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Contributors to SSG
First of all, we would like to express our respects to the entirety of the SSG’s worthwhile and meaningful activities.
The Oiso International Association (OIA) runs a program of student exchange visits between Oiso City and sister cities in the USA. The SSG has recruited a number of exchange students in its history, and these exchange-experienced students have made a great contribution towards helping exchange students from the USA.
We think it is essential to have the opportunity to interact with people who speak other languages, in order to gain skills in those languages. For thinking outside the box and discovering something new, a proactive attitude is absolutely necessary.
The SSG offers a wide variety of real-life experiences for students of Elementary Schools, Junior High Schools and High Schools. To that end, the OIA supports the SSG and wishes them great success with their activities.
Former Chairman of Oiso International Association Morisugi Norio.
2021 Chair of the SSG
First of all, we appreciate everybody who does always support us.
You must be fascinated by our Oiso and collections gathered by Miki Sawada when you visit us for two reasons.
1. Great opportunity to learn local culture of Oiso
You will be able to learn about our historical Oiso, lifelong job of Miki Sawada, and significant era of Japan, when the Christianity was strictly banned. (Of course, both in English and Japanese.) You can discover “Different Oiso”, which is not just a seaside town.
2. Communicate with local students
It might be pretty rare to contact local people when you take a trip. So, during the guided tour, please do not hesitate to ask any questions to us who raised in this town. (Also, we are welcomed to be asked about us too!)
I hope your trip to Oiso will be one of the special memories to you!
Risako Yasue
2019, 2020 Chair of the SSG
A guided tour with the Sazareishi Student Guides (SSG) is a truly activity for visitors, for the following reasons:
1. You will be able to inherit the important moments in history through Miki Sawada’s collection. The mission of the members of the SSG is to curate the history of the Hidden Christians in Japan through the Miki Sawada Memorial Museum. We are here to explain the history of the Hidden Christians, and demonstrate its importance to the relationship between Japan and Christianity.
2. You can communicate with the young people of Oiso. For travelers, there are not many chances to talk with local youths.
3. It could be a valuable experience for you to learn the history of the Hidden Christians from today’s youth. We hope this will be one of the fondest memories for you to take away. Please do not hesitate to contact us on the information below, if you are interested in any of the things we have mentioned. Thank you.
Yosuke Asai
2018 Chair of the SSG
Thank you for visiting our website! Join a free tour in the Miki Sawada Memorial Museum with Sazareishi Student Guide Volunteers!
The group consists of local English language learners, and the exchange students who visited either of Oiso’s sister cities of Dayton, Ohio or Racine, Wisconsin.
The purpose of creating the group was to help exchange students from our sister cities to understand Oiso, by showing them around the museum.
The Miki Sawada Memorial Museum is a good place for visitors from abroad to learn the history of Japanese Christians, and Ms. Miki Sawada, an honorable citizen of Oiso, and her great achievements which always rooted in a deep sense of humanity.
We have gradually started to welcome not only exchange students to our guided tours around the museum but also visitors from more countries such as Germany, Italy, and Hong Kong.
I would like to introduce you Ms. Miki Sawada’s words, which she said one month before she passed away. She said “I wish young people today who have never known war could consider what it means to have a faith, or how precious is the life they live, through looking at the relics of the Hidden Christians. That was the reason why I have worked so hard to establish the museum.” (translated by Naomi Haruta)
Naomi Haruta