In May 2004, 26 people representing six international schools in the Kanto area met and formed the first International Alumni Council, Japan.
Last year, IAC Japan held its first event. Called the Block Party 2005, the event brought together 600 alumni from over eight international schools in the Kanto area. This year on June 10, Block Party 2006 will be held in the field of St. Mary's International School in Tokyo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. According to Theodore Skillman, president of IAC Japan, "The number of participating schools has more than doubled, stretching well beyond the Kanto region from Hokkaido to Hiroshima. We expect the turnout for the Block Party to be even greater this year."
Skillman, born to a Methodist missionary family in Tokyo, had most of his schooling at The American School in Japan. His daughter is now a student there. He feels the need for IAC Japan because men and women who attended English-speaking international schools in this "double-culture country we grew up in" share a common, unique experience. "We speak the same language, whether it's English or Japanese," he said. "It's the way we speak." While each international school has its own alumni council, putting them together strengthens the groups and their networking routes.