昭和２年(1927)、日米親善を目的として、１万2,739体もの「青い目の人形」が日本の子どもたちに贈られたエピソードがある。
当時３２歳で教職に合った祖父の○○○○が所蔵していたものと考えられる。日本各地の小学校でこのような行事が催された。
我が家で一番古いアルバムの裏表紙に、貼り付けられて大きな写真。１００年前のエピソードは、何を語るのか。
その当時の時代背景は、「日本の経済状態は悪化していたので、職業を求めて多くの日本人が渡米したが、日本人移民とアメリカ人の間で、労働をめぐる摩擦が起こった」とある。
やがて１９４１年１２月の日米開戦に至る訳だが、戦争の世紀を生き続けた先祖の苦労が想像できる。
We live in a time of growing nationalism and militarism. The world is rife with prejudice and discrimination. What can we do to promote peace?
One way is to look to the past and learn from individuals who have worked for international understanding. A good example is the U.S.-Japan doll exchange of 1927.
The 1920s was a decade of growing tension between Japan and the United States. Japanese and Americans eyed each other with fear and distrust.
To counter this, two individuals decided to take action: Sidney Gulick, an American missionary, and Eiichi Shibusawa, a Japanese industrialist. Together, they came up with the idea of an international doll exchange to promote goodwill between Japanese and American children.
The project began when Gulick sent out a call to American schools to send dolls of friendship to Japan. Children throughout the United States responded enthusiastically to his appeal. By 1927, Gulick had collected over 12,000 dolls!
These were sent to Japan by ship from San Francisco. Each doll was accompanied by a passport, gifts and a letter of friendship.
When these "blue-eyed" American dolls arrived, they became a media sensation. A national ceremony was held to welcome them. Then, the dolls were distributed to every city, town and village as a gift of friendship from children in America.
In return, Shibusawa launched a national campaign to send Japanese dolls to the United States. Children throughout Japan donated money. Over 50 "ambassador dolls" — including one from each prefecture — were sent: Miss Nagasaki to New York, Miss Toyama to Kentucky, Miss Kochi to Pennsylvania, and so on.
The wave of goodwill lasted over a decade. Unfortunately, the forces of nationalism and militarism became stronger.
When war broke out in 1941, the American friendship dolls suddenly became "enemy" dolls. Teachers and students were instructed to kick, stab or burn them. Government officials ordered them to be destroyed.
World War II ended in 1945 and the "blue-eyed" dolls, it seemed, were lost to history. Amazingly, in the 1970s, several dolls were discovered. During the war, some brave Japanese teachers and students had disobeyed orders and hidden them away. At present, 300 have been found so far throughout Japan.
This 1927 doll exchange took place 90 years ago. It was a courageous attempt by two individuals — one American, one Japanese — to fight against the hatred and prejudice of their time. The surviving dolls are treasured as symbols of peace and international understanding. Each has a unique story to tell. How many are there in your prefecture?
