The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club will hold its next meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15 at noon in Reynard Hall at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, located at 17 Church St.

The program will feature a talk about a 14-year old boy named Manjiro, a shipwreck on Torishima Island in Japan and The John Howland Whaling Ship. Learn more about the Whitfield-Manjiro story and the Friendship House in Fairhaven at the meeting.

Gerry Rooney, president and CEO of the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society, Inc., will discuss the relationship with Manjiro’s hometown (New Bedford’s sister city Tosashimizu, Japan) and the current programs at the Captain Whitfield’s house museum at 11 Cherry St., Fairhaven.

Rooney first encountered Japanese hospitality when he visited the country during a three-and-a-half-year journey around the world by motor scooter. Since that time, he has been involved with the organization and has been the president of the organization for the past 24 years.

For more information or directions, call Barb at 508 864-5213.