This month, Randolph-Macon College will host a variety of events to commemorate the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami and to celebrate RMC’s connection to Japan, which has deepened in the years following the disaster. RMC alumna Taylor Anderson ’08 was among the 22,000-plus people who perished as a result of the disaster, which took place on March 11, 2011. Anderson was teaching English in Ishinomaki in the Miyagi Prefecture when she died.  

Strong Connection + Japanese Studies
The college has for many years had strong ties to the culture and people of Japan.

“RMC is now one of the preeminent colleges on the East Coast for Japanese Studies,” says Lauren C. Bell, professor of political science and dean of academic affairs. “In fact, I am not aware of any other institution that is able to give students the tremendous opportunities to explore Japanese language and culture, conduct relevant research on a variety of Japan-related topics, and even to travel to Japan.” Bell credits the work of Professors Todd Munson, Shelby Oxenford and Yoshiko Himata for developing a thriving Japanese Studies program at RMC that includes hosting the summer Virginia Governor’s Japanese Language Academy, which Himata directs.  

March 3: Japanese Debaters 
From March 2-4, RMC will once again host the touring Japanese debaters. The debaters will visit several RMC classes, and on March 3, two members of RMC’s Franklin Debating Society and the two members of the Japanese team will engage in a parliamentary debate, on the following topic: “Be it Resolved that China is the true military threat to peace in Asia.” The event, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. in Washington-Franklin Hall, is free and open to the public. Casey Dossat ’20 will serve as master of ceremonies, and Matthew DeLancey ’21 and Bridget Maas ’20 will represent RMC.

“The Japanese come to the U.S. every other year to debate,”says Communication Studies Professor Ruth Beerman, who co-coaches the Franklin Debating Society. “The tour is sponsored by the Committee on International Discussion and Debate, in partnership with the National Communication Association. The CIDD tours span almost a century and promote cultural exchange. RMC has proudly hosted international teams for almost 20 years.”

Commemorative Necklaces: The Nozomi Project
RMC’s Campus Store has formed a partnership with the Nozomi Project, a social enterprise business in Ishinomaki, Japan that makes jewelry out of broken pottery that washed up after the 3.11 tsunami. Nozomi has named a necklace for Taylor Anderson and the Campus Store will sell these beginning March 4.

March 5: Documentary Screening
On March 5, the college will host a screening of “A Vanished Dream: Wartime Story of My Japanese Grandfather” from 4:30 – 6 p.m. in Copley 100. The documentary focuses on Regina Boone (daughter of Richmond Free Press Founder Ray Boone) and her quest to find out what happened to her grandfather after he was arrested and relocated during WWII. Boone will participate in a Q&A after the screening. The event is free and open to all members of the RMC community, although seating is limited.