May 25, 2014; All Sophia Day

May 25, 2014
Dear Students and Friends
Today I went to see a special Summer Program for Children by Sophia University English Language Department.
But, they rescheduled to one hour early, so I end up walking around the campus for few hours and found out that there will be Sophia University International Alumni Association inaugurated today. So I stayed in campus till 3 o'clock and attended the meeting. I met three(Hayashi(Chen), Iwasawa,Kaneko )of SJC graduates. It was fruitful day.
gto

May 19, 2014; 21st Century Skills

May 19, 2014
Dear Students and Friends
" 21st Century Skills"
Businesses are looking for leaders who can take initiative and get work done.
Leadership demands self-confidence by having them continually reevaluate what they are good at and how they can contribute meaningfully to the marketplace.

To SJC/SJIS students and friends: the latest news on Arthur Stavrinarky from SJC/SJIS Alumni Association

May 18, 2014
Dear Students and Friends of SJC/SJIS
I have to announce to those who met Arthur in SJC/SJIS days
a sad news I read in the e-mail from Mr. Ed Bracha to the Scout Leaders of IBS today
that he is no longer with us in this world.  SJC/SJIS alumni meeting will be held on June 22, 2014 at Kaseirou and this news will be announced then.
George Okuhara-Caswell,'68, a student and colleague and admirer of Arthur Stavrinarky.
May 28, 2014
There is an official announcement of the Death of Mr. Arthur Stavrinarky on January 15, 2014 in Wakayama by the SJC/SJIS Alumni Association under Charlie Chen(president of the Association) today on the Official Web site.
May Arthur Rest in Peace.
George Okuhara-Caswell(student'68, colleague 1971-1990,2000, admirer)

May 18, 2014; Never confuse a defeat.

May 18, 2014
Dear Students and Friends
We should read the Blog and think its wisdom.
We should write a journal based on it.
"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat."
F. Scott Fitzgerald
(US novelist and civil rights activist, 1896-1940

May 12, 2014; Mediocre teachers, the good teacher, the superior teacher.

May 12, 2014
Dear Students and Friends

The mediocre teacher tells,
The good teacher explains,
The superior teacher demonstrates,
The great teacher inspires.
William A. Ward
US Baptist Clergyman,
1797-1875

May 11, 2014; I am happy to announce that I did a good to this world: < My student of ILI became an ordained minister.>

May 11, 2014
Dear Students and Friends
I went to the Friends Meeting today in gorgeous weather.
After the meeting, there was an introduction of a person who came first time to the meeting.
One man stood up and said that he came from Soshin Girls' School.  I thought he was an office staff of the school.
I went up to him and introduce myself. He was surprised to see the former English teacher of his from International Learning Institute(American International Learning Institute) when he was still junior high school student of Kanto Gakuin.
H e told me he graduated from Soshin Elementary and then Kanto Gakuin Secondary School to Aoyama Gakuin University. He worked for a while and at the age of 30 decided to be a minister and entered Tokyo Shingaku Daigaku and became an ordained minister.
He is now 34 and became a chaplain of Soshin Girls School.
I remember in St. Joseph College there was a special plaque of Ordained priests  and ministers and others and the religious Brothers who graduated from St. Joseph College.
Brother Boekermann quite often mentioned they were far greater than some of our "successful" graduates. I think Father Gerber had a similar view or maybe the whole Marianists Brothers and Priests had that view.
As I went through schooling under them, I may have a similar view.
I am very proud and would like to follow him.

I remember what Ann Landers wrote in her column:
Meaning of success in life is if you happen to inspire someone in this world a good and the seed of that good had grown and made this world little better than before.
I am proud to say my little seed has grown to be a big tree, Rev. M. Fujimaki.
I am very proud of you and hope you will inspire others with your faith and fortitude.

Thank you
gto

May 10, 2014; " If you keep thinking about you want to do..."

May 10, 2014
Dear Students and Friends

Can you guess where these pictures were taken?

" If you keep thinking about what you want to do or what you hope will happen,
you don't do it,  and it won't happen."
Joe DiMaggio
US baseball player, 1914-1999.

May 9, 2014; "For every finish line tape..."

May 9, 2014
Dear Students and Friends
" For every finish line tape a runner breaks, complete with the cheers of the crowd and clicking of hundreds of cameras, there are the hours of hard and often lonely work that rarely gets talked about." Greta Waitz, Norwegian athlete, 1953-today.