New Year's Greetings 2008  

President : Toshi Iwai
General Director : Kuniko Omori

A Happy New Year!

As New Year 2008 started, we are wishing all of you good health and success. At the same time, we would like to express our gratitude for your support and cooperation to the activities of International Social Service Japan (ISSJ).

ISSJ started in 1952 after World War‡Uto give aid to the children of mixed race born between Japanese women and occupation army soldiers stationed in Japan. Since 1945 after the war's end, Japan has been leading a peaceful society without any war any more.
However, when we closely look into this currently peaceful society, there appear such people in sight as children and women suffering from diverse troubles or people escaping from their home countries. ISSJ has been seriously tackling problems coming up one after another at each phase of the time. For instance, we are working for the people who need "helping hand beyond borders". They are the children unable to be brought up by their birth parents, the children born in Japan from the foreign mothers who are overstayers but their birth not registered, the families torn apart by crossing the border, the people on the run from political, religious and racial oppression and applying asylum in Japan.

Many well-meaning people are supporting our activities. They voice encouraging words for us, indirectly help us by voluntary activities, join us as members and back us up financially, make donations, buy tickets of our movie events, make little commercial items for our bazaar or come to our charity concerts, etc. Thanks to all those warm-hearted people, we are able to continue our activities. Last year, we received so many Christmas cards from adopted children and families of adoptive parents. The pictures, showing them cuddling up each other, make us feel happy and ensure us of the fact that there are people who take care of ISSJ children.
This year as well, we, board members as well as staff members, will continue to work as fruitfully as possible. We expect your continued support that we will greatly appreciate.