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In 1928, the city of Okazaki
in Aichi Prefecture sent a Friendship Doll to America. The photo below shows the
farewell ceremony of Miss Okazaki. Note the seven American Blue-eyed dolls
sitting in front of Miss Okazaki.
The following is the
farewell address to Miss Okazaki, delivered on October 4, 1928 by Toshiki Honda,
Mayor of Okazaki, Japan.
It was last year that new dolls like
Miss Ruth and Mr. Lincoln arrived and joined the old familiar figures of
imperial personages, court ladies and quintet musicians at our Dolls Festival.
I do not believe that anybody can imagine with what joy and affection and
goodwill the children of Japan have received the newcomers. And this same love
of Japanese children which knows no distance or no barrier has been extended
to the members of the International Children Friendship Society and the
hundreds of thousands of children in America. I am told that our Doll Festival
is intended to illustrate the joyful companionship of all kinds of people of
Japan, both rich and poor and both high and low. But it seems to me the
Festival has become symbolic of the happy international fellowship of American
and Japanese peoples because of the presence of these dolls from America.
Miss Okazaki, you are going far across
the sea to America just as Miss Ruth and Mr. Lincoln have come to Japan.
Please carry to the children of America a message of good will and friendship
from the children of Japan. Miss Aichi and others have gone before you. I hope
that you will all work together and show the true worth of Japanese dolls by
doing well your great errand of love. I wish you a fair and prosperous
journey.
Speech translated July 17, 1929 in the Office of Consulate General of Japan by
courtesy of Mr. Kyoshi Uchiyama - Acting Consul General Miss Okazaki greatly
delighted many teachers and school children in the state of New Jersey.
Minet Blackwell Moore wrote a heartfelt letter of thanks
to the Mayor of Okazaki for the kindness expressed by the people of the city of
Okazaki.
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