The Friendship Doll Program

Dr. Sidney L. Gulick had a simple idea he called “the Doll Plan”. He believed the friendly face of a doll would sow seeds of peace in the minds of children. Other Americans also believed in this simple idea. In 1927, 2.7 million people from church groups, girl scouts, boy scouts, and entire communities were compelled to join this cause. Americans sent 12,739 American dolls to Japan in early February 1927, coinciding with hina matsuri, a Japanese doll festival with a thousand-year-old tradition. Because of the pageantry of this festival and the Japanese appreciation of dolls and gifts, the American dolls were treated to great celebrations at schools with parents and politicians honoring this international gesture of friendship.

With heartfelt appreciation and led by an international statesman and long promoter of international relations, Viscount Eiichi Shibusawa and 2.6 million Japanese people contributed money and commissioned the best doll makers of the time to make fifty-eight, 32-inch tall formal display dolls in that same year. These dolls are referred to as “return gratitude dolls,” or torei ningyo. Because there were fewer in number, the dolls were made oversized and each had a unique kimono. They arrived in the U.S. in late November, just in time for Christmas 1927. All the dolls exchanged, both American and Japanese, came with many letters from both Japanese and American children with wishes for friendship. In Spokane, we are fortunate to have one of these original 1927 Japanese Doll Ambassadors, Miss Tokushima, who resides at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture. 

Dr. Sidney Gulick’s “Doll Plan” generated contributions from 5.3 million people, and both Gulick in the U.S. and Shibusawa in Japan, true visionaries of their time, have connections in the Northwest. In particular, Dr. Gulick traveled through this area and had relatives in Boise. His last wish was that his ashes be placed in three places he loved: Boise, Idaho; Kobe, Japan; and his birthplace, Springfield, MA. Viscount Shibusawa was no stranger to Spokane either.  In 1909, he led a group of Japanese businessmen on a prestigious mission that crossed the U.S. in an especially outfitted “Million Dollar Train.” In early September 1909, the group stopped in Spokane to tour local industries. On September 9, 1909, events culminated in a special dinner at the Hall of Doges, which became part of the historic Davenport Hotel.

Additionally, Spokane and Nishinomiya were established as a Sister-Cities in 1961. Due to the long friendship between the two cities, Mukogawa Women’s University (MWU) in Nishinomiya invested in Mukogawa U.S. Campus (MUSC). In the fall of 1990, MWU students began coming to Spokane to study English and American culture. The Japanese Cultural Center (JCC) was also created by Mukogawa to share information about Japanese culture and promote global understanding and peace.

Former director of the JCC, Michiko Takaoka was deeply touched when she read about the 1927 Japanese Friendship dolls in the special 1992 New Year edition of the Yomiuri American, a Japanese newspaper published in New York. She became inspired and revived the Friendship Doll program at MUSC in 1993. Since then and over 1,000 Japanese ambassador dolls with educational materials have been sent to schools and organizations in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

One might think of these events as separate endeavors. It is apparent whether an ambassador doll or a business envoy, the past or the future, these events are tied together. We all share the desire for peace. One person can make a difference.