In 1910(Meiji 43), shortly after the Russo-Japanese war, we opened the sewing school in Anjo. In April of 1912(Meiji 45), after having finally received the necessary permits, we opened the Anjo Private Girls’ Sewing School on about 20 tsubo(1 tsubo=3.31 square meters, 66.12m²) of our land. That means that this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of our school. I, myself, was born on October 20th, 1882(Meiji 15), and will be eighty years old this coming year.

I have been very busy — not really keeping proper track of or reflecting on the events of the eighty years of spring wind and autumn rain and the events of my life — so I don’t have my records in order. As for those pertaining to school transitions and changes, we burned all the important documents as we were ordered during the occupation by allied forces. We feel that it is unfortunate that we have no proper way to relate the story having lost so many details of the fifty years of the school’s history. Therefore, I feel a strong responsibility to record the school’s history using my fragmentary memories before time robs me of them as well.

Even now, as I have been engaged in managing the school, I am always thinking about the future development of Anjo Gakuen Educational Foundation. So despite being quite busy and having little time to take notes or relax while considering these memories, I have dedicated every spare moment to completing the following story. This haste may have resulted in many misunderstandings and omission of important facts. As for those missing facts, it has been my desire to complete the school history one day with the help, wisdom, and guidance of the educators at our school. This autobiography, compiled for the sake of the school history, consists of both public and private contemplations.