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| In
1927, the people of America sent Friendship Dolls to the children of
Japan to show their friendship. Over
12,700 dolls were distributed in Japan, with 286 going to Nagano
Prefecture. Among
those that went to Nagano, 23 now exist. |
An impressive special
exhibition, sponsored by the Shinano Education Association, was held
at the Shinano Education Association Building in Nagano City from
November 15 to December 14, 2001. The exhibit included the 23 dolls remaining in Nagano
Prefecture, along with related material, and Miss Fukuoka (currently on
a homecoming visit to Japan), one of the Japanese Friendship Dolls sent
to America to express Japan's gratitude. |
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| Mary (left), who remains at
Watauchi Elementary School in Nagano City, and Mary Ann (right), who is
at Nakasu Elementary School in Suwa City. They are inside beautiful dark
hardwood cases. |
Display of cute hats, skirts,
and other items used for the dress-up dolls sent from America. |
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| The journal Shinano
Education, published by the Shinano Education Association, had a
special edition (Issue 1380) on the Treasures of Shinshu "Blue-eyed
Dolls." It includes stories by living witnesses to the arrival of
the dolls and other articles about the dolls. |
In
a large exhibition room there were displays of valuable materials
related to the Japanese-American friendship doll exchange and the
results of devoted research by children. There
was also a map showing the location of schools with the remaining dolls. |
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