 Prior to her death in Tokyo, in 1946 she asked that her charitable bequest be left to work under the auspices of the Anglican Church in Japan.Miki Sawada never met Elizabeth Saunders, receiving news of her donation through intermediary Lewis Bush and the Anglican bishops acting as executors to the charitable trust.The groundbreaking ceremony for the home was held on 26 October 1947 attended by Allied Church Club benefactors and long-term supporters of the orphanage such as Paul Rusch.