I am Kimiko Hotta. I had the honor of serving as President of JASH for four years from April 2010 to March of this year when I was succeeded by Yoko Nakayama.

I am delighted to be able to introduce to you today JASH, Japan Alumnae Association of the Sacred Heart, and its study group. JASH is an organization that unites 8 alumnae associations of the Sacred Heart schools in Japan. JASH was founded about 50 years ago in an anticipation of taking up membership in AMASC, which was then coming into being in Europe.

We are proud to say that, since that time, JASH has been an unfailingly active and supportive member of AMASC in every respect. Over the years, many JASH members have had the invaluable opportunities of affirming invisible and truly international ties that unite all of us the Sacred Heart family. We value the world congresses so much that we put quite a lot of preparatory work into them.

For each world congress held every four years, JASH forms a study group with volunteers from its local associations. The study group not only studies the theme given by the AMASC President but also gathers various information, be it geographical, historical, or cultural, concerning the venue of the upcoming congress. We then pass on that information to our members to promote the congress on every possible occasion. Not all the members of the study group can attend the world congress, of course, but many of them find their work rewarding and worthwhile as they get the sense that they too are part and parcel of the great world association.

For the present congress, 43 volunteers participated in this preparatory study group. Today we are very happy and grateful to have this opportunity to present the report of our study.

The final report was put together by the chairperson of the group, leaders of 3 subgroups, and JASH officers. And there are about 30 JASH members present in this room.

It is now my great privilege to introduce to you my esteemed colleagues, Yasuko Yamaoka, Chairperson of the JASH Study Group, Michiko Matsubara, Vice Chair,Akiko Karasawa, JASH Secretary who will be operating the PowerPoint,
and Kaori Okamura, former JASH Secretary, who will be our presenter.

Thank you very much.
Now a few words from Yasuko....