This year's Azalea Tea, the 46th sponsored annually by the Yokohama International Women's Club, was a sellout event. It featured a fashion show presented by international designer Takeo Nishida. As always, it ran a raffle for covetable prizes. Club President Jane Finch said she appreciates the friendship side of the club, but overwhelmingly it is the welfare side that appeals to her.
"It helps the people who really need it," she said. "We have some commitments overseas, and especially at times of disaster help with emergency relief, but most of the assistance given is to people in Japan, here where we are. That pleases me."
Soon after she arrived in Japan six years ago, Jane joined YIWC. She also joined Refugees International Japan, and is Yokohama director for the organization. "It is wonderful, run by volunteers here," she said. "I have made trips to two of the camps, on the Thai-Burmese border and the Thai-Cambodian border. They were immensely humbling experiences, that generated in me even greater enthusiasm to help raise money." Charitable work, she says, is something she will certainly continue wherever she goes later on. She will be leaving Japan this year.