Other Friendship Doll Programs
Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute

Dialogues have been created and continue between Japanese people, Japanese schools, and the American recipients of these Friendship Dolls. Cards, letters, artwork, scrapbooks, and dolls are crossing the Pacific.

Renewed interest in the 1927 "Doll Plan" encouraged Mukogawa Women's University in 1993 to coordinate a similar venture of goodwill, the "Japan-US Friendship Doll Program." Japanese friendship dolls, which are donated, made, and bought with funds raised by Japanese citizens, are sent to the Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute (MFWI) in Spokane, Washington.

At the Hina Matsuri or Doll Festival on March 3rd every year at MFWI, the dolls are introduced and presented to schools and other organizations to encourage their study of Japan and world cultures. Each doll set comes with educational materials and a certificate with the donor's name on it.

Since the beginning, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have received over 1,000 friendship dolls. As a result, many new friendships are developing. 

Here is some additional material related to the MFWI Friendship Doll Program:

• Friendship Doll Program - Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute web page about program.
• 2006 Hina Matsuri - Article on my visit to MFWI.
• The Friendship Ambassadors - Speech given by Michiko Takaoka at Doll Festival celebrated at MFWI on March 3, 2005.
• The Never-ending Story - Rhode Island teacher describes her wonderful experiences with the Friendship Doll Program since 1995.
• Roaring Brook School - Students give warm welcome to two Japanese Friendship Dolls.
• Doll Festival Family - Describes the Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) in March 2000.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, please feel free to contact the Japanese Cultural Center.

The Japanese Cultural Center
Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute
4000 W Randolph Road
Spokane, WA 99224