Miki Sawada

Miki Sawada (澤田 美喜, Sawada Miki) was born on 19 September 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and died on 12 May 1980 in Mallorca. She was a Japanese social worker known for her work with mixed-race orphans, particularly in Japan, and was referred to as the mother of approximately 2,000 American Japanese children.

Family Background and Early Life:

Sawada was the eldest daughter of Baron Hisaya Iwasaki, a prominent Japanese businessman recognized as the wealthiest man in Japan. She was a granddaughter of Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu conglomerate. Her education in childhood included attendance at private girls' schools in Ochanomizu until the age of 15, after which she was privately tutored by Umeko Tsuda.

Marriage and Family:

In 1922, she married Renzo Sawada, a Japanese diplomat who served as a representative to the United Nations and had postings in multiple countries, including Buenos Aires, Beijing, London, Paris, and New York City. Following her marriage, she converted to Christianity, reflecting her husband's faith. The couple had four children.

Diplomatic Life and Early Influences:

During her husband's diplomatic assignments abroad, Sawada established connections with many individuals, including Josephine Baker, who would later assist her in her philanthropic activities. While residing in London, she visited Dr. Barnardo's orphanage, an experience that influenced her later efforts to establish her own orphanage.

Foundation of the Elizabeth Saunders Home:

After World War II, Sawada focused on caring for children of mixed Japanese and American descent who had been abandoned and faced discrimination. Recognizing the urgent need, she sold her possessions in 1948 to fund a dedicated orphanage. She established the Elizabeth Saunders Home in Oiso, Kanagawa, named after Elizabeth Saunders, whose bequest supported the establishment. Despite challenges such as lack of government support and inability to register as a non-profit, Sawada persisted. She traveled to the United States in 1949 and 1950 to solicit donations and support for the orphanage.

Impact and Recognition:

Approximately 2,000 children resided at the Elizabeth Saunders Home during her tenure. Sawada became widely known as the "Mother of 2,000 children." Notable individuals including Josephine Baker, who hosted benefit concerts, contributed to supporting the orphanage. Throughout her life, she received several honors, including the Order of the Sacred Treasure, second class, awarded on 29 April 1972, and the Elizabeth Blackwell Award from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 1960, recognizing her service to humanity.

Death:

Miki Sawada passed away from a heart attack in Mallorca on 12 May 1980.

Further reading about her life includes "The Least of These: Miki Sawada and Her Children" by Elizabeth Anne Hemphill, published in 1981 by Weatherhill.