July 11, 2026 aiinstitute@gmail.com 国際教育研究所 Mass served for L’Etoile du Matin/暁星学園同窓会/ the alumni who died in 2026

 July 11, 2026 

I went to L'Etoile du Matin Alumni mass served for the graduates who died in 2026.

I was told by Brother Paul Beckermann that St. Joseph College is not a sister school of Gyosei but a daughter school branched off from Gyosei in 1901 for the foreigners who did not like Yamagata Aritomo's idea of forcing all secondary school students in Japan to adopt ROTC/GUNJI KYOUREN.

L'Etoile du Matin was founded by the followers of Father Chaminade who founded the Society of Mary in France under the French Revolution.  They were sent to Japan in 1888

to find a Primary and Secondary school in Tokyo. Ever since that time they were the only Catholic Boys School until the Jesuit came in 1913 to have a higher education for the Catholics in Japan. This tradition is strongly observed and when Salesian started to have their school in Tokyo after the war, the archbishop of Tokyo did not recognize their school and chapel for many years.  I was told there are only two strictly Boys primary schools in Tokyo

, one is Gyosei Gakuen, a Catholic boy's school and the other is Rikkyo Boys school by the Anglican church. Most of the other Christian/Catholic schools are either for girls or coed.

July 7/8, 2026 aiinstitute@gmail.com 国際教育研究所 meeting with Nishikawa Sempai, SJC '59

 July 7, 2026

I met Mr. Shingo Nishikawa, Saint Joseph College graduate of 1959.                                           

He was born in Nagoya, 1942 under a Japanese American who returned to Japan to receive Waseda University education but could not return to the USA because of the break of the war. The house was bombed so the family had to evacuate to the mother's countryside in Mie. His grandfather went to the USA to be a farm laborer in 1900 and became a wealthy farmer with many employees and became very wealthy but the anti-Asian/Japanese feeling and the law preventing Japanese to own land or emigrant made the situation hard. It became worse by the break of the World War II with the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor.    He lost everything. In the meantime, Shingo's father was sent to Japan to get a good Japanese education. With the break of War, Shingo was both American by birth and registered in Japanese Consulate in San Francisco with other employees of his father as a Japanese (KOSEKI). Shingo's father was called into a Japanese military but because of his health he was not drafted but joined the factory workers.   The war ended as the USA victory and Shingo's father was on the victor's side. He had lucrative jobs but stated his own business but was not a businessman and lost money at the end.                                              Shingo went to a Japanese school as many did to 4th grade and joined St. Joseph College where he met many who had various backgrounds and Brother Soden and other Brothers of Marianist Society. He said nobody asked their friends background but knew they were from all kinds of people and nationalities. He said that his father was not a businessman so lost money and in his 8th grade he felt he could not afford the school tuition but somehow managed with others help. He became a Catholic in the 6th grade with Father Gerber's baptism.  He went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the Electric Engineer because he felt he can get the job anytime when the situation is bad. He supported his sister in Saint Maur to graduate. He worked in the American rocket project when the USA was hurrying to catch up to the Soviet Union Sputnik and later in ATT and others.  He was told by his uncle and others not to outstand in WASP society and keep the low posture always as a Japanese American. They learned hard way through "Internment Camp" and losing everything in the "white" American society. He then decided to be a "teacher" which was always his dream. He went to graduate schools and got his first job in Hong Kong University and later in "emerging" Chinese universities and in 2004 Akita International University which is well known few all-English university we have in Japan.  It was one of the early ones sponsored by the prefecture. I heard from mentor who used to set up the university that the students must go abroad to earn credits abroad but most of the students fail, but he said in the early stage it was, but now it not. They do well and get good jobs.      He said most of the teachers/professors from abroad comes but not learning or have the background in Japanese. He asked them why and they said Japanese is only used in Japan, but you can use Chinese in Taiwan, Singapore and many countries outside China. So, they study Chinese but not Japanese. Let's face this reality!

(to be continued)

June 21, 2026, Sunday at Yamakita/Ashigara ai.institute@gmail.com/ gtofen@gmail.com 国際教育研究所

 June 21, 2026

It was my first experience to attend Yamakita/Ashigara Internment Camp memorial service where some of our St. Joseph, a Marianist School, grads were put into hard life during 1942 to 1945 war time. It was strangely St. Joseph/Marianists summer house turned into Kanagawa prefectural internment camp. I asked the Royal British Legion to dedicate the wreath for them. I met 1971 St. Joseph College graduate who walks every year to this distant site from a station. It takes 1 and half hours walk from the nearest station to this mountain site.     I am very amazed and respect him for doing it.  He said he wants to feel how hard it was for his grandfather. Mr. Isaka, now a Japanese citizen, have three brothers graduating St. Joseph College in 1970's.  I will tell this to the Marianist schools and friends to remember it.

aiinstitute.blogspot.com 国際教育研究所 Ai. Institute@gmail.com June 14, 2026 Sunday Thought

 June 14, 2026

Try to continue the Blog.

A thought of Sunday

I went to the Christ Church today. 

There is a young Texan married to a Chinese lady, and I thought he was going to Tokyo University but suddenly shaved his hair and became an altar boy and rings a bell instead of a Nigerian assistant and helps Father David. So, I don't have to do it anymore. I will attend like my friend Revd. K.

YUC had Rev. Koh Yamamoto, a young Lutheran minister, served the sermon today. He was good. and runs a church in Paris, Tennessee.

I went home and cleaned the St. Joseph College/International School treasures supposed to be given to St. Joseph School in Tsurumi as a monument for SJC/SJIS, but they will be completed non-Christian "Cramming" school, so I don't know what to do with them

aiinstitute.blogspot.com 国際教育研究所 June13 (part two) 2026 Paradise Lost: St. Joseph School

 June 13, 2026 (part two)

Paradise Lost: St. Joseph School

I thought St. Joseph School in Tsurumi was a Paradise.

I was a judge for over 30 years for St. Joseph School.

They were kind to the students and teachers; even non-Japanese were treated as one of their family.

They were very kind and understanding. I was expecting to transfer my St. Joseph College/International School goods to them, but that will not take place anymore.

They were founded by Atonement Friary/Brothers. Their founder, a Japanese Canadian/American, was outstanding English teacher among Catholic missionary English teachers.  The order was originally Anglicans who converted to the Catholic Church.  That was one of the reasons why they adopted International Baccalaureate first in Kanagawa prefecture about five years ago. They became co-education and had eight times more applicants, but my friend, principal, Mr. Shimizu mentioned to me that over five years they were having difficulties in running the school. 

They will transfer the school to Kaichi, well known "cramming" type school in Saitama and its name will be Kaichi Yokohama International School, not a Catholic or Christian School.

So, the Paradise is Lost!

I would like to quote what Father Dominic Tagawa, S.M. had told me many years ago.  He said how do you say a French word: "Providence" in English. I am sure that he knew it. I said it is "Providence". 

Every time, a Christian will ask me why St. Joseph College/International School had ended its century history with 7, 000 Tsubo property. I say what our ex-Provincial,

Father Dominic S.M. had said: "Providence". Most probably that is also an answer to the reason why St. Joseph School had terminated in 2026.

aiinstitute.blogspot.com 国際教育研究所 Return of Blog June 13, 2026

 June 13, 2026

There were many things happened after the last blog.

Mr. Trump and his almighty power prevail throughout the world.

However, there are more things happening around us here in Yokohama.

About a quarter century ago there was a closure of St. Joseph International School (formerly proudly had a name of St. Joseph College). 

Now another St. Joseph School is changing its ownership from a Catholic School to Kaichi School.

aiinstitute@gmail.com 国際教育研究所 January 11, 2026 St. Luke International University Chapel (Episcopal, Anglican, 日本聖公会) Sunday morning at 10:30

 January 11, 2026

I attended the "Anglican Church" service at St. Luke International University Chapel 

on Sunday morning of January 11.  at Tsukiji.