Tribute to Zorro Miyazawa

Tribute to Yasuo "Zorro" Miyazawa - JH1AJT
SK March 23, 2022

It is with great sorrow to report that well-known DXer Zorro, JH1AJT, has become a Silent Key after a battle with cancer. Zorro has been on many DXpeditions and supported many other DXpeditions. He will surely be missed by the DX community.

After a long and courageous battle with cancer, it is of immense sadness to learn the passing of Zorro san, JH1AJT. Zorro san was in-and-out of the hospital a lot these past few months, but despite all the efforts, his health continued to decline and became critical last Friday. He passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning at 0850 am JST. He was 72. Our ham radio world has lost another beaming light. Zorro san was the founder of SEISA Group and Foundation for Global Children (FGC). He was deeply involved in humanitarian projects in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Japan, Myanmar, Eritrea and Bhutan, and was also the main driving force behind many DXpeditions. He was inducted into the CQ DX Hall of Fame in 2015 and CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in 2020. Rest in peace Zorro san. You may be gone from our sight, but never from our hearts. JC and I offer our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. E21EIC

I met Zorro when he came to the Dayton Hamvention. He was a very humble and easy going man that would make you feel good to be with him. I talked to him several times on the air from most of his DXpeditions and home station. It made me very sad to hear the news about someone that has done so very much for ham radio and humanity all around the world. RIP my friend. K8CX

INDEXA, the DX community, and the world lost a great man. Zorro, JH1AJT, died on March 23, 2022, after a long battle with cancer. Until the end, he was optimistic; cheerful; and most importantly, concerned for his fellow human beings, especially disabled children. Through his schools and his humanitarian trips in Asia and Africa he brought a better life to all of those he touched. We of the DX community are deeply indebted to him. He contributed generously to DXpeditions and encouraged and mentored operators. Without Zorro's support our log books and our memories would be less than they are. Zorro's legacy and a deep bond will live on within INDEXA. He established and endowed INDEXA's Humanitarian Aid Fund. Through it, Zorro's helping hand will always be extended. We called each other "brother." But he was truly a brother to us all and all of us will miss him..... Ralph Fedor, K0IR

The SEISA Group is planning to hold a "Group Funeral" in memory of the deceased at a later date. They will inform you as soon as it is finalized.
For more information, please contact the secretariat of Foundation for Global Children: Email: h_ishida@seisa.ed.jp

The following was taken from Zorro's QRZ.com page:

My Ham Radio Story

In 1964 I obtained my first JA license for ham radio operation. I was 15 years old. Then in autumn of 1966, I obtained a JA station license at age 16. As a high school student, I didn’t own good equipment, but enjoyed operation with radios and antennas handmade by myself. At that time, there were not many operators on 10m band and many foreign DXers called me every day. This experience led me to the DX world, and my international humanitarian activities as well.

Since then, I have contacted many countries all over the world, and developed not only a large number of QSOs but also the friendships with operators of each country. Around 1980, I started to lead groups and try difficult DXpeditions. E3, A5, XW, XZ, XU, S2…and so on.

Why “Zorro”??

When I was a little boy, my family was running a liquor shop. In my town there was a huge base of the Allied Forces, and as I remember, from when I was around 3 years old to 6, many soldiers visited our shop for buying and drinking liquor. Some of them were very kind to play with me and gave the nickname of Zorrito (little fox) to this little naughty boy. We didn’t know the word but when I was 10, a university professor who was my neighbor taught me the meaning. When I turned 12, an American TV program of Zorro started and finally I understood what Zorro meant. I loved it. So, I have used Zorro as my nickname since I obtained an amateur radio license.

Foundation for Global Children

In my DXpeditions, I never focus on the radio operation only, but I cooperates with local people and implement humanitarian activities that are needed in the community, and continue it for long time. I started these activities as individual volunteer works in the 1970’s, but as they developed, I felt the need to carry out these activities as an organization, and in 2010 I established “Foundation for Global Children”.

Issued call signs

JH1AJT , KH8Z , A5A , A5 , A51A , A5/JH1AJT , E30FB , E31A , ET3DX , 9E2A , PJ8Z , FS/KH8Z , S21YX , S21YZ , VP8DNT , XW1 , XW1A , XW30A , XU1A , XZ1A , XZ1Z , XZ1J , ZV5AJT , 7O1A , JH1AJT/JD1

Awards / Achievements

DXCC Top of Honor Roll (340 / 369)

DXCC World Ranking No.1 on 10m band (339 / 368)

CQ DX Hall of Fame (2015)

Yasme Excellence Award (2018)

Dayton Hamvention Amateur of the Year (2020)

CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame (2020)

ANTENNAS:

KOHJINSHA VERSA Beam KA1-411X (Tower hight : 27m) 40m/30m 5Ele, 20m/17m 7Ele, 15m/12m/10m 9Ele, 6m 15Ele Boom legth : 20m

KOHJINSHA VERSA Beam KA1-408X (Tower hight : 27m 40m/30m 4Ele, 20m/17m/15m/12m/10m 7Ele, 6m 12Ele Boom legth : 15m

Zorro's activities:

HRH Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, Prince of the Kingdom of Bhutan (A5B) and Zorro JH1AJT (A5A).

The A5A team in December 2019.

Standing: ON5UR, KO8SCA, Ishida
Sitting: JH1AJT, Princess HRH Euphelma Choden Wangchuck, HRH Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck (A5B), DJ9ZB, E21EIC

Zorro JH1AJT and the late great Monk Apollo SV2ASP/A (Apr. 2014)

Supporters of Monk Apollo at Mt. Athos in Greece

4th from left, Standing: JH1AJT

Zorro JH1AJT, operating S21YX (Dec, 2010)

XZ1Z operators (Sep. 2013 )

JJ1LIB, JH1AJT, E21EIC

E31A operators (June 2019)

Standing: RZ3FW, E21EIC
Sitting: DJ9ZB, JH1AJT, RA9USU

Foundation for Global Children (FGC)

“Children are our future; we have no future without fulfilling our duty to value and care for each and every child.”

The FGC was established in July 2010, to conduct research into and survey problems pertaining to education, medical care, and welfare of children in Japan and other countries as well as to search and provide counsel for the ideal lines of future development in these areas. To achieve the purpose, the FGC has been engaged in support activities necessary for the healthy growth of children and fostering their ‘power to live together’.

A massive earthquake of magnitude of 9.0 occurred on March 11, 2012, off the Pacific coast of the northeastern part of the Japanese main land (Tohoku Region). It was the most powerful known earthquake ever to have hit Japan, and triggered powerful tsunami waves, causing devastating damages in coastal areas.

The FGC initiated support actions in the disaster area right after the earthquake, on March 17. Many victims, especially children, are suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There are serious cases caused by anxiety after the disaster, and after one year, very little of the issues have been solved. We believe that it is one of our missions to continue our support to the victims.

The FGC also has been engaged in support activities mainly in Asia, and other parts of the world as well, to promote medical and educational environment for children.

Bhutan:

- Exchange program with RTC (Royal Thimphu College, the first private university in Bhutan)

Student exchange programs, faculty member exchange programs and joint researches

- Establish Ashi Kesang - Miazawa Seisa Scholarship

Invite high school age students to Japanese high schools (mainly to Seisa schools)

- Joint research with Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN)

Joint researches, faculty member exchange programs, and participation in Phobjikha Project

- Joint research on Asian Himalayan Studies

Invite Mr. Dago Tshering (former Ambassador of the Kingdome of Bhutan to India)

Join research with Mr. Masayuki Itonaga, Special Adviser, University of Alaska Fairbanks

- Soccer coach/trainer support program

Soccer coach/trainer exchange programs, and provide training for soccer coaches/trainers

Bangladesh:

- Support Agrasara Orphan Destitute Home

Support for improvement of the facilities

Provide education and training to nurture future teachers

Establish a sewing factory and provide technical training to children

Establish international NGO, Seisa-Bangadesh

Myanmar:

-Nurture IT technicians and trainers

Provide training for IT technicians and trainers

-Support for improvement of medical and educational environment

Provide water purification equipment

Introduction of soap to improve hygienic environment

Provide education and training for doctors, nurses and public health workers

Support for improvement of elementary school educational environment

Other related projects in medical and educational fields

-Joint project with Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI)

Joint projects with UMFCCI for improvement of medical and educational environment

FGC (Foundation for Global Children ) will continue our support activities to create a better society!

The following photos were taken at the Dayton Hamvention by K8CX.

Dayton 2015

JH1AJT, PY2PT

K8CX, JH1AJT

PY5EG, JH1AJT, PP5JR, PU5BIA

Dayton 2018

K0IR, JH1AJT, W8HC, W8JEX

Dayton 2019

JH1AJT, K8CX

W4WV, JH1AJT, KE4KDY

JH1AJT

JR1AQN, JA1CJP, JA1HGY, JH1AJT

The following photos courtesy of E21EIC

Back: RZ9UN, WD5COV, E21EIC
Front: PA5X, RA9USU, JH1AJT, DJ9ZB

DJ9ZB, JF1IST, JH1AJT, E21EIC

VR2KF, JH1AJT, E21EIC

Standing: DJ9ZB, E21EIC
Sitting: JH1AJT, RA9USU

A couple of Zorro's QSL Cards

JH1AJT
Given to me (K8CX) at the 2015 Dayton Hamfest

JH1AJT 2018 Japan

A DXpedition by the Rebel DX Group to Fiji Islands was named in memory of Zorro.
Check out this FB QSL card with Zorro's callsign suffix.

3D2AJT 2022 Fiji Islands

Here are some sound clips from Zorro's DXpeditions and home station.

JH1AJT 6 January 2021 on 40 Meter SSB Longpath

A5A 14 September 2016 on 17 Meter SSB
A5A 15 February 2017 on 20 Meter SSB
A5A 31 October 2017 on 40 Meter CW
A5A 15/3/2018 on 20 Meter CW

E30FB 17 September 2014 on 15 Meter SSB
E30FB 17 September 2014 on 15 Meter SSB
E30FB 9 March 2015 on 10 Meter SSB
E30FB 9 March 2015 on 15 Meter SSB
E30FB 10 March 2015 on 20 Meter SSB
E30FB 12 March 2015 on 17 Meter SSB
E30FB 17 March 2015 on 30 Meter CW

E31A 24 May 2017 on 20 Meter SSB
E31A 26 May 2017 on 80 Meter CW
E31A 27 May 2017 on 40 Meter SSB
E31A 15 January 2018 on 80 Meter CW
E31A 15 January 2018 on 20 Meter SSB

S21YX 20 December 2010 on 40M CW Longpath

S21YZ 18 March 2011 on 20 Meter CW
S21YZ 20 March 2011 on 30 Meter CW

VP8DNT 27 January 2012 on 40 Meter SSB

XU1A 17 December 2012 on 40 Meter CW Longpath
XU1A 17 December 2012 on 80 Meter SSB Longpath

XZ1Z 16 March 2014 on 10 Meter CW Longpath
XZ1Z 16 March 2014 on 10 Meter CW Longpath

XZ1J 21 November 2013 on 20 Meter CW

Tribute comments courtesy of E21EIC, K8CX, K0IR, SEISA Group
Photos, Info taken from JH1AJT's QRZ.com page
All Dayton photos and sound clips by K8CX
Other photos courtesy of E21EIC
1st JH1AJT QSL K8CX Collection
2nd JH1AJT QSL courtesy of W8CI
3D2AJT QSL card K8CX Collection
Some info courtesy of W5KNE