[ From Kazuyo Iida (National President of MADD Japan) to the participants MADD JAPAN E - News Letter. ]

Everyone, thank you very much for your participation today.
Also a special thank you for coming and delivering a wonderful speech, Howie.　
I would like to extend my gratitude to Howie, who came all the way from New York, and　to all the participants here including those from Nagano and Kyushu, who joined us with high expectations for MADD Japan.

As there are some people I will meet here for the first time, I would like to briefly introduce myself. I also want to introduce you to the history of MADD Japan up to this date.

On one winter night in 1997, my second daughter, Mizuho, was murdered by a drunk driver. It was her first day at work in the year and she has never come back to me since she left on that day. I have been waiting for her for seven years, feeling as if she is going to come home as usual, saying, “Mom, I’m back.” However, it has not happened yet and it will never happen. Mizuho was 20 years old at the time and she would be 27 years old now if she was alive. She once said, “Mom, let’s go to a pool together when I have a day off.” We have never fulfilled that promise we made on her last day.　I regret that now.
My family and I have gone through such a trying time and to tell you the truth, sometimes it is totally beyond description.

Mizuho had only one sister, Megumi. January 4th, the day Mizuho was murdered, is Megumi’s birthday. However, since that day, all birthdays, Christmas’ and New Years have disappeared from our family. Howie’s speech has also described what happens to the family left behind. I know how much my daughter wanted to spend Christmas and New Years with her family. I know how much she wanted to enjoy the joys of youth. Our family cannot celebrate anything when we consider her feelings toward the holidays.

I had spent the first five years after her death in darkness.
In those days of disappointment, I found a ray of light on the Internet - that was MADD. One line on the Website caught my heart.

［ Drunk Driving is not an ACCIDENT ］
The man that murdered my daughter got away with his crime just by a summary judgment and fine. The nonsense charge was “professional negligence resulting in death” and “violation of the Road Traffic Law.” I had to confront the helpless reality of the Japanese judicial system.

In 1998, MADD USA gave us a membership certification and written permission for activities in Japan using MADD’s name. The next year, I deepened the relationship with MADD directors who visited Japan and they sent us voluminous MADD ribbons. In 2000, based on the request from the then Minister of Justice, Mr. Yasuoka, I translated information on MADD into Japanese and submitted it to him together with the petition to amend the Road Traffic Law. This made the Minister decide to dispatch missions to advanced countries including Europe and U.S.

At the end of 2001, we held our first Ribbon Campaign at Makuhari Parking Area with the support from the prefectural governor of Chiba, Mrs. Akiko Domoto. Since then, we have conducted many Ribbon Campaigns all around Japan, beyond Chiba prefecture.

In April 2002, I received an invitation letter from the MADD Long Island Chapter in New York to attend their 20th anniversary. Many New Yorkers gave me a warm welcome. I used to be a lonely mother who had lost a child, but there I learned the necessity of the “meaning of life” and “a society where MADD exists.” At the anniversary party, I met Howie.
Friends of MADD USA were kind and the MADD organization goals are encouraging. Howie’s speech earlier has covered how wonderful they are.

Thank you again, Howie.
When I came back from New York, my friends here were waiting for me. They are the ones who have helped me to establish MADD Japan. With their support, I could hold a conference to announce the establishment of MADD Japan last September in Chiba prefecture, inviting the prefectural governor, Mrs. Akiko Domoto as the guest speaker.
At the same time, the Japanese Cabinet Office allowed us to attend the Traffic Safety Fair at the Korakuen Prism Hall.
In fall of that year, I received an invitation from the National Office in Canada and participated in the “MADD Leaders Conference.” There I attended, together with the representatives of the other nations, and explained the status of our country and the necessity of MADD in Japan. My feelings were understood by the directors of MADD USA and I received a surprising gift of “Official” certification in December.

The staff of MADD Canada supported us substantially both physically and spiritually to make it happen.
Then in February of this year, MADD Japan was certified as an NPO from the Japanese Cabinet Office.

It seems we have come so far without any difficulty, but in fact, many people have encouraged us and supported us behind the scenes.
I can “retrieve my life again” together with MADD Japan by meeting all of you.

MADD Japan is still a newborn baby but with the support from the MADD family members in the USA and Canada, we will nurture it here in Japan as a mission to protect innocent lives.Mizuho’s life was sacrificed but she has brought many new people to MADD. As a mother, I am proud of my daughter.
In the U.S., ordinary people that are not victims, the government, police and companies are supporting MADD. Likewise, I believe the participants here will help us to nurture MADD Japan.
We will make our utmost effort to strengthen education, law and more than anything else, to eradicate this terrible crime of drunk driving. We are committed to achieve outstanding results.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to ask the participants to keep a close eye on MADD Japan and give us your continuous support.
Last but not least…
Please give a big hand again to Howie, a member of the MADD family!　
Thank you.
February 20, 2003
Kazuyo Iida, National President of MADD Japan.