LEARNING FROM THE PAST (温故知新)
In 1927, 12739 dolls arrived on a boat from America as a sign of goodwill. Tokura was one of the recipients of these dolls, and on July 12th of the same year, a welcoming ceremony was held for the doll. At this time, American-Japanese relations were in decline, but there were those who wanted to change this. Among these people was Professor Sidney Louis Gulick. In order to foster peace and friendship, the Professor believed that it was necessary children to study internationally. When World War II started, the dolls became the targets of anti-American sentiment. All schools across the nation were ordered to burn the dolls and as a result, the majority of them were lost. It is said that only about 300 of the dolls survive today. The American name "Friendship Dolls" has been translated in Japan to "Yuujou Ningyou" (友情人形). It has been 82 years since the dolls arrived at this school, and we carry on the Professor`s idea that international peace comes from children.