiyuki & Riany, Arie

Law-Smith, Craig & Jeannine

Neureiter, Kirk & Mariko

Satake, Ken & Nao

Tsujiguchi, Hironobu & Maki

Lee, David ‘86 & Kaori

Nguyen-Moreira, Daniel & Lily

Scott, David & Nikki

Umeno, Ko & Misato

Lee, Jihyo & Song, Soyeon

Nishikawa, Emi

Seki, Ichiran & Wu, Iris

Upadhyay, Bhupesh & Sajala

Lee, Kevin & Stephanie

Niwa, Hideo & Kazuko

Sekiguchi, Heather & Shuhei

Vargo, Miho & Keith

Lee, KJ & Won, Monica

Nixon, Nik & Choi, Choi

Seltzer, Susan & Theo

Vermeire, Marc & Deborah

Lerma Ruiz, Martin & Lerma, Raquel

O’Neill, Stephen & Karen

Sherluck, John & Sopna

O’Shea, Stephen & Saigusa O’Shea, Kie

Vidyarthi, Paraj & Singh Vidyarthi, Puneeta

Leuck, Daniel & Terada, Mika

Shimamura, Ken & Kurata, Atsuko

Li, Nan & Bai, Ye (Emily)

Oba, Yusuke & Junko

Shiotani, Keita

Li, Zhibin & Wang, Yanqi

Obata, Gen & Yuko

Shrestha, Shambhu &

Lin, George & Yayoi

Odaira, Noritsugu & Tomoko

Little, Drew ‘87 & Jennifer

Ogawa, Ryuzo ‘99 & Tomoko

Lloyd, Aaron & Chiho

Oh, Jisa

Shy, Leah & Wilson, Frazer

Watanabe, Shinsuke & Kanako

Lynch, Guy & Jeanette

Oka, Genki & Marie

Silecchia, Tom & Tate, Saori

Weingarten, Neil & Andi

Ma, Sam & Quan, Veronica

Okada, Hikaru & Yoshiko

Silver, Nick & Yumiko

Weiss, Adam & Mie

Macarios, Henry & Yuriko

Okada, Nobu & Miwako

Smith, Charles & Emi

Wilcox, Scott & Sheila

Macek, Craig & Debby

Okamoto, Tet ‘98 & Eri

Smith, Derek & Magan

Wilkinson, Bryan & Randi

Makita, Akira & Yuko

Okuno, Marcus & Kazuko

Sobajima, Hisaya & Kinuko

Marini, Buddy ‘85 & Hitomi

Opitz, Sean & Amanda

Sobotka, Chris & Leslie

Wray, Robert & Morishima, Takako

Masujima, Masakazu & Chiine

Otsuka, Taro & Tomoko

Sorba, Alan & Emi

Wright, Roger & Toshimi

Mathis, Robert & Kashimura-Mathis, Hiroko

Ozeki, Arthur & Kaya

Spencer, Darren & Sally

Park, Chiman & Seo, Alice

Suzuki, Erie & Tamami

Wu, Wengang & Jiang, Mingzhu

Matsudaira, Aki Matz

Park, Sangpil & Hwang, Jung

Suzuki, Shunsuke & Saeka

Xiao, Simon & Wang, Lesley Xu, Bin & Hou, Rachel

Matsutoya, Tamako

Peralta, Mel & Acevedo Peralta, Nyoka

Suzuki, Yuimi Tahara, Kunio & Eriko

Yaguchi, Masahiro & Suyapa

McNeeley, Kevin & Nobuko

Piscopo, Albert & Kara

Takahashi, Hal & Tomoko

Yamabe, Hiroshi & Chie

McShane, Ai & Rory

Pitale, Jon & Laura

Yamada, Daisuke & Seiko

Mentzas, Spyro Merino, Stefan & Ione

Polashek, Michael & Hashiuchi, Mitsuko

Takahashi, Masaki & Yamaguchi, Yumi Takahashi, Masumi & Hiromi

Yamamoto, Takeshi & Waka

Michels, Nancy & David

Predeek, Shane & Nao

Takahashi, Tomomichi & Yoko

Yamazaki, Masahiro & Toyoko

Miller, Chad & Kitahara, Cathy

Prieb, Roy & Walsh, Miho

Takahashi, Yoshiro & Rie

Yamazaki, Yuichiro & Miki

Miller, Kristen & Richard ‘97

Raub, Josh & Shimada, Mihoko

Takami, Manabu & Miyuki

Yan, An & Hu, Grace

Miller, Mark

Rees, Grant & Kikuko

Takamiya, Toshiro & Shino

Yan, Jack & Moriyama, Natsuko

Minamisawa, Toshiyuki & NingNing

Reese, Lenore & Isenberg, Joshua

Takebe, Tsuyoshi & Maki

Yang, Chengwen & Gong, Jian

Takeda, Hiro & Yuka

Yeh, Chris & Torigoe-Yeh, Shino

Modderman, Eelco & Hengeveld, Emily

Reilly, Ken & Debbie

Takigayama, Yue & Hiroaki

Yokosuka, Masato ‘98 & Mariko

Takizawa, Nicola & Takao

Yoshida, Kei & Yoko

Moffett, James & Susan

Rich, Motoko ‘87 & Topping, Mark

Takizawa, Sayo & Eiji

Yoshikawa, Tatsuo & Miho

Morita, Sergio & Mayumi

Rieger, Christopher & Ann

Young, Sandra

Muir, Jim & Kanai, Miwa

Rivera, Damaris & Fahy, John

Tanaka, Rei & Hollie Tanaka, Hiroko

Mukherjee, Jaya & Mukhopadhyay, Abhijit

Robbins, Drew & Aya

Tanaka, Wakana

Zee, Jinly ‘90 & Tsujita, Kazuya

Rolls, Grant & Harris-Rolls, Joanne

Tanaka, Yuko & Chikara

Zhang, Charles & Shen, Shirley

Tawara, Ted & Lia

Zhang, David & Momohara, Rie

Murakami, Yumiko & Moses, Todd

Roskamp, Philip & Kaho Roth, Alan & Perilman, Blair

Tepper, Jonathan & Maxson, Michele

Zhang, Jessica & Zhao, Changming

Nagasaki, Tadao & Ayano

Saitoh, Yasuhiro & Yayoi

Thiel, Andy & Tia

Nakajima, Ikutaro & Mika

Sakagawa, Leila & Kenichi

Zuber Meehan, Amy & Meehan, Phil

Nakamura, Mariko & Hiro

Sakamoto, Tomo & Kana

Thota, Parthasarathy & Kamalavani

Matsuki, Keisuke & Kei

Murai, Noriko & Yeskel, Bill

Manandhar Shrestha, Rachana

Tsuchida, Kosaku & Yurifa

Villasana Davila, Jaime & Nakayama, Sachiho Vriend, Pete & Amy Wan, Stan & Wong, Tiffany Wang, Jianfeng & Ting

Yamagata, Satoshi & Erina

Yuson, Rusty & Sowder, Stuart

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

35

ALUMNI DONORS 30s

’62 Meyer, Fred

’39 Shimizu, George

’63 Fitzpatrick, Tod

40s

Yang, James

Martino, Bill Meller, Louise Perry, David Wardlaw, Andrew

’42 Kobayashi, Albert ’45 McKnight, Ronnie

’64 Bonner, David

’48 Burkart, Ned ’49 Smith, Geoff

’65 Farkas, Jennifer (Burkard)

(Schwartz)

50s ’50 Lenz, Pam (Alexander) ’51 Kurtz, Barb (Hester) ’52 Armstrong, Peter

Nicol, Joanna (Strother) Potter, Meredith (Woods) Story, Morris

Rice, Stephen Van Campen, Mariko Yamada, Leslie (Davis)

Kurahashi, Nancy (Nagase) Lury, Dick Meyer, Mary Norris, Peggy (Tsukahira) Parsons, Terry

’66 Bronsal, Jeannie (See) Dean, Ron Marsh, Daniel Turner, Sally (Noll)

’67 Cromwell, Penny

Glazier, Ken Kerr, Virginia Tanaka, Rick Trozpek, Robin (Weeks)

’53 Eills, Nancy (Brewer) ’56 Harkness, Sarah (Wheeler) ’68 Buchanan Pierce, Lucia Matsumoto, Ted Meyer, Elizabeth (Winn)

’57 Fattal, Leon ’59 McCoy, Will

Nielsen, Jeannette (Elsener)

60s ’60 Bergt, Dave

Haines, Andrew Lyons, Phyllis Namkung, George

’61 Caligiuri, Tanya (Stephens) Griffin, Grace (Ting) Sapala, Beth (Danker) Zehr, Kei (Uramatsu)

36

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Colville, Glenn Oshima, Robert Rahman, Farida Vivian, Tal

’69 Cohen, Rick

Harnik, Peter Manning, Tom Neff, Suzi

70s ’70 Higa, Ernie

Huskins, Debbie

’71 Blizzard, Jan (Schaale) Hayao, George Holloway, Kathy Moore, Craig Sanoden, Jim Shorrock, Terry Weiss, Steve Wilson, Dave

’72 Davis, Jenny (Skillman)

Flynn, Karin (Jagel) Francischetti, Mark Ludlow-Ortner, Julia (Ludlow) Morgen, Bruce Suzukawa-Tseng, Linda (Suzukawa) Wexler, Barbara (Teasdall)

’73 Boatwright, David

Clough, Julie (Van Wyk) Kleinjans, Connie Kroehler Magnuson, Jody Leybold, Sandy (Colville) Melnick, Mark Moss, Carolyn Reiser, Dorothy (Cohen) Savarese, Lynn (Ashby) Thomas, Tory Tsuchihashi, Nancy

’74 King, Yen (Helen Hong)

Nagata, Paul Reynolds, A-Lan (Von Hornlein) Yoshinami, Velvet (Ando)

’75 Jagel, Erik

Kidder, Jon Niimi, Reiko Sult, Nathan Wakamatsu, Ernie

’76 Anderson, Rusty

Hayao, Kenji Horwitz, Liz (Yanagihara) Kidder, Paul Rich, Miriam Richardson, Kay Schaffer, Sally Stewart, Judy (Boatwright)

’77 Honaman, Andy

Jacobson, Kim Kuroda, Mitzi Phillips, Marjorie Ryu, Roy

’78 Anonymous

Bailey, Mark Collins, Jenny (Hamill) Matsumoto, Kent Oline, Mark Peters, Susan Smith, Deanna (Adams Yanagihara, Midori

’79 Whitehead, Chuck

80s ’80 Breer, Charles

Brubaker, Debbie Cavanaugh, Tom Eagan, Carol (Ford) Eimon, Ivar Kirby, Kyoko (Ono) Schmelzeis, Joseph Walsh, Will

’81 Harada, Mary (Che)

Hinz, Joel Ledbetter, Phaedra (Onuma) Livingston, Jerry Lund, Andy Matsubara, Kathy (Wakamatsu) Mera, Yuhka Soga, Michitaka Walsh, Bob

’82 Bastick, Lisa

Piez, Catherine

’83 Duke, Sue

Ehrenkranz, Andra (Bowman) Krisher, Joe Morgenstern, Fred

’84 D’Honau, Billy

Fujishima, Julie Nakayama, Tetsu Suzuki, Rei

’85 Brennan, Susie (Burks)

Callanan, Erin Marini, Buddy Nelson, Brian Nishida, Tina (Yamano) Orton-Tweed, Sandra Rapp, Riya (Takaya)

’86 Berkove, Ethan

Elstrom, Deanna (Ciarlante) Krgin, Mari (Katz) Lee, David Nakamatsu, Greg Okamoto, David Schmeil, J.C.

’87 Kohl, Kari (Wilkinson) Little, Drew Rich, Motoko Sanders, Mike Sclafani, Matthew Sharp, Robert Toyama, Kentaro

’88 Abe, Minako

Baker, Frederick Cobb, Bitsy (Horn) Durfee, Peter Marini, Nina Morgenstern, David Wakat, Barbara

’89 Anderson, Ashley DiCicco, Daniel Green, Michael Sano, Tokuya Sparrgrove, Brett

90s ’90 Curnutt, Heather

Ghosh, Bapi Kelsch, John Krisher, Ako (Inatomi) Nakayoshi, Yasu Ogawa, Andy Pocock, Ben Zee, Jinly

’91 Kaser, Patrick ’92 Harvey, Chris

’93 Bryner, Leila

Clark, Matt Fukuma, Lalaka (Ogawa) Nakayama, Mayumi Sacca, Crystal (English)

’94 Greig, Katherine

Holland, Kate (Franke) Huo, Jeffrey MacCallum, Margaret Nishimi, Tetsuya Proskoczilo, Brandy (Hermann)

’95 Bhat, Rahul

Chapman, Marc

’96 Anonymous

Butler, Devon Huo, Eugene Okamoto, Takeshi

’02 Asano, Mifumi (Ando) Delia, Anna (Tuttle) Naoi, Nozomi O’Brien, Kelly

’03 Keese, Brent

Shirakawa, Kotoe Sloan, Sean Yamasaki, Shinji

’04 Livdahl, Sonia

’98 Hanaoka, Mimi

Jones, James Jones, Sam Okamoto, Tet Okubo, Ryo Yokosuka, Masato

’99 Boaz, Reina

Fujisaki, Koa (Shino) Ogawa, Ryuzo Sumida, Shiori Wissel, Debbie

00s ’00 Choo, Yoon Suk Hastings, Paul Joslyn, Andrew Kawaguchi, Kaz Kearney, Ryan Sack, Jonathan

’01 Thomas-Polak, Sarah Tilley-Bouez, Lara Woods, Matt

20s ’20 Rekate, Emma ’21 McCready, Aidan ’23 Macek, Mason

Mothersill, Jason Sloan, Erika Taffel, Max

’05 Wakutsu, Shuji Woods, Steve

’06 Araki, Yumi

Dirkse, Tai Jacobsson, Timmy Thornton, Michael Yong, Calvin

’97 Ewart, Emilie (Fisher) Miller, Richard Whitworth, Brooke

’19 Bernier, Kenichiro

’07 Hashimoto, Noriko (Nakao) Keese, Jaclyn O’Hearn, Patrick Terao, Sayumi Wakutsu, Kohei

’08 Ozaki, Hiroya ’09 Bender, Will

Kuwahara, Kei Lintvelt, David

10s ’10 Forster, David

Kanzawa, Janet Marut, Justin Takano, Mimi

’11 Hattori, Enna

Heideman, Alexander

’12 Keese, Julie ’13 Wakayama, Takuya ’14 Nakayama-Cooper, Erica

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

37

ALUMNI PARENTS Donors

Anonymous (8)

Holm, Kieran & Kishi, Hiroko

Mendoza, Eli & Chizu

Robbins, Drew & Aya

Adams, Nancy & Jim

Michels, William & Mary

Salathé, Regina & Gregory

Aoyagi, Matthew & Nagako

Howe, Dale & Tsuchii, Noriko

Miller, Scott & Mary

Sano, Yutaka & Kyoko

Ball, Kyle & King, Myra

Hu, Hua & Gao, Shan

Miller, Tony & Melin, Cecilia

Barber, Sue

Huber, Susan

Mizuno, Toshizumi & Junko

Sasanuma, Catherine & Taisuke

Barboriak, Laura & Eric Barrett, Jim & Sue

Hyland, Jason & Cvetkovikj, Andrijana

Morgenstern, Fred ’83 & Kendra

Bender, Dan & Ruth

Ito, Masatoshi & Kumi

Benning, Miyuki

Izushima, Yasuhiro & Noriko

Mukherjee, Jaya & Mukhopadhyay, Abhijit

Bernier, Jeff & Seiko

James, Larry

Besharah, Adam Bidle, Scott & Masami

Schlichting, Richard & Cynthia Scott, David & Nikki Semaya, David & Masako

Jenkins, David & Alyson

Murakami, Yumiko & Moses, Todd Nakashima, Amane & Chizuru

Smith, Gary & Jeng, Amy

Blizzard, Jan ’71 & Craig

Johnson, Mark & Gessert, Rebecca

Boardman, John & Antonia

Kano, Yuji & Megumi

Nakayama, Mayumi ’93

Spencer, Darren & Sally

Boyd, Jack & Pattie

Nelson, Brian ’85 & Aileen

Squier, Mid & Carol

Brennan, Susie ’85 & Sean

Kanzawa, Elizabeth & Shunsuke

Nelson, Michael & Laurie

Stokes, Paul & Rose

Brinsley, Catlan & John

Kashiwagi, Blake & Jill

Neureiter, Kirk & Mariko

Sullivan, Susan

Bulkley, Charles & Misa

Katayama, Akira & Keiko

Nishida, David & Tina ’85

Suzukawa-Tseng, Linda ’72

Burpee, Mark & Nakamura, Machi

Keese, Jack & Pamela

Suzuki, Rei ’84

Kieffer, Lawrence & Rieko

Nishikawa Fu, Hiroko & Fu, Ming-Xia

Bywaters, John & Ellen

Kindred, Jon & Sachiko

Noddin, Bob & Janette

Takano, Kyoko & Hiroyuki

Caldwell, Dale & Megumi

Kirby, Kyoko ’80 & Peter

Takizawa, Nicola & Takao

Cannon, Alan & Kitakado, Fuyumi

Knapp, Kevin & Jessica

O’Shea, Stephen & Saigusa O’Shea, Kie

Kooy, Adriaan & Lizet

Ohara, Natsu

Taylor, David & Sue

Chang, John & Yoko

Kumar, Partha & Lia

Thiel, Andy & Tia

Ciganer Albeniz,

Kwan, Sora & Jason

Ohashi, Hiromasa & Momoko

L’Heureux, Marc & Heidi

Oku, Seiichi & Miki

Thota, Parthasarathy & Kamalavani

Conrad, Andrew & Chitose

Lahad, Meenakshi & Samir

Okuda, Jun & Natsuko

Toppino, Stephanie &

Cook, Justin & April

Okuno, Marcus & Kazuko

Coopat, Tom & Cheryle

Laughlin, Morgan & Sato-Laughlin, Rumiko

Otoo, Andrew & Natalie

Tsusaka, Miki & Jun

Cooper, Peter & Pam

Law-Smith, Craig & Jeannine

Pietraszek, Margaret & Henry

Tunis, Jeffrey

DiCicco, Daniel ’89 & Yuko

Lewis, Staughton & Chiharu

Dornoff, Jeff & Deanne

Pike, Kathy

Downs, Vicky

Lewis-Workman, Kathleen & Steve

Villasana Davila, Jaime & Nakayama, Sachiho

Duyan, Scott & Brenda

Llamzon, Leah & Larry

Platek, Nir

Edmunds, Eric & Misa

Lynch, Guy & Jeanette

Plum, John & Mimi

Wakamatsu, Ernie ’75 & Yuko

Farkas, Jennifer ’65 & Arthur

Macarios, Henry & Yuriko

Porté, Thierry

Wakutsu, Kyoko & Hiroshi

Folsom, Richard & Stephanie

Macek, Craig & Debby

Possman, John & Shoko

Wardell, Linda

Ghosh, Bapi ’90 & Miwa

Majid, Nasir & Chie

Weiss, Adam & Mie

Gladsden, Brian & Sahai, Ruchika

Mallat, Mary Margaret & Deck, David

Prasad, Srilalitha & Sharma, Venkatesh Prasad Prewitt, Dave & Carol

Wierman, Albert & Ineke

Gogerty, Dan & Lana

Proctor, David

Witt, Gene & Janet

Harte, Esther

Mathis, Robert & Kashimura-Mathis, Hiroko

Rapp, Riya ’85 & Leon

Woods, Bob & Mary Gene

Hashimoto, Yutaka & Hisae

Matsui, Kathy & Koll, Jesper

Reckord, Josh & Nancy

Xiao, Simon & Wang, Lesley

Hassan, Matthew & Ojima, Mari

Matsumoto, Toyokazu & Naomi

Redl, Chris & Anita

Yajima, Toshitaka & Tomoko

Relnick, Phil & Nobuko

Yamabe, Hiroshi & Chie

Hastings, Paul ’00 & Wissel, Debbie ’99

McCabe, Michael

Ribeiro, Magno & Eliza

Yamada, Daisuke & Seiko

McCready, Amanda & Jim

Yamasaki, Paul & Afifah

Hermann, Beatrice & Kenneth

McCullough, Angie & Jake

Rich, Motoko ’87 & Topping, Mark

Higa, Ernie ’70 & Aya

McNeill, Jeffrey & Kazuko

Archie & Yoko

38

Sasao, Toshi & Masami

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

McDonald, James & Yumiko

Piscopo, Albert & Kara

Rivera, Damaris & Fahy, John

Slattery, Ronald & Toshiko Snell, Richard & Fran

Takada, Yuko

Talbot, Jay & Yuki

Jon-Paul

Umezaki, Margit

Whitson, Tom & Misty

Yao, Alejo & Lusan

FACULTY DONORS

Faculty & Staff Anonymous (1)

Gutierrez, Alex

Mangle, Lydia

Sugiya, Minako

Alcodray, Aaron

Haddad, Caroline

Markovich, Annie

Sutter, Sarah

Apel, Tricia

Handy, Kathryn

Marut, Justin ’10

Suzuki, Ryosuke

Apel, Warren

Handy, Lloyd

McCullough, Angie

Tajima, Toshi

Asano, Mifumi ’02

Hardin, Jim

McCullough, Jake

Takano, Kyoko

Augustine, Brad

Hardin, Marti

McQueen, Doug

Takano, Mimi ’10

Beardsley, Meena

Harris-Rolls, Joanne

McQueen, Naoko

Takigayama, Yue

Benning, Miyuki

Harrison, Jeff

McShane, Ai

Takizawa, Nicola

Berg, Josh

Harrison, Manon

Meehan, Phil

Thiel, Andy

Brigham, Akiko

Heidt, Nick

Moll, Maddie

Thiel, Tia

Bryson, Sayako

Hirasawa, Naoko

Murray, Carl

Torchon, Jeff

Burpee, Mark

Howe, Dale

Murray, Jilene

Torchon, Nikki

Carrillo, Christy

Ill, Brad

Nakamura, Machi

Tsuji, Koshiro

Claudio, Milan

Ill, Linda

Nakayoshi, Ikuko

Upadhyay, Bhupesh

Cokerdem, Shayne

Ito, Taeko

Nakayoshi, Yasu ’90

Upadhyay, Sajala

Cokerdem-DePriest, Diane

Iwata, Catherine

Naughton, Becky

Vargo, Miho

Confer, Dwain

Iwata, Ken

Naughton, Ryan

Vermeire, Marc

Confer, Miah

Jacobsson, Timmy ’06

Neale, David

Voigt, Suzanna

Crockett, Rigel

Janewicz, Laurel

Ogawa, Ryo

Vriend, Amy

Curtis, Pip

Jiménez, Gabriela

Ortwein, Megan

Vriend, Pete

Davis, Lennie

Johnson, Mark

Ostermiller, Jenny

Wakutsu, Kyoko

Davis, Tamera

Kakihara, Saori

Peak, Lindsay

Walsh, Russell

de Leon, Emily

Kano, Iku

Pfeiffer, Mary

Watkins, Clive

de Leon, Roberto

Kanoh, Aileen

Pitale, Jon

Wilce, Matt

Dickinson, Nadine

Koizumi, Mary

Pitale, Laura

Wilcox, Scott

Dirkse, Tai ’06

Krisher, Ako ’90

Power, Candace

Wilcox, Sheila

Dolman, Carmen

L’Heureux, Heidi

Prasad, Srilalitha

Wilkinson, Bryan

Eimon, Ivar ’80

L’Heureux, Marc

Raub, Josh

Wilkinson, Randi

Faulk, Andy

Lahad, Meenakshi

Richard, Jamie

Williams, Beau

Faulk, Laura

Landry, Tracie

Rivera, Damaris

Wilson, Frazer

Fichardt, Emily

Lewis-Workman, Kathleen

Rolls, Grant

Wu, Min

Fichardt, Hardi

Lin, Johnson

Sachdeva, Koshika

Yokosuka, Mariko

Fisico, Misael

Liu, Miranda

Sack, Jonathan ’00

Yoshida, Hiromi

Fuller, Jody

Llamzon, Leah

Sakagawa, Leila

Yoshioka, Sayuri

Ghadimi, Mary

Lonergan, Claire

Shimada, Mihoko

Zuber Meehan, Amy

Ghosh, Bapi ’90

Lundgren-Williams, Christine

Shy, Leah

Ghosh, Miwa

Macek, Craig

Strycharske, Alicia

Gunzburger, Joni

Macek, Debby

Strycharske, Carl

For me, giving is a gesture that supports the schools' aspirations to better serve their communities. Faculty giving has a multiplicative effect well beyond the face value of any small donation; it demonstrates a culture of commitment to the school's mission and vision that compels other would-be donors.

—Rigel Crockett HS science teacher, parent THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

39

FORMER FACULTY Former Faculty & Staff Anonymous (2)

Edgar, Suzanne

Knapp, Kevin

Tanaka, Yuko

Adams, Nancy

Floch, Patty

Lewis, Chuck

Taylor, David

Allworth, Charlie

Fukuda, Taeko

Mallat, Mary Margaret

Taylor, Sue

Beckes, Skye

Garrison, Greg

Massau, Kay

Umezaki, Margit

Bender, Dan

Gessert, Rebecca

Pietraszek, Margaret

Vasché, Polly (Phillips)

Bender, Ruth

Gilman, Irene

Prewitt, Carol

Vermeire, Deborah

Boyd, Jack

Gilmartin, Ed

Prewitt, Dave

Wanless, Randy

Boyd, Pattie

Gogerty, Dan

Reckord, Josh

Williams, Renee

Cooper, Pam

Gogerty, Lana

Reckord, Nancy

Witt, Gene

Cooper, Peter

Huber, Susan

Relnick, Nobuko

Witt, Janet

Dennis, Thurman

Jones-Morton, Pamela

Smith, Allison

Woods, Mary Gene

Downs, Vicky

Kanzawa, Elizabeth

Snell, Fran

Duyan, Brenda

Kanzawa, Janet ‘10

Snell, Richard

Duyan, Scott

Kita, Virginia

Squier, Carol

Edgar, Clee

Knapp, Jessica

Squier, Mid

COMMUNITY Grandparents

Aiba, Isao & Lisa Iwata, Kazuko Kindred, Jon & Sachiko Tawara, Nakao Witt, Gene & Janet Yoshida, Katsuhisa

Friends

Anonymous (2) Alexander, Sarah Kamano, Hiroyuki & Harumi Kroll, Cody Liu, Andy & Roth, Mary Millican, Katie Musci, Michele Smither, Kenneth Takahashi, Tomoyuki

Gift-in-Kind

Nishikawa Fu, Hiroko & Fu, Ming-Xia

Corporate

AFLAC International

Corporate Matches Anonymous BlackRock Japan Co., Ltd. Deere & Company GAP Japan K.K. Goldman Sachs Google Indeed Japan Microsoft

Thank you to the many members of our extended community who support our Annual Fund every year – once a Mustang, always a Mustang!

—Nikki Torchon Interim Director of Giving

40

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Current Endowed Funds Thank you to the donors who made gifts this year to the below funds.

Alumni Scholarship Fund ASIJ Technology Fund David Nicodemus Bequest Edwin and Haru Matsukata Reischauer Fund Faculty Development Fund Financial Aid General Endowment AFLAC International, Inc. Floch, Patty & Bruzek, Ken Noffsinger, Teresa (in memory of Joe DeMarsh) Reese, Lenore & Isenberg, Joshua Waseda Bacchus Club

Hoffsommer Memorial Fund John Sullivan Memorial Fund Joseph E DeMarsh Scholarship Fund Isom, Harriet

Ki Nimori Fund

ENDOWMENT

While the Annual Fund is the school’s fundraising priority and essential to the yearly fiscal health of the school’s operating budget, a robust endowment will ensure ASIJ’s long-term financial security. Though ASIJ was established over 120 years ago, its endowment is a newer philanthropic opportunity.

We give thanks to the donors who established funds within the endowment this year, either for the purpose of ensuring a specific program in perpetuity or providing the school flexibility to use funds where it sees most need.

Restricted and unrestricted named funds may be established with a minimum gift of ¥5 million.

Five new funds were established this year within the endowment: The Equinox Fund | for student wellness Lee, Peter Meng Tong & Tang-Lee, Ann

Four Reds Fund | for unrestricted endowment support Little, Drew ‘87 & Jennifer

Joseph E DeMarsh Scholarship Fund | for scholarship Ting, George ‘64

Toma Family Fund | for unrestricted endowment support Toma, Derek, Natalie, & Sharon

Zee Family Fund | for the Chinese language program Zee, Jinly ‘90 & Tsujita, Kazuya

Munzenmeyer Memorial Fund Ray Downs Faculty Fund

Market Gain ¥4,375,512

Ray Downs Scholarship Fund Reischauer Fund Strength and Courage Fund Lund, Andy ‘81 & Denise Nakamatsu, Gaylynn ‘91 (in memory of Martha Zaiser Koelmel ‘80) Nakamatsu, Greg ‘86

Principal ¥1,000,000,000

The Takakuni Go Fund

New Gifts ¥37,536,762

Vicky Downs Scholarship Fund

Ending Value

¥1,041,912,274 THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

41

THE GATE SOCIETY Planned Giving

Those who have generously arranged to include ASIJ in their estate plans become members of The Gate Society.

Members

Planned giving is a long-term fundraising option that enables individuals to make charitable donations that consider both the personal and family needs of the donor. Planned gifts are usually made of assets, rather than current income, and are a tax-effective means of giving to our school. While there are tax and other financial benefits associated with planned giving, the most meaningful reward is knowing that your gift will leave a legacy and have an impact on future generations of our students.

Planned Giving Can Include: • Simple bequests of funds • Gifts/bequests of stock or property • Making ASIJ the beneficiary of a life insurance policy • Charitable gift annuity • Charitable remainder trust ASIJ has been receiving planned gifts for more than 30 years, and throughout our school’s history there have been a number of alumni, former faculty/staff and alumni parents who have generously arranged to include ASIJ in their estate plans and leave a gift to our school.

Please contact the advancement office at donate@asij.ac.jp for more information on making a bequest, or to request guidance on how to include ASIJ in your estate plans.

42

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Anderson, Irene ’74 & Somes, James

Jones-Morton, Pamela (PhD)

Bergt, Dave ’60 & Jeannine Cohen, Frederick ’69

Ludlow-Ortner, Julia ’72 & Ortner, Robert

Cooper, Peter & Pam

Muhl, Dick

‡ Dennis, Thurman

Nichols, Kerry & Lynn

Downs, Vicky

‡ Nicodemus, David ’33

‡ Downs, Ray ’50

Proctor, David

Forgrieve, Bruce ’77

Shibata, Hideko ’66

Glazier, Kenneth ’67

‡ Snyder, Ronald

Harada, Mary ’81

‡ Sullivan, John

‡ Harris, Frederick

Sundberg, Carl ’77

‡ Haven, Robert

Suzuki, Chizu ’64

Hesselink, Ann ’71

Ting, George ’64

‡ Hoffsommer, Abigail ’27

Trozpek, Robin ’67 & Ludd

‡ Hoffsommer, Walter ’29

Tunis, Jeffrey

Huddle, James ’70

Ware, Brent ’74

‡ Deceased

ALUMNI

Receptions

Zeno Leinfelder ’90, Jinly Zee ’90, Mari Segawa ’92, Arshad Karim ’92 (AP ’14–23), Kacie Leviton ’98, Victor Yamaguchi ’90, Kay Yokota Kiriyama ’92

2023 Tokyo, Japan

ALUMNI RECEPTION THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

43

ALUMNI

Receptions

Gerry and Sharon Morin (AP ’87–89) enjoying the historical displays tracing the history of ASIJ all the way back to 1902

T

he Alumni Office was thrilled to host nearly 150 Mustangs at Meiji Kinenkan on Sep 28 for our annual Tokyo Alumni Reception. The evening was filled with ASIJ spirit and fond memories of both the old Meguro and current Chofu campuses, as alumni from the Classes of ’65 to ’21 mingled with former faculty and staff, parents of alumni, and current ASIJ teachers and leadership. Mustangs from the past two decades were particularly delighted to see Kathy Krauth (high school social studies teacher, AP ’00–12), and Deputy Head of School for Learning Scott Wilcox engaged everyone from recent grads to those from the Meguro era with stories of how the student experience continues to evolve and grow in exciting ways.

Shinji Yamasaki ’03 and wife Bronwyn connect with Thomas Whitson (AP ’89–92)

After a brief welcome from Alumni Coordinator Miranda Liu, Head of School Dr Jim Hardin gave a warm welcome address and introduced our partnerships team — Director of Strategic Partnerships, Ryosuke Suzuki, Director of Service Learning, Katrina Baker, and our Japan Center Co-Directors, Mariko Yokosuka and Kyoko Takano (AP ’96–10). He encouraged alums — not just those present at the event — to get involved with our partnerships program. Please get in touch with us at alumni@asij.ac.jp if you are interested in learning more.

Miranda Kenrick ’65, Farida Rahman ’68, Yinsei Chitani ’68 (FF ’92–16, AP ’82–95), Mari Oka ’68, and Mary Katayama ’70 (AP ’83–99) enjoyed catching up at the reception

44

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

ALUMNI

Receptions

Emma Takashi ’15, Yuka Sadayuki ’15, and Erina Yoh ’15 smile for the camera Alumni Council President Deanna Elstrom ’86 introduced our Alumni Council, whose volunteer efforts are positively impacting our alumni community more and more each year.

(See more on page 55!) She shared about the ways alumni can get involved with ASIJ, not just in Tokyo but worldwide, through our Alumni Connect: City Networks regional chapters and our council’s virtual committee meeting format. Deanna, whose daughter Annika Elstrom ’23 just graduated from ASIJ and is off to college at Georgetown University, commented that the invaluable services and network ASIJ provides to its alumni is now more meaningful to her than ever now that there is a second generation of Mustangs in her family!

Kai Kurosu ’21 and Kei Yamashita ’21 enjoying the reception

Deepali Singhi, Caroline Haddad (AP ’12–23), Jen Hartz (AP ’12–21), Amy Fujii (AP ’20–23), Kamalavani Thota (AP ’16–21)

Rohit Ponkshe ’18, Tod Kawada ’14, Sasha Sasanuma ’19, Lisa Masayama ’19, and Eri Sumino ’14

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

45

ALUMNI

Receptions

Haruki Chitani ’97, Matthew Romaine ’97, Tomo Hattori ’97, Ko Kikuchi ’01, David Karashima Roff ’97, Kacie Leviton ’98

Sarah Brinsley ’17, Ashley Hara ’17, Emily Hara ’19

We also celebrated the 60th birthday of the Elementary School Donut with displays of artifacts surrounding the planning and construction of the building, donut-shaped notepads for guests to share their memories of the Donut, and delicious cake donuts with ASIJ Gold-colored icing.

While ASIJ's campus and facilities will continue to evolve and change with time, as Deanna aptly commented in her speech, "the things that made ASIJ special during our time there are still true today."

Christine Yoshida ’80, Atsuko Koshida ’77 (AP ’07–14), Toshiko Tsukahara ’79, Chisa Fujita ’76, Eva Berger Taylor ‘78, Natsume Imamura ’78, Amy Boyd-Hirai ‘78, Hideko Douchin ’76, Mami Inoue ’78, Naomi Wakatake ’79

Chelsea Jones ’11 wins the door prize!

46

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

A heartfelt thank you to everyone in the alumni community for staying in touch with ASIJ! More information about next year’s reception will be available in summer of 2024. We look forward to seeing you there!

Farida Rahman ’68 and Afifah Yamasaki (AP ’88–03), enjoy displays of historical documents, photos and artifacts from the ES Donut Building

ALUMNI

The classes of the 80's gathered for a group shot!

Tomi Takahashi ‘84 (AP ‘97–15) with daughter Emma Takahashi ‘15

Nozomi Sasao ‘13 and Jisoo Park ’13 showing their Mustang spirit

Receptions

Christl Takeuchi ’01, Kathy Krauth (AP ’00–12), and Julia Steele ’01

Ken Melichar ‘08 and Daniel Gettinger ‘08 reunite

Alumni Council President Deanna Elstrom ’86 (AP ’19–23) addresses the room

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

47

ALUMNI

Alumni Connect Faith Suzuki ’06 engages with fellow panelists

Alumni Connect: Tokyo T

hanks to participation from our outstanding alumni panelists Ryo Okubo ’98, Colin Suzuki Harris ’05, and Faith Suzuki ’06, our engaging moderator Deanna Elstrom ’86, and over 60 community members, our first in-person Alumni Connect networking evening in Tokyo was a huge success! Guests enjoyed an insightful panel discussion and connecting with alumni from the Classes of ‘70 through ‘22.

48

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

The evening kicked off with drinks and light refreshments as alumni and community members arrived at ASIJ’s Early Learning Center. Younger alums expressed nostalgia at the place where they made some of their earlier memories, while many of our older Mustangs were interested to see the facility for the first time. Even before the presentation, it was wonderful to see connections being made, as conversations kicked off between alums from different generations.

ALUMNI

Alumni Connect

Once the panel began, guests gathered in the community room and listened with rapt attention as the panelists discussed their career paths and the challenges they faced as internationally educated, multicultural individuals in the Japanese workforce. They shared advice on how to deal with Japanese interviews, where applicants are expected to comply with rigid etiquette and conform to Japanese workplace standards: Ryo commented that he always emphasized his overseas educational experience so that interviewers knew not to expect someone from a traditional Japanese background, while Faith shared that she relied on her English given name to indicate the unique cultural elements that she brought to the table in a workplace. On the topic of choosing a company to work for, all three panelists were in agreement when Colin shared that he felt it was best to select foreign companies for their more flexible work culture and mindset, though he did note that he's seen Japanese companies changing slowly but surely. The panelists all agreed that it’s often easier to try working overseas first and then return to Japan after gaining experience in other countries and markets, but that regardless of career trajectory, alumni have many advantages in the market, such as their multilingual and multicultural backgrounds and their strong ASIJ networks.

Ryo Okubo ‘98 contemplates a question from the audience

Shana Merrifield ’14 and Anju Watanabe ’14 listen to the engaging panel discussion After the panel, guests continued to enjoy making connections with one another and school faculty and leadership in attendance, including High School Principal Amy Zuber Meehan, Deputy Head of School for Learning Scott Wilcox, Director of Strategic Partnerships Ryosuke Suzuki, and SUPA Intro to Entrepreneurship teacher Jason Cancella. It was a fruitful and enjoyable evening, which we hope to repeat soon.

Colin Suzuki Harris ‘05 shares insights from his experience working for TikTok, Google, Twitter and Facebook over the past decade

THE AMBASSADOR \\ SPRING 2023

49

ALUMNI

Alumni Connect

ALUMNI CONNECT EVENTS Alumni Connect Committee The Alumni Connect Committee, Co-Chaired by Brian Nelson ’85 and Deanna Elstrom ’86 and made up of VP Hayden Jardine ’12 and members Um Chaivaivid ’20, Briney Dillon Burley ’93, Karen D'Souza ’01, Sarah Faller ’16, Greg Fry ’97, Nick Harris ’05, Colette Macarios ’19, David Leslie ’03, Andrew Ogawa ’90, Eri Sumino ’14, Miki TakashimaRyo ’02, and Nina Yamano ’95, was thrilled to expand its reach with several additions to its programming last year.

Four new City Networks opened in last school year, adding Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, and Washington DC to the list

of local chapters around North America and Asia, and alumni volunteers held a whopping 11 events through these groups last year. Members of the committee supported the Alumni Office in carrying out two successful fall receptions in Tokyo and New York, as well as ASIJ’s first in-person networking events, first in Boston in fall, and then in Tokyo in May. Two online Alumni Connect: Industry Meetup sessions broadened the opportunities for connection between members of the Mustang community worldwide.

San Francisco Networking evening Almost two dozen ASIJ alumni community members gathered for an evening of networking organized by Robert Sharp ’87 and Renee Williams (FF ’86–98). The event was held at DG717, the San Francisco-based coworking space branch of Digital Garage Group, a Japanese incubation, finance, and marketing firm. Alums in attendance ranged from the Class of ‘71 to the Class of ‘18, and the group was joined by six former faculty and staff members.

Make sure to join the Alumni Connect: San Francisco group for future event invitations!

Tokyo First Thursdays: June 2023 Tokyo Alumni Connect representatives Deanna Elstrom ’86, Chelsea Jones ’11, and Eri Sumino ’14 were joined by more than a dozen alumni community members between the Classes of ‘70 and ‘18 for their second First Thursdays event.

They were delighted to meet and chat with Mustangs from a wide variety of backgrounds and class years, including the alums who traveled from the farthest away, Laura Conwill ’08 and Louisa Conwill ’13, who were visiting from the United States.

First Thursdays are a bi-monthly no-RSVPrequired event for Mustangs in Tokyo to grab a drink, chat, and catch up. Deanna, Chelsea, and Eri would love to see you at the next one!

50

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

ALUMNI

Alumni Connect

Tokyo First Thursdays: September 2023 The Tokyo Alumni Connect group was excited to have yet another successful First Thursday event on Sep 8. The group of ten alumni in attendance spanned from the Class of ’65 to the Class of ’14, with representation for the ’80s, ’90s, ’00s, and ’10s in-between. “Time flew by and I suddenly realized that it was 9:10pm and everyone was still there and enjoying themselves,” shared Deanna Elstrom ’86. “Many people had come to one or two prior events, which means that they found them to be a good time and a value-add. It makes me feel really happy.”

As well as future First Thursday events, Deanna and fellow Tokyo Alumni Connect representatives Brian Nelson ’85, Nina Yamano ’95, Chelsea Jones ’11, and Eri Sumino ’14 are looking for ward to planning another year-end bonenkai event in December. Stay tuned for more details!

Washington DC Polo Night A small group of Washington, DC-based Mustangs enjoyed an exciting evening of polo hosted by Jane Hurst ’76. Bonnie Harris ’61 and husband Gene, Cinnamon El-Mulla ’62, and Jennifer Collins ’78 were in attendance on September 16 at the Twilight Polo Club in The Plains, VA. They have several more events planned, including an art experience and an author meet-and-greet with alumni author Kent Matsumoto ’78 and wife Connie, so make sure to join the LinkedIn group for the most recent updates!

Seoul Meetup South Korea-based alums met up for an evening of Mustang spirit in Seoul organized by Nick Harris ’05. While unfortunately, a few members of the group weren’t able to make it at the last minute, Aya Maher ’04, Giovanni Bono ’05 and Jisoo Park ’13 joined Nick for a fun night of dinner, drinks, and reminiscing about Tokyo days. “The event may have been on the smaller side, but the spirit and connection were undeniably present,” commented Nick. “The fact that we could organize this reunion after so many years fills me with joy.” Join the Alumni Connect: Seoul LinkedIn group to stay updated about future South Korea events!

THE AMBASSADOR \\ SPRING 2023

51

ALUMNI

Reunions

REUNIONS

’62

Mini Reunion Passau, Germany September 16–17, 2023

Judy Harris Garbutt ’62, her husband Ian Garbutt, and Frank May ’62 spent a few days with Yurika Pringsheim ’62 in Passau, Germany. They enjoyed welcome drinks downtown, visiting the rose garden of the Neuburg Castle, and Passauer Dult (a smaller version of Oktoberfest).

’63

60th Reunion Las Vegas, NV October 9–12, 2023

The Class of ’63 was thrilled that 11 out of a class of 52 graduates made it to their 60th reunion, which took place in Las Vegas from October 9 to 12. As the last to graduate from the old Meguro campus, they were excited at the good turnout. Shown pictured are Paul Sa ’63, Drew Wardlaw ’63, Dan Peterson ’63, Bill Martino ’63, Sue Bull Spencer ’63, Matt Campbell ’63, Louise Meller Lubowski ’63, Jill Tsui Cheng ’63, Nancy Wu ’63, Gerry Wilder ’63, and Les Yamada ’63. Four spouses (Betsy Martino, Betsy Campbell, Gerrie Wilder and Jay Lubowski) and Les’ fiancée, Mio Yamashita, also joined them. The group also enjoyed drinks with members of surrounding classes Maria Ting Huang ’62 and Michi Stuart Olson ’64, who live nearby.

The group agreed ahead of time that the most important item on the agenda was simply spending time together reminiscing and catching up. They lingered over long breakfasts every day at their hotel, the Flamingo, chatting about old times at the Meguro campus. There were plans

52

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

every evening, including a Japanese dinner, an Elvis tribute show for nostalgia, a visit to the Fremont Street Experience, and the Wynn Buffet. They also remembered a much-loved member of their class, Maria Byrne Peterson ’63, who sadly passed away in May. She had married Dan Peterson ’63 after reconnecting at their 54th reunion in New York.

All who attended agreed that the reunion, which was planned by the ’63 Class Agents, Nancy Wu ’63 and Bill Martino ’63, was a resounding success.

ALUMNI

’83

Reunions

40th Reunion Boulder, CO September 21–24,2023

Sally Burks Schmalz ’83 reported to us from Basecamp Boulder Hotel in Colorado on the amazing four-day 40th reunion the Class of ’83 experienced: they came from both U.S. coasts and everywhere in between, as well as all the way from Tokyo!

With the beautiful, expansive Flatiron mountains in sight, they wined and dined on rooftops, hiked the Chautauqua Park trails (what views! what a workout!), took an interactive mural tour through Boulder, and made Pearl Street their home. They enjoyed Dean Kistler ’79’s homemade bento boxes, yakitori, and curry after scaling heights on the trail, and reminisced while watching college football and eating Snarf burgers. With Flatiron Coffee providing early morning sustenance, they walked miles every day, shopped on Pearl, and enjoyed fire pits and s’mores late at night. And don’t forget the VooDoo donuts!

’93

They missed classmates who couldn’t attend, but were thrilled to catch up with those who could. As seen on a sidewalk on Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened,” a quote from Dr. Seuss that resonated with everyone at the reunion.

30th Reunion New York City, NY July 28–30, 2023

The Class of 1993 30th Reunion took place in NYC on July 28–30. On Friday, the group enjoyed a welcome party at Briney Burley ’93’s parents' apartment on the Upper East Side before heading out for more drinking and dancing.

On Saturday, the group headed to Little Island in Hudson River Park, where they enjoyed an evening of cocktails and reminiscing while watching a beautiful sunset. They then walked along the High Line Park on the Lower West Side, checking out the amazing architecture and views, before heading to Porchlight for the main reunion party. After indulging in drinks and a delicious meal in a private room, the group headed to Gagopa Karaoke for singing and dancing. They rounded out the night with incredible views, drinking and dancing at 5th Avenue Rooftop Bar, where Willy Schlumberger ’93 was able to book a table for the large group of 40. On Sunday, the group held a "Bagel Farewell" in Central Park where they stayed all day and said their goodbyes and mata nes.

They’re already looking forward to the next reunion! Special thanks to Briney Burley ’93 for arranging this year’s reunion.

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

53

ALUMNI

Reunions

Vancouver Meetup Sandra Orton-Tweed ’85 hosted almost two dozen alumni community members at her home in Vancouver on June 10.

She was joined by alums from the Classes of 1963 to 2015 and their families, as well as former Activities and Athletics Director John Smith (FF ’05–11) and former MS Health and PE teacher Shelley Smith (FF ’05–11). It was a fun event filled with reminiscing about ASIJ and Japan, and Sandra hopes to plan another gathering before the end of the year!

If you're in the Vancouver area and are interested in attending, please reach out to Sandra at sandra@prestonmatthews.com!

Sydney Meetup Ayana Nakamichi ’18 hosted a meetup of Aussie Mustangs in Sydney on July 29, and though it was a small and intimate group, the event was a great success. Alums from across the decades enjoyed reminiscing about their time in Tokyo and making new ASIJ friends in the area. Along with Ayana, in attendance were Kim Isaacs ’96, Mitchell Isaacs ’98, Eleanor Earl ’15, Ashley Steinlauf ’13, and Mary Kim ’13. They are looking forward to meeting up again soon!

Osaka Meetup Alumni Connect Committee member Miki Takashima-Ryo ’02, Alumni Award Committee member Jen Van Ness ’94, and Jen’s husband Andrew Melton ’94 met up for Mexican food in Osaka on Sep 17. They are excited to start hosting events and spreading Mustang spirit in the Kansai region in the future!

54

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

ALUMNI

Upcoming Reunions

JAN 2024 Honolulu Shinnenkai New Year Party Andrew Ogawa ’90 is planning a shinnenkai New Year party in the Honolulu area on Jan. 5th or 6th. Please contact andrewogawa@yahoo.com if you have any ideas regarding date, location, or programming!

JAN 27, 2024 NYC Shinnenkai New Year Party Karen D'Souza ’01 and Briney Dillon Burley ’93 are planning a shinnenkai New Year party in NYC to ring in 2024 with you Tokyo-style! If you are interested in joining the festivities or being invited to future events in the NYC area, they would love to hear from you!

Please contact briney@gmail.com or karenjdsouza@gmail.com with any questions.

They hope to hear from you!

’14

10th Reunion Summer 2024

Akira Camargo ’14 and Sayuri Sekimitsu ’14 are excited to be in the early stages of planning the Class of 2014 10-year reunion! While a date hasn’t been chosen yet, they are aiming to plan a gathering in the summer of 2024. Please reach out to them at either akiracamargo01@gmail.com or sayurisekimitsu@ gmail.com if you have any questions or to find out the latest details about reunion plans!

THE AMBASSADOR \\ SPRING 2023

55

ALUMNI COUNCIL UPDATE As you’ve likely noticed from the abundant emails and updates that come your way, the ASIJ Alumni Council is a buzz of activity.

Rethought, restructured and revitalized in 2021, today’s Alumni Council combines the resources, passions and skills the ASIJ Advancement Office and our incredible network of Mustangs around the world to make being an ASIJ alum more meaningful and valuable than ever.

Over the past t wo year s, alumni volunteering through the three Committees centered around t hree of A SIJ vit al alumni programs (the Alumni Awards, Alumni Connect, and Alumni Giving) have strengthened the relationship between ASIJ and its alumni and created meaningful impact

It has never been a better time to reconnect with ASIJ. Thanks to vir tual meetings, the ASIJ Alumni Council is a truly global organization, leveraging the enthusiasm and talents of alumni around the world.

Please join our LinkedIn groups so you can see what’s happening in your part of the world. And, if you’d like to get involved in one of the Committees, please reach out to Miranda Liu (alumni@asij.ac.jp). We would love to have you involved!

—Deanna Elstrom ‘86 Current President of the ASIJ Alumni Council

Alumni Award Committee

Alumni Connect Alumni Giving Committee Committee

The Alumni Award Committee, led by co-chairs Buddy Marini ’85 and Gary Yamada ’00, along with Sandra OrtonTweed ’85, Minako Abe ’88, Naomi Hayase ’99, Kelly O’Brien ’02, and Alex Heideman ’11, reviewed 25 combined nominees for the 2022-2023 Alumni Impact Award and the Young Alumni Changemaker Award. Hiro Fujita ’98 and Haruka Kokaze ’18 were selected as the respective award recipients.

For the 2023-24 school year, Alumni Connect Committee, Co-Chaired by Brian Nelson ’85 and Deanna Elstrom ’86 looks forward to opening additional City Networks in new cities around the globe. We’re already planning inperson events in a variety of cities, and at the time the Ambassador is going to print, have plans to participate in Winterfest and other ASIJ campus events. Whether it’s a Tokyo Industry Meetup panel discussion in which alumni shared how they’ve forged careers in Japan, visiting museums in Washington DC, or a nostalgic day in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Mustangs are enriching one another’s lives in new, exciting ways through Alumni Connect.

This year, Randy McClelland ’89, Jen Van Ness ’94, and Sam Jones ’98 joined the Commit tee. If you k now of a s t ro ng c an did ate for either award, please submit your nominations at the QR code. All ASIJ alumni are eligible to be nominated, regardless of whether they graduated from ASIJ or not.

56

for Mustangs globally. Find out more about each Committee’s accomplishments below!

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

See page 50 for more!

The Alumni Giving Committee, chaired

by Paul Hastings ’00 and vice president Peter Durfee ’88, and with Carson Eisenhart ’08, Chris Har vey ’92, Joseph Schmelzeis ’80, Max Taffel ’04, and Lara Tilley Bouez ’01, helped ASIJ achieve its most successful year of fundraising yet with over ¥123 million donated to the Annual Fund by the community. The total amount donated by alumni was the highest in more than five years.

The committee continues to encourage classmates to participate in the Annual Fund. Gifts of every amount make an impact, and beyond the dollars, shows gratitude for our ASIJ experience and a desire to pay it forward to today’s students. We are excited to make this year’s giving even stronger than last.

Artifact

One of the recent additions to the school archive came in the form of a packet of items from the family of Gene and Denise Larrigan, who both worked at ASIJ from 1966-70. Denise, who passed away in 2008, taught in the elementary school, while Gene, who died in 2016, taught PE in the high school. It is thanks to Gene that the school expanded its athletics offering and he was directly involved in starting the wrestling and football teams. Gene was also responsible for developing a full interscholastic sports program that included JV teams and an intramural program for junior high school. Shown here are Coach Larrigan’s wrestling sweatshirt and part of a collection of pins he acquired during his time in Japan.

THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL 2023

57

ALUMNI

Class Agents

William L. Cryderman 1955 wcryderman@comcast.net 1974 Class Agent Required Reiko E. Niimi 1975 rniimi@gmail.com 1956 Mei Sun Li

Yuki P. Maddox Vos 1995 pearlvos@hotmail.com

meisunli@comcast.net

Sandra L. Maclver Thompson

sandra.thompson3@ comcast.net

Charles C. Wu 1957 wucc57@gmail.com

1958 Class Agent Required 1959 Class Agent Required David E. Bergt 1960 dbergt@comcast.net Isao Okada Herring 1961 jayokada@gmail.com Kiki Skagen Munshi kiki@skagenranch.com

1962

Katherine C. Bauernschmidt Clarke kcbclarke@gmail.com

William L. Martino 1963 txmartino@yahoo.com Nancy Wu

naninvan@me.com

Bonner 1964 David dbonner@regenevita.com Scott Hutchinson 1965 jshutch47@gmail.com Susan Broe Parmelee Sparmelee2@gmail.com

Annie Nichols 1966 Campbell

campbell.annie@gmail.com

Grenda F. Penhollow 1967 Moss

grendamoss@yahoo.com

Nicholas D. Connor 1968 ndconnor@yahoo.com David T. Sakamoto dave.sakamoto@ infoontheweb.com

Laura B. Hertenstein 1969 Swanson laura@iswanson.com

Daniel Garnitz 1970 dangar46@yahoo.com K. Kobata 1971 Kathy kkobata21@gmail.com

Elizabeth M. 1976 Yanagihara Horwitz liz@lizhorwitz.com

E. Sundberg 1977 Carl carl_sundberg_ja@yahoo.com Deanna Adams Smith 1978 deannasmith1959@gmail.com Cheryl Wise 1979 shareallwise@gmail.com Margaret Meiers 1980 margaretmeiers@yahoo.com Sherry L. Davis Tighe 1981 tighezoo@sbcglobal.net Lisa Bastick 1982 omalasq@mac.com George Mimura 1983 georgemimura@yahoo.com

Leif Neve 1973 leifneve@gmail.com

58

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Sunny Shimizu 1996 sunny_shimizu@hotmail.com Lia Camargo 2013 lollia1108@gmail.com Vicky Carter Chen 1997 vickycarter@hotmail.com Sarah Godfrey

sgodfrey617@gmail.com

Rose E. Hastings 1998 rosehastings@gmail.com Kacie E. Rosenberg Leviton kacie_r@hotmail.com

Naomi D. Hayase 1999 naomidhayase@gmail.com

Andrew Deck

andrewdeck227@gmail.com

Akira Camargo 2014 akiracamargo01@gmail.com Sayuri Sekimitsu

sayurisekimitsu@gmail.com

Mina F. Hattori 2015 minahattori@me.com Haruka Higo

jjriko4@gmail.com

Tamina M. Plum

Ray M. Hotta 2016 ray.hotta@yahoo.com

Gary T. Yamada 2000 asijagent2000@gmail.com

Andy Takagi

taminaplum@gmail.com

Kyoko Minegishi 2001 kyoko.minegishi@gmail.com Anna L. Tuttle Delia 2002 annalynnosu@gmail.com

Allessandra Rogers 2017 rogeal01@luther.edu andy.takagi@gmail.com

Hikari Shumsky 2018 hikarishumsky@gmail.com

Kenichiro Bernier 2019 b.kenichiro@gmail.com 1984 Tyler Beesley 2003 tyler_beesley@hotmail.com Sandra L. Orton Tweed 1985 sandra@prestonmatthews.com Arman Balian 2020 armanbalian@me.com Jason Mothersill Celine Maeda1986 Diane E. Stewart Wack 2004 jasonmothersill@gmail.

Class Agent Required

diwack@msn.com

com

Robert L. Sharp 1987 robert@robertsharp.com

Tatsuya Izumi 2005 izumtat@gmail.com

Sergei P. Hasegawa 1988 sergei@purekitchen.com

Tai Dirkse 2006 tdirkse@asij.ac.jp

Kathrine L. Schmitt Simon

schm0495@gold.tc.umn.edu

Linnea M. Hasegawa 1989 tamagomeshi@yahoo.com Samantha Fritz Hurd samf@austin.rr.com

Kentaro K. Relnick 1990 krelnick@me.com Galles 1991 Maiko maikomizutani@hotmail.com Jeff Kelsch 1992 jeff@kelsch.com Briney Burley 1993 Briney@gmail.com Mayumi Nakayama

mayumi.kathi@gmail.com

Linda Suzukawa-Tseng 1972 sutseng@wonder.ocn.

Midori Kano 1994 mkano128@gmail.com ne.jp

Seung Joon Sung 2012 sjsung94@gmail.com

Margaret R. MacCallum

margaretreiko@gmail.com

Mana Sasaki Kalohelani mkalohelani@gmail.com

Carly Baird 2007 baird.carly@gmail.com Rosalind E. Onions

rosalind.onions@gmail.com

Miles Bird 2008 miles.t.bird@gmail.com

Tarumoto

celinemaedatarumoto@ gmail.com

Karen Fukuda 2021 karenfukuda16@gmail.com Joshua Inahara

inaharaj3@gmail.com

Nio Kwan 2022 niokwan@me.com Ellie Reidenbach

ellie.reidenbach@gmail.com

Ryan Haddad 2023 ryanhaddad23@gmail.com Tomo Ishikawa

tomokinyc215@gmail.com

Jemil Satterfield

jemilsatt05@gmail.com

Caitlin E. McHose 2009 caitlin.mchose@gmail.com Ashley Teslik

ashleyteslik@gmail.com

Janet H. Kanzawa 2010 janet.kanzawa@gmail.com Kana Maeji

kanamaeji12@gmail.com

Hannah T. Siegel 2011 hannahtsiegel@gmail.com Philip T. Tseng

philtseng7@gmail.com

Want to volunteer as a class agent? alumni@asij.ac.jp

ALUMNI

Dan Swanson with Beate Sirota Gordon '39 during her visit to ASIJ

D

Obituaries

Sayonara

an Swanson (FF ’81–02), beloved social studies teacher and long-time basketball coach, passed away on July 2, 2023 in Kona, HI, after a short hospitalization following a fall at home. Dan grew up in Mie Prefecture and attended Christian Academy in Japan from seventh grade until graduation, then Bethel University in Minnesota. He taught social studies at ASIJ for two decades, and like many families with missionary connections, he enjoyed summers at his cabin in Lake Nojiri. “I remember Dan’s wonderful sense of humor and easy athleticism at Nojiri, where we both went every summer,” Leif Neve ’73 shared fondly — Leif knew Dan as a peer despite graduating before Dan worked at ASIJ. “On at least one occasion I teamed up with this ‘lefty’ and he propelled us to a doubles tennis championship.”

Well known for his love of sports, Dan coached JV basketball at ASIJ for many years, and is remembered by many as a great leader and mentor to students on the team. His friendly nature endeared him to his team, while his strict coaching method was much appreciated as students saw their skills grow during their time at ASIJ. In 1984, he led the JV team to victory at the Far East tournament, something totally unexpected at the time—in fact, it was referred to as the “Miracle Season” by Mustangs and their family and friends.

“He spoke with me all the time about his students, and the wonderful memories he carried with him to the end,” Dan’s sister Karen shared.

THE AMBASSADOR \\ SPRING 2023

59

ALUMNI Rober Sharp ’87 shared the following remembrance: “It simply isn't possible to remember Dan Swanson without recalling the 1984–85 school year JV-A boys basketball “Miracle Season.” Coach Swanson molded 12 middling athletes into a cohesive squad worthy of a Hallmark movie.

With socks pulled up to our knees, little did we know an undefeated season was in our future!

“Swanny” was well-liked. At age 28, he was more of an older brother or cool uncle. On a bus trip down to a tournament at Nagoya International School we waited for Coach to get on the bus before blasting “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” knowing he hated Wham!

But Dan Swanson was also feared in the gym. He demanded hard work and our utmost effort. At the end of practice he made us run “suicide drills” until the team lay gasping on the floor for air. We dreaded these drills but they always paid off in the fourth quarter of games.

Our miracle season nearly came to an end during the finals against Yokota. We were down 10 points with two minutes to go. Through sheer force of will, a series of miraculous baskets and Coach's high pitched screaming, we somehow won the game!”

Obituaries Steve Boyd ’89 also remembers playing for Dan as a pivotal moment in his life, sharing: “I remember it was like it was yesterday. Fall 1986. I was shooting baskets in the gym during lunch. David Chalikulima ’88, who played Varsity at the time, was watching me and said I wasn't half bad. He said if I was okay with it, he would tell the JV coach, Mr Swanson, about me. After school, I found myself in Coach Swanson's office. He told me tryouts had already happened (I had no idea, as it was a new school for me!) but if I wanted to come back over during Christmas break, he would watch me practice against his team and “see how it goes.”

Spoiler: I wasn't very good, but because Mr Swanson gave me hope, I trained for three weeks to get ready for that December practice. I ran the streets of Tokyo every night after school and on weekends. When I showed up, I was the best defender they had because I never got tired.

I was pretty raw, but he gave me a chance and put me on the team.

As the season went on, he worked with me, yelled at me, coached me, and inspired me to be a better player.

Our team loved playing for him because he cared and was passionate about teaching the game. I even remember on a trip to Zama on a random Tuesday night, he put me in the second quarter and said “Boyd, DON’T FOUL!” I immediately fouled a guy and he pulled me. He put me back in later and we ended up winning. At the end of the season the Kanto Plains had a JV tournament and we ended up winning it all. I loved his intensity and I wrote to him years later to thank him for pushing me so hard. He responded with the nicest note. It was such a pivotal year for me as a kid in a new country trying to fit in and make friends. I will always be grateful for him.”

////////////////////////////////////////////////

Dan with the JV Boys Basketball team from the "Miracle Season" during 1984–85 school year

A

fter retiring to Hawaii, Dan stayed in touch with ASIJ and his former students all the way up to the weeks before his passing. “Every time he heard from a former student, he would call and let me know,” Karen recollected. “I truly cannot put into words how much they meant to him.” Dan made an effort to attend reunions and gatherings with his former students, continuing to put smiles on their faces long after they left. He also kept up with ASIJ news through the last years of his life — after the article about Hikaru Nishida Ebi ’90 was published in the Spring 2023 issue of The Ambassador, Dan got in touch

60

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

wanting to reconnect with Hikaru after he lost touch with her years previous. “Only weeks before he died, I reached out to see if he would consider attending our Class of ’73 50th cluster reunion,” Leif shared. “He declined the offer on health grounds, but we were able to talk at length about his life and things that were important to him.”

Dan leaves behind three siblings and many nieces and nephews, as well as the many alumni and former faculty and staff whose lives he touched. In the words of his sister, “There was only one ‘Swanny’ in this world, and he will be missed.”

ALUMNI AZIZ BASAN ’60, known as a painter and mixed-media artist, passed away in 2022.

After living in Scotland for many years, Aziz moved back to Turkey, where he became quite well known as an artist, author, historian (the Seljuks), philosopher and educator. Aziz attended ASIJ between 1955–58. He was fondly remembered by many classmates who described him as “a wonderful, bigger-than-life person at ASIJ.”

TONY AUSTIN ’52 passed away on September 27, 2019. Born April 26, 1935, in Wellfleet, MA, he was 84 years old. Tony spent four years in Japan as a child during the Occupation, playing with then Crown Prince Akihito. When he returned to the United States, he attended Berkshire School, Sheffield, MA, before going to Wesleyan University. He was then a member of the first class of the Air Force Academy, eventually graduating from the University of the South in Sewanee, TN. After graduating he served two years in the Navy and continued his education with a Master’s degree in English from the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill). He taught in private schools and colleges for several years before returning to Cape Cod and his true love of commercial fishing. He is survived by his wife Ruth and his three daughters, Sharon Elizabeth Austin, Lisa Carroll Austin, and Valerie Ann Austin of NC; and his brother Timothy Austin.

GENE CARLSON (FF ’67–69) of Sisters, OR, passed away on May 5, 2023. He was born on March 3rd, 1939, in Denver, CO, and was a 1957 graduate of McMinnville High School in McMinnville OR, where he was a three-sport athlete. Gene attended Linfield College, where he earned a degree in chemistry and continued to be a three-sport athlete.

At 22 years old, Gene took a job with Allied Chemical Company and was sent to work in Atlanta, GA. Although he was successful, he felt unfulfilled with his career choice and he decided to quit his job, move home, and pursue a career in teaching. In 1966 he married Amber (FS ’67–69) and the couple later moved to Tokyo where Gene’s father Ernest Carlson ’39 and aunt Florence Carlson ’34 had attended ASIJ. Gene taught chemistry at ASIJ and on his return to America taught and coached at several schools before becoming vice principal at Sandy High School and then the principal/superintendent at Yamhill-Carlton High School. He retired from Rainier School District as its superintendent in 1998.

Obituaries SUSAN LEPPARD CORKE ’67 passed away on May 16, 2023. Born in Hampton, Middlesex, England, Sue was the eldest of five siblings. Her family moved to Tokyo in 1963, where Sue attended ASIJ until 1965.

Sue returned to the UK, where she briefly worked for Shell before taking a break from work to look after her siblings when her mother passed away. Between 1969–72, she married, divorced, and emigrated to Canada. There, she remarried to Bob Hann and had two children. Sue began working for the Central Eglinton Community Centre in Toronto and Decision Dynamic and earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, and later a MSc in Urban and Regional Planning. In the early 1980’s, Sue joined the Government of Ontario — serving in a variety of progressively senior policy and operational positions throughout her years in the Ontario civil service. Sue left the Province as Deputy Minister, Ministry of Consumer and Business Services in 2005 and took a role as Deputy City Manager at the City of Toronto between 2005 and 2011 before completing her career as Registrar and CEO at the College of Early Childhood Educators between 2011 and 2015. After Sue’s retirement in 2015, she found the time to pursue her many passions. She was appointed to the Board of the Wellesley Institute and was retained as a private consultant in municipal affairs. She is survived by her children Jeremy and Katherine, their spouses, and a large extended family.

MAHÉ FARION ’21 of Paris, France passed away on May 2, 2023. He was a sophomore at McGill University studying mechanical engineering. Known for his love of books, outer space, and cooking, those who knew Mahé admired his wit, intelligence, and delicious lemon chicken. Family and friends remember him as kind and empathetic, willing to go to great lengths to support those he loved. His sister, Anais Farion ’17, shared that she graduated from college during the period of lockdown for COVID, and as such none of her family were able to come to her ceremony, leaving her feeling lonely and isolated. “But Mahé called me at 2am his time and watched me walk at 3am in Paris,” she shared, “to calm me down and just say how proud he was of me.” Mahé is survived by his parents, Francois and Nathalie Farion (AP ’15–18) and his sister.

THE AMBASSADOR \\ SPRING 2023

61

ALUMNI EMILY GILBERT GLEASON (AP ’56–69) passed away in Ann Arbor, Michigan on April 11, 2023. She was 98 years old, and died peacefully of natural causes. Born in Cambridge, MA and raised in Rochester, NY, Emily was a graduated from of the University of Rochester in 1946 and received an MA in Sociology at Columbia University University in 1948. She taught sociology for a year at Randolph-Macon Women’s College in Virginia prior to marrying Alan Gleason (AP ’56–69) and starting her family in Rochester, NY. They had two children, Alan Gleason ’69 and Ann Gleason ’72, before moving to Tokyo, where Alan was on the faculty of economics at the International Christian University for 12 years. Emily taught sociology, English conversation and composition at ICU, and their children, including youngest son James Gleason ’80, attended ASIJ. After Tokyo, the family moved to Sylvania, OH, where Emily received an additional MA in history at the

CAROL KREYLING (AP ’64–68, ’69–71) passed away on January 3, 2023. She was 94 years old. Carol was born in Queens, NY, graduated from Richmond Hill High School, and entered Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, IN. At age 19, she traveled alone to China to marry a young missionary she hadn't seen in almost two years. Carol and Rev. Paul Kreyling (AP ’64–68, ’69–71) were wed in Hangkow, China in 1948, but had to flee China 16 months later in response to political unrest. They settled in Japan, where Carol supported Paul's mission work for the next 22 years and raised four boys: Peter Kreyling ’67, Steve Kreyling ’68, Tom Kreyling ’71, and Jim Kreyling ’73, all of whom attended ASIJ during the family’s years in Tokyo.

They returned to America for good in 1971, and lived in Pittsburg, PA, Buffalo, NY, and Bel Air, MD.

University of Toledo. Emily is survived by her children Alan, Ann, and James, Alan and James’ spouses, and two grandchildren.

photographer for all his professional life.

After spending three years at ASIJ from 1963–66, he began his career at National Geographic before leaving for a life-long pursuit of stories and pictures of adventures in the wilderness. From Louisiana and Mississippi to Alaska and Africa, Doug traveled near and far and documented the life of the people and the land. While he resided in Colorado, his heart was in Africa, where he wrote passionately about the Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert.

ROBERT HERALD (FF ’14–17) of Latrobe, PA, passed away on Aug 23, 2023. Robert earned his bachelor's degree from John Carroll University, and his master's degree from Miami University in Oxford, OH. Rob's career in education spanned many decades and took him to several countries, where he served as a high school counselor at the American International School of Cairo, Egypt; the Rumberdee International School, Bangkok, Thailand; the Canadian International School of Hong Kong, China; the American School Dubai; the American International School of Budapest; and The American School in Japan, where he was a high school counselor from 2014-17. An avid golfer, he coached golf at each school with which he was affiliated. Rob is survived by his wife and his daughter.

FRED HUDDLE ’68 passed away on May 9, 2023. He was 73 years old. Born in Kyoto, Japan, Fred spent first through twelfth grade at ASIJ, where he played football and was involved in both band and the school musicals. After graduation, he spent many years in the US Army. He is survived by his spouse Leesa and children, and his siblings Ben Huddle ’59, Jim Huddle ’70, Patricia Hashimoto ’61, Ed Huddle ’73. A large group of Mustang friends and family including Fred’s brothers Ben, Jim, and Ed, as well as David Bradford ’66 and Don Bradford ’66, attended Fred’s funeral.

62

Obituaries

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

DOUGLAS LEE ’71 of Boulder, CO passed away on May 29, 2023. Doug was a man of words and pictures — a writer and

DEAN MOLTER ’78 passed away on May 17, 2023. Dean spent his formative years growing up in Japan, Thailand, and later Hong Kong and Curaçao, where he developed a love for different cultures and a sense of adventure. During his time in Japan, he attended ASIJ from 1975 to his graduation in 1978, and played soccer and baseball, and was on the wrestling team. In 1992, he settled in Pittsburgh, and this is where he called home. Dean had a passion for travel and dedicated his career to ensuring the safety of others as a flight dispatcher. With a keen eye for detail and a calm demeanor, he excelled in his role, diligently keeping people safe and traveling efficiently in the fast-paced aviation industry. He started with Piedmont Airline in Boston in 1986, which later became US Air, then US Airways, and eventually American Airlines. Dean is survived by a large family, and leaves a void in the hearts of all who knew him, including many ASIJ friends and classmates. Carolyn Coleman Piotrzkowski ’78, Chris Gilbertson ’77, Tim Gilbertson ’79, Deanna Adams Smith ’78, Korey Hutchings Halsch ’78, Ann Bauman Schulte ’78, Mimi Clark Gilbert ’77, and Bill Heye ’79 gathered for Dean’s memorial in July 2023.

ALUMNI

Obituaries

TERRY PARSONS ’65 passed away on June 2, 2023 in Fearrington Village, NC. Terry was born in Brownsville, TX, the son of a Foreign Service Officer. His father's career in the Consular Section took his family to many different countries, including Costa Rica, Columbia, Australia, Italy, Mexico, and Japan, where he and his brother attended ASIJ from 1962-63. Between foreign assignments the family returned to their permanent residence in McLean, VA. Terry attended Virginia Commonwealth University where he received his fine arts degree with an emphasis on interior design. After a brief stint at Marshall Fields in Chicago, he returned to the Washington, DC, area and worked as a designer for the United States Information Agency, and the State Department, designing Cultural Centers and Embassies around the world. After retiring in 2006, he moved to Fearrington Village and successfully opened his own private design company. He enjoyed the arts as a season ticket

MOLLY RICHESON VEITCH ’60 passed away on June 24, 2023 in Fort Walton Beach, FL. She was 79 years old. She attended ASIJ from 1952-58, and then went on to graduate college from Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO after she completed high school. She went on to work at the clerk of courts in Springfield, MO, and married David Ellis Veitch, Jr in 1965. She later moved to Dallas, TX, and enjoyed an extensive career working in family law for many decades. “She was one of the earliest classmates that I remember, starting in the fifth grade, the first year that ASIJ reopened after the war,” David Bergt ’60 recollected. “At the several reunions that she attended I was happy to see that she had retained that bubbly, laughing personality that I remember all the way back to elementary years.”

Molly is survived by her two sons.

holder to the North Carolina Symphony, Playmakers, and the Durham Performing Arts Center, and was an accomplished tenor and sang with the Fearrington Singers for several years. Terry is survived by his husband, Richard Chase, and his twin brother Berry Parsons ’65.

PAUL VUKELIC ’48 passed away on October 21, 2023 in Busselton, Australia.

Paul attended ASIJ from 1936–41, until mounting political tensions in Japan caused them to emigrate to Australia that same year, when Paul was 11. His mother was Danish, but they weren’t able to return there due to the political situation there, so the family moved to be with his mother’s sister instead. Self proclaimed to be “not very good scholastically, and no good at sport either,” Paul left school at 14 and enrolled at City Commercial College in Claremont, Western Australia, where he learned practical business skills before starting a job delivering magazines, books, and newspapers around the Perth area. It was during this time that he first met his first wife, Beverly, and the two married in 1959, after Paul gained success selling used cars and started his own car dealership, Paul Motors. They had three children, Anne-Marie, Diane, and Drew, before separating years later. He later got remarried to Pauline Harris, and had two more children, Asher and Mia. Paul went on to invest in property development, and helped build the Bunbury Entertainment Centre in Bunbury, Western Australia. He was also part of the Bunbury City Council during the period Bunbury became a city. You can read more about Paul’s life in the article "Journalist, Gymnast, Schoolboy, Spy" on ASIJ’s website.

MARIA BYRNE PETERSON ’63 of Santa Fe, NM, passed away on Friday, May 26, 2023.

She was 77 years old. Born in Los Angeles, CA, Maria attended ASIJ for the 1962–63 school year, where she served as the Class President and wrote for the school newspaper. She was also on the yearbook team and helped to edit the 1963 Chochin. She is survived by her husband Dan Peterson ’63, and was remembered by her husband and classmates Paul Sa ’63, Drew Wardlaw ’63, Bill Martino ’63, Sue Bull Spencer ’63, Matt Campbell ’63, Louise Meller Lubowski ’63, Jill Tsui Cheng ’63, Nancy Wu ’63, Gerry Wilder ’63, and Les Yamada ’63 at the Class of ’63 reunion in October 2023.

NATALIE STANT (FF ’63–66) passed away peacefully on July 24th, 2023. Natalie was born during the Great Depression and lived through a challenging time of economic hardship and World War II. She earned a bachelor's degree in English Literature from University of Cincinnati where she met her husband, Louis Bernard Stant, a business major who took his young family around the world. She taught fourth grade at ASIJ, while the family lived in Tokyo from 1963–66, and then taught briefly in Korea.

After returning to the United States, she earned a master’s degree in elementary education from Butler University. She taught in Zionsville Elementary, IN, before moving to Brown County where she taught in Nashville, Van Buren and Helmsburg Elementary Schools. Natalie is survived by her twin sister and her four sons.

TONY WETZEL ’51 passed away on June 28, 2023, in San Diego, CA. Tony attended ASIJ for the 1947–48 school year, during the period when it was known as the Tokyo American School, and went on to serve in the US Military. He served for 26 years in the US Air Force and retired in 1982 with the rank of Colonel. He went on to become a certified financial planner and stockbroker for 13 years before retiring to Coronado, CA, where he lived with his wife for the past 28 years. Tony is survived by his wife Linda and four children.

THE AMBASSADOR \\ SPRING 2023

63

The Big Short Big questions, Short answers

After graduating from ASIJ in 2006 and heading to Boston for college, Tai Dirkse ‘06 returned to Japan and to work at his alma mater. In his role as Manager of School Service Support Projects he works on areas that range from ASIJTV and tech projects to security and buses.

What kind of student were you in school?

What is your favorite thing about ASIJ?

When and where were you happiest?

I wasn’t the most academic student but I participated in a lot of behind the scenes clubs. I participated in the web publishing club, tech theater, sports video and the club that is now ASIJTV. I spent a lot of time holding a camera and filming events.

I didn’t always wear black. I used to wear a variety of colors. I wish I was better engaged in geometry classes. In my work, I need to calculate the field of view for security cameras. Those theorems come in handy everyday.

The people. I like working with my current colleagues. I like interacting with students.

I sponsor ASIJTV and get to work with students who are interested in media or media technology. Even though people come and go, I have been very fortunate to work with the people who I have worked with.

Right now. I’m content. I’m alive. What else can you wish for?

Why did you choose to work at a school?

As a non-teacher, I didn’t choose to work in a school. I worked in a non-school environment for a few years. I worked in TV, film and did freelance video and photography early on in my career. At that time, it was a lot of fun, but the pacing of corporate production was hard. But when the opportunity came up to work at my alma-mater, I took it. Cameras, yes, but security cameras became my new career.

What is your favorite thing about Japan?

The food. The quality is great at affordable prices. As much as going to local restaurants is great, I like finding authentic international restaurants that are not “localized”. For example, the last couple of weeks I’ve been into South Indian food which is different from the majority of Indian restaurants in Japan. There’s a place out in Machida. It’s always fun to find a new restaurant specializing in different areas of the world. Other than that, I just go to a lot of different ramen restaurants.

64

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

A little shout out to ASIJTV members during the pandemic. It was great creating fully virtual experiences for our community through Youtube and Broadway on Demand. I was very impressed by the quality of content produced during this time. Thank you for coming on campus on “online” days, taking virtual-classes in the studio, and then going on site to crew for a shoot.

Even those events after the hybrid days, you supported the community by streaming virtual ceremonies or virtual class comps.

Those days were the most memorable days to date as an ASIJTV sponsor.

Which talent would you most like to have?

The talent I most like to have is to be in multiple places at the same time. There are too many things to do in life, I wish I could do all of them.

Who are your favorite writers?

Those anonymous writers who write instruction manuals. They’ve saved me so many times. I don’t really read novels. I read a lot of how-to guides or articles on how someone built a certain equipment setup.

Which living person do you most admire?

Gen Ito. He was an assistant camera on a film that was partially shot at ASIJ in 2008 or so. In my short career in film, he is one person I met that worked up the ranks and is now a cinematographer. He taught me how Japanese and American productions differ. He is a bicultural person and I admire his work he is doing today.

Who are your heroes in real life?

I don’t have one hero. Heroes come and go. A hero at work could be a student in ASIJTV who signs up for a last minute position. Or a colleague who lends a hand when I’m unable to do something by myself. In my personal life, it could be someone who chats with me when I’m down or someone who celebrates with me. Those people are my heroes.

What is your most treasured possession?

My car. It’s utilitarian, I know. Sometimes, I get together with people who were in film/TV in a past life and work on personal projects and use it as an equipment vehicle. Otherwise, I just go out driving to some restaurant in the middle of nowhere, or just go to Costco. I’d rather do that with a car than take public transportation.

SUPPORTS

ASIJ's Annual Fund and Endowment If your company would like to join in supporting this program, please contact donate@asij.ac.jp

Advancement Office The American School in Japan Takumi Associates Incorporated 19201 S Reyes Avenue Compton, CA USA 90221 Address Service Requested

© The American School in Japan