FALMOUTH, MASS.- Highfield Hall & Gardens presents Trailblazers: Celebrating Contemporary Japanese Prints, the exclusive U.S. venue for this prestigious juried exhibition organized by the College Women’s Association of Japan (CWAJ). On view through October 26, the exhibition showcases 140 works by acclaimed Japanese printmakers, representing a wide range of techniques from traditional woodblock and intaglio to lithography, etching, aquatint, silkscreen, and cutting-edge contemporary practices.

At the heart of Trailblazers is a tribute to five pioneering women artists whose vision helped shape the course of modern Japanese printmaking: SHINODA Toko (1913–2021), YOSHIDA Chizuko (1924–2017), IWAMI Reika (1927–2020), YANAGISAWA Noriko (1940– ), and TATSUNO Toeko (1950–2014). Defying social and academic barriers, these artists forged professional careers in the visual arts, opening doors for future generations. Their work reflects innovation, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to artistic expression.

Each year, CWAJ produces a juried print show in Tokyo, its principal fundraising event. The jury for this exhibition included experts from the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, Kyoto City University of Arts, and the Japan Print Association, evaluating works for technical skill, originality, and expressive power.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of CWAJ, whose mission has always been to support education for Japanese women. Proceeds from the sale of prints in Trailblazers benefits both CWAJ’s scholarship fund and Highfield’s cultural programming.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Highfield Hall & Gardens is hosting a series of Japanese cultural programs for children and adults, including workshops in gardening, printmaking, origami, and cooking, as well as lectures and musical performances. These experiences offer visitors a deeper understanding of Japanese art and traditions. To learn more or register, visit highfieldhall.org.

About the College Women’s Association of Japan

Founded in 1949, the College Women’s Association of Japan (CWAJ) is a nonprofit volunteer organization, comprised of nearly 500 women dedicated to promoting education, cross‐cultural exchange, and friendship. CWAJ began when the alumnae clubs of Mount Holyoke and Wellesley colleges joined forces to provide travel grants for Japanese students to attend U.S. universities. CWAJ’s services have steadily expanded to include a wide range of academic and research scholarships, courses for the blind and those with low vision, English language learning programs, Fukushima disaster relief, public lectures and social events, and artist grants supporting innovation in the world of hanga. As the organization has grown, it has remained steadfast to its mission to enrich lives, encourage cross‐cultural dialogue, and provide educational opportunities. www.cwaj.org

About Highfield Hall & Gardens

The house is a rare surviving example of transitional Stick Style architecture, containing beautiful gardens located in the heart of Falmouth, Massachusetts. It is a unique combination of a historic house, expansive gardens and trails, and a vibrant cultural center. Built in 1878 as the summer home for Boston's Beebe family, the house sits on 5.5 pristine acres surrounded by nearly 400 acres of conservation land and public walking trails. Highfield Hall & Gardens is not your typical historic estate. It is an example of a historic building saved by grassroots community organizing. An effort of tenacity and vision that continues as new research on the structure and its story of the people who lived here add to the building's significance. It offers world-class music, international art exhibitions, culinary classes, family programs, and year-round special events. For more information, visit highfieldhallandgardens.org.

Trailblazers: Celebrating Contemporary Japanese Prints is made possible in part through the generous support of Cape Cod 5 Charitable Endowment, The Falmouth Fund, The Falmouth Road Race Foundation, The Woods Hole Foundation, and The Michaels Companies, Inc.