CND Schools in Japan

In Japan, unlike the educators of this country, non-Christians or Protestants, Catholic institutions, with few exceptions, began by opening schools for the little ones to meet the needs of the children who were there, in front of them. Then, these schools opened classes for higher levels as their students got older. The schools of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame in Japan are a perfect example.

Sakura no Seibo Gakuin (Elementary School, High School and Junior College)/École Notre-Dame-des-Cerisiers, in Fukushima (1938 to today)

In 1938, 6 years after the arrival of the first CND sisters in Fukushima where they established a convent for the new mission in Japan, the sisters finally received the authorization to open their first school to welcome kindergarten children. During the Second World War, the authorities requisitioned the convent to turn it into an internment facility for prisoners of war.

At the end of the war, the Congregation's reception of war orphans brought back the opening of classes for those who were of school age. Therefore, Sakura no Seibo Elementary School opened in 1946, which was later named Sakura no Seibo Gakuen (Our Lady of the Cherry Tree) in 1947. In 1948, the elementary school had 135 students and the kindergarten, 80. The elementary school had its first graduates in 1949, and in order to be able to continue educating them, the sisters obtained permission from Fukushima Prefecture to open the junior high school. Senior high school education was later added in April 1952. Then in April 1955, the sisters opened the "Junior College" to provide these same students with a post-secondary educational institution.

Meiji Gakuen (also known as École Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours) in Tobata, in the south of Japan (1949 to today)

In 1949, the Congregation was offered the responsibility of Meiji Gakuen School in Tobata (Kitakyūshū), in the south, which is a co-educational elementary and middle school. The children of teachers from the nearby college attended the school and had 310 students divided into 9 classes at the time. Over the years, the sisters had additional classrooms and buildings constructed there to welcome more classes and levels. The elementary school could then accommodate 600 students in 1958.

Meiji Gakuen celebrated its 70th anniversary in May 1980.

Margarita Yochien – Margarita Kindergarten in Chofu, Tokyo (1961 to today)

In 1956, the Congregation acquired land containing several buildings in order to promote the studies of the sisters and to welcome the sisters passing through the capital city. In 1960, the idea of the future kindergarten took shape, and the official permit was granted in January 1961. As a result, on April 8 of the same year, Margarita Yochien Kindergarten welcomed 14 children. In 1970, the school had 160 students.