Region : East Asia
City : Naha
Country : Japan

Chapter Leader
Ms. Keiko Yamazato
(ISI 68-70)
Professor
Okinawa Christian University
E-mail: yamazato@ocjc.ac.jp

Communication Liasion
Mr. Munehiro Machida
(EP 02-03)
E-mail: machida@ll.u-ryukyu.ac.jp

Chapter Officers:
President: Keiko Yamazato, Professor, Okinawa Christian University, E-mail: yamazato@ocjc.ac.jp
Vice president: Kiyoshi Nakachi, Professor, Meiou University, E-mail: knaka@ics.meio-u.ac.jp
Vice president: Fumiko Nishihara, College Instructor, E-mail: fuminishi42@yahoo.co.jp
Chief Secretary (in charge of liaison): Munehiro Machida, professor, University of the Ryukyus, E-mail: machida@ll.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
Treasurer: Yukari Akamine, College Instructor

Board members:
Junichiro Tsutsumi (Obuchi fellow), Isao Nakasone (Obuchi), Chihiro Sakihara (Obuchi), Saya Nishime (Obuchi), Maiko Namihira (Obuchi), Yasuko Nakamura (Senior), Kensuke Adaniya (Senior), Fumio Teruya (Senior), Keiko Oshiro (Senior), Hiroko Hachimine (Senior), Kannko Teeruya (Obuchi), Seijun Toguchi (Senior), Shimiei Nakaoji (Senior)

Advisors: Seizo Oshiro, Suguru Ishijima, Hiromitu Miyagi, Choko Takayama, Kosho Katsura, Hatuo Taira, Sachiko Nakazato

EWCA Okinawa Chapter rang in the New Year with the refreshed board members who were entrusted at the chapter general meeting held on Dec.23 last year. The new board members express a firm determination to rejuvenate its function by coaxing younger generation’s positive participation and involvement in its activity, thus, reinforce and promote the relations with EWC and EWCA. Though many senior members were replaced by the new staff, some senior members remain in the board to coordinate and link the young and old. On last December 23, Okinawa chapter members congregated to toast in celebration of the publication of its 50th commemorative issue and pep up the newly entrusted board members. The East-West Center celebrated its 50th anniversary and the Obuchi Okinawa Education Research Program also observed its 10th anniversary in 2000. In connection with these happy occasions, EWCA Okinawa Chapter published a special issue ｢虹のかけ橋｣” Bridge of Rainbow-Linking East & West” to felicitate the happy events and propagate great heritage and achievements of the East-West Center. The issue is filled with the valuable experiences of 66 grantees who went to Hawaii with youthful dream, hope and ambition, and devoted themselves to pursue their study and learn cultural differences and views. We distributed the prints free of charge to municipal libraries, high schools, colleges and universities. We also delivered the prints to the individuals concerned who have given helping hands to our chapter and companies who helped us to implement fund-raising campaign. It is hoped that the issue will help inspire the young generation planning to study abroad and promote concern and attention of business circle and the general public toward the mission of the East-West Center and EWCA.

The Okinawa Chapter is one of the oldest and most active alumni chapters. It hosted a very successful Regional Conference in 1993 which attracted more than 300 participants. Its members always attend International Conferences in large numbers.

Over the past few years the chapter was instrumental in facilitating the Okinawa Initiative Program which was officially announced by President Clinton at the G 8 meeting of government leaders in June, 2000. The Okinawa Initiative will provide scholarships for students from Okinawa to attend the Center and the University of Hawaii. Finally, the Chapter has been very successful in raising funds for the Center presenting a gift of $25,000 at the July 2000 International Conference.