Meet Your Neighbor: Project honors Japanese students

BURGOON - Emily Rich, a University of Mount Union student from Burgoon, is heading up a peace education project in honor of the Hiroshima Jogakuin junior and high school students who visit the college each year. The 1,000 Cranes Drive project, hosted by the college’s Japanese Club, will raise funds to benefit the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation and further peace education.

Rich, a senior at Mount Union and the current Japanese Club president, has had a longtime interest in Japanese culture that culminated when she studied abroad in Japan in the spring of 2016.

“I’ve always been interested in other cultures. I have a huge interest in travel and culture and foreign language. It’s fascinating to me,” she said.

Rich experienced much of traditional Japanese culture during her stay, which overlapped the national holiday, Golden Week. She celebrated with her host family, whose daughter is a student at Mount Union.

“It was such a fascinating experience, like a huge family reunion. I met my friend’s aunts and uncles. Everyone was very personal. They acted like they were best friends with each other,” she said.

Her host’s father had passed away, and a traditional shrine to him was set up in his house.

“When family members came, they kneeled down, rang the bell and said hello to grandpa. My friend’s mother introduced me to her father. It was very touching,” Rich said.

For the 1,000 Cranes Project, members of the Japanese Club will fold a crane for every 50 cents donated. The cranes will be presented to the Hiroshima Jogakuin students during their March visit to Mount Union, and the money will be used to further peace education through the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation.

There has been a tie between Mount Union and Hiroshima Jogakuin that was inspired by the death of Yoshino Murakami, who died in 1966 from cancer that is believed to be the result of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Murakami was a 1956 graduate of Mount Union, and in 1968, a scholarship was established that provides full four-year scholarships to Hiroshima Jogakuin students.

“So someone here has always represented her alma mater back in Japan,” Rich said.

This is the first time the Japanese Club has hosted the 1,000 Cranes Project.

“We’ve never really done anything as a club to give back,” Rich said. “We decided to do a fundraiser for the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. By going to this foundation, we’re helping maintain peace education.”

The donation will be made in honor of the Hiroshima Jogakuin students.

“I’m excited to do that,” Rich said.

Donations to the 1,000 Cranes Drive can be made at www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/1-000-cranes-drive/x/16121849.