Stories from the Musuem Matsukata House Museum

Thisspring, during a recent visit to Matsukata House, Yukiko Ano Kato,’52 shared her memories of Nishimachi School, later known as Nishimachi International School. She fondly remembered the serious yet supportive learning environment led by Miss Tané Matsukata, who taught the English curriculum to all the students. Morning’s classes focused on instruction in Japanese, allowing her to keep pace with peers in Japanese schools, while afternoons at Nishimachi were centered on instruction in English from Miss Matsukata.

Yukiko’s reading skills in English thrived at Nishimachi, and she fondly recalls the Dick and Jane series used to introduce her to a new language and a new culture. Within two years, she advanced four grade levels in her reading ability. As the end of grade six approached, Yukiko’s family decided that continuing her education back at the Japanese private school would be best for her future in Japan. Little did they know that her two years at Nishimachi, from ages 10 to 12, would be the beginning of her path to attending college in the United States and eventually settling and teaching in Silicon Valley.

Over the years, Yukiko revisited Nishimachi whenever she returned to Tokyo, often bringing her children along to see her former school. She maintained a close connection with Miss Matsukata and aspired to teach at Nishimachi someday. While living in California, Yukiko became a respected elementary school teacher, integrating multicultural perspectives into her classroom. She introduced her students to Japanese culture, including songs from Nishimachi’s children’s choir recorded in the 1970s.

In the summer of 2022, during an alumni gathering in Palo Alto, California, Yukiko and her husband met Karen O’Neill, Nishimachi’s Head of School. They heard updates about Nishimachi today and learned of plans for the Matsukata House Museum. Yukiko contemplated how she could support this initiative beyond her annual donations to the school, and realized she had a prized artifact. She generously offered her original diploma, the first one issued by Nishimachi, to the museum.

Numerous alumni share a similar appreciation for Miss Matsukata’s vision and the lasting influence of Nishimachi on their friendships, careers, and global perspectives. The Matsukata House Museum welcomes visitors to explore and share their perspectives on the Nishimachi experience.