[ MADD Japan Celebrates Official Certification ]

The Japan chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) celebrated it's official certification by MADD USA. A reception was held on February 20 atthe United Nations University in Tokyo to announce this great event.

Mr. Howard Podrasky was invited as a guest speaker from the MADD U.S. Long Island Chapter in New York. He was visiting Japan on a holiday with his family but took time from his vacation for this MADD Japan event. He was pleased with the addition of MADD Japan to the MADD family organization. He delivered a speech describing MADD activities such as the Victim Impact Panel and Awareness Tables. He also shared his view on future cooperation between MADD U.S. and MADD Japan and stated his high expectations for Japanese support.

About 80 people, including Cabinet Office members, prefectural government staff and media expressed their enthusiasm to know more about MADD activities by asking many questions to Mr. Podrasky. For example, there were participants from Nagano prefecture asking his advice on incorporating a Victim Impact Panel as a part of their comprehensive education program.

Kazuyo Iida, National President of MADD Japan, shared her memory of her beloved daughter and how she and her family had spent the days after her 20 year old daughter s murder by a drunk driver. Then she shared with everyone by saying, Drunk Driving is not an ACCIDENT. She also explained how MADD Japan had developed up to this point with the support from MADD U.S. and Canada.

Youth Leader, Junta Sakaniwa, described the activities he was trying to promote among Japanese university students such as, the signing of a Driving Safe Agreement. There are some current campaigns targeting young students especially in the spring season, as it is the start of the new school year.

The information shared at this reception will be used by some institutional newspapers to make people more aware of MADD Japan s efforts and activities.

PR: Mariko Terada (Interpreter, International Division of MADD Japan)
*MADD Japan is willing to answer any questions along with sending out more information on a regular basis to improve our presence. The certification as an official chapter of MADD gives us this ability http://www.maddjapan.org/ .