The Hiroshima International Women's Club was designed to create a community of support and friendship
between Japanese and non-Japanese women.
I had a chat with their new president, Erin Mosley, (2007) to find out more about the
club's activities and ideas for the future.
HIWC website: "HIWC provides unique opportunities to share information, goodwill and international friendships.
Through various activities and outings, the club supports the
intellectual, cultural and social interests of people from nationalities all over the world."
Before I met with the club's president, Erin Mosley, I wasn't sure why I had never been to a meeting in the many years that I have
lived in Hiroshima, but unfortunately meeting on a weekday is impossible for me.
If you are free, they meet on the 2nd Monday of each month at the Crowne Plaza (previously ANA) hotel.
The meeting time is 9:30-10:30 for social/registration time, the meetings being at 10:30
(– 12:00).
However, there are ample opportunities for women who are busy during their meeting times to
still be an active member
of the group. Erin has also told me, "We have already planned some
weekend events this year, in fact there is a Kabuki outing this Saturday, Kyushu trip,
Sandakyo Hiking and Sake Fest on Saturdays in October, and Calligraphy classes every Saturday
for the entire year." The many
smaller group meetings and activities that are regularly held, provide further opportunities
to socialize and make friends. There are many activities and events to choose from
in the coming months, you can find details on the
HIWC website.
Erin also added,
"We also welcome family members to attend Saturday outings as well.
We are working hard and ramping up on making it both family friendly and weekend friendly this year."
HIWC is a wonderful resource for Hiroshima's women- it provides a great way for them to
be introduced to a support group of foreign women living in similar situations, as well as giving
newcomers instant access
to many knowledgeable and friendly Japanese women. Being given many opportunities to make lifelong
Japanese and foreign friends is one of the most precious things about club membership.
There are so many confusing things about living
in Japan for people who just come, especially for women it seems who are often given the tasks of
dealing with shopping, garbage, getting kids into school, finding babysitters and other tasks which
traditionally fall on a woman's shoulders, but which are drastically different when living
in another country.
The Japanese and foreign women in the group work together as a team and are equally dedicated to
introducing the new members to
Japanese life, culture and the arts.
The club was originally established to act as a way to hold international community
events and for foreign and Japanese women to get together and become friends as well as exchange
ideas. The club also benefits the Hiroshima community as a whole through their volunteer work and
donations to charities in Hiroshima and around Japan.
Children are welcome to come with their mothers to the meetings each month, babysitting is available.
Membership is 10,000 yen per year, but you are free to come to a meeting to see what it is like.
The boardmembers organize many Japanese
cultural lessons, excursions and activities.
It sounds like they have a successful program that has been
popular, entertaining and informative
year after year. They arrange excursions and lessons for the
newcomers to learn things about Japanese culture like ikebana, how to wear a kimono,
do tea ceremony and so on. There is a lot more than Japanese culture on the agenda-
they have groups that get together to play sports, enjoy their kids together, chat over coffee
and they plan a variety of interesting guest speakers
to come and present at their meetings throughout the year.
The HIWC membership is balanced so there is roughly the same number of foreigners and Japanese in
the club. There were 120 members in 2006.
The board hopes to get a rich and diverse group of women living in Hiroshima to join,
Erin says,"I encourage women, not only-expats or corporate women, but also students,
English teachers, and more to join. "
If you want to learn more about the club, have a look at their website:
Donating money and supplies to charitable organizations
Weekly visits to the Children's Home
Helping where needed
The HIWC membership is comprised of 50% Japanese and 50% international visitors.
This offers a unique opportunity for foreign women to get to know Japanese women on a personal
level. The club enjoys tremendous support, dedication and enthusiasm from its Japanese members.
In addition, HIWC coordinates a Newcomers Coffee and Membership Chairperson to assist new
arrivals to Hiroshima in the initial stages of settling in. We help members with anything from
emergencies to finding favorite foods.
HIWC has approximately 120 members from various nationalities. General membership meetings are
held once a month from September through May, usually on the second Monday of each month at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly known as ANA Hotel) Hiroshima, on Peace Boulevard (Heiwa-Odori).
Parking is available at the Hotel during meetings for 300 yen. The annual fee is 10,000 yen and
some degree of fluency in English is necessary as all meetings will be conducted in English.
HIWC also welcomes children to all activities and outings.
In addition, the club provides a babysitter during monthly meetings.
