Sacred Hearts High School

In 1991, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the sisterhood between the Douliu Rotary Club and its counterpart, the Moka Rotary Club of Japan, both clubs jointly decided to expand their international service activities. As a result, they initiated efforts to establish a sister-school relationship between Sacred Hearts High School in Taiwan and Moka Nishi Junior High School in Japan.

In September of the same year, Mayor Tsunesaburo Kikuchi of Moka City, while attending the 10th anniversary celebration of the Douliu Rotary Club, also visited Sacred Hearts High School. During his visit, he pledged to send a delegation of nine representatives from the Moka educational community to Taiwan.

On October 4, 1991, Mr. Juro Amagai, Deputy Director of Education of Moka City, led a delegation of nine representatives—including Mr. Hiroshi Otsuka, the first principal of Moka Nishi Junior High School, and Mr. Yoshio Ueno, president of the Parent-Teacher Association—on an official visit to Yunlin County. With the support of the Douliu and Moka Rotary Clubs, they confirmed Sacred Hearts High School as their partner school and immediately began planning a comprehensive exchange program. It was decided that ten students from each class at Moka Nishi Junior High would be selected to exchange letters, creative works, and photographs with students.

On May 9, 1992, at the invitation of Mayor Kikuchi of Moka City, Sacred Hearts Principal Wu You-Mei led a delegation—including Director of Academic Affairs Chen Xian-Yi, Director of Personnel Huang Long-Zhang, Director of Student Affairs Fang Sheng-Xiong, and Secretary to the Principal Wu Sen-Xiong—accompanied by Mr. Wang Zheng-Xiong (then president of the Parent-Teacher Association and representative of the Douliu Rotary Club), to visit Moka Nishi Junior High School. The delegation also toured various educational facilities in Moka City. This visit proved highly fruitful, leaving a deep impression of Japan’s commitment to education, as well as its efforts in preserving and promoting traditional culture. After thorough discussion upon their return, the Sacred Hearts administrative team unanimously agreed that the exchange was highly beneficial, and thus resolved to formally establish a sister-school relationship with Moka Nishi Junior High School.

On July 23, 1993, under the leadership of Principal Wu You-Mei, along with Director Fang Sheng-Xiong, Instructor Lin Qing-Chang, PTA President Chen Zhen-Xiong, parent representatives, and 30 student delegates, Sacred Hearts High School officially signed the sister-school agreement with Moka Nishi Junior High School in the school auditorium of Moka Nishi. The ceremony was witnessed by Mayor Tsunesaburo Kikuchi (also President of the Moka Overseas Exchange Association), Mr. Li Xue-Cong (Chief Secretary representing Yunlin County Magistrate Liao Quan-Yu), and members of the Douliu and Moka Rotary Clubs.

The sister-school agreement clearly stated its purpose: Sacred Hearts High School and Moka Nishi Junior High School establish this partnership to promote international cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two nations.

Exchange Format

During the preparatory stage of the agreement, Mr. Uchida, a representative of the Moka City Government, visited Douliu several times for coordination. It was eventually decided that the sister-school exchanges would follow these guidelines:

• Reciprocal visits every other year.
• A maximum of 30 students per delegation.

A five-day, four-night homestay program to ensure deeper cultural immersion.