一般財団法人 連帯 東北・西南 RENTAI TOHOKU-SEINAN

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2012.04.18 13:24

Second Symposium on Self-supporting Reconstruction "Toward the light" (March 11, Nagoya)

The Second Symposium on Self-supporting Reconstruction "Toward the Light" was held exactly one year following the earthquake disaster, on 11 March 2012 in Nagoya. Intellectuals from many backgrounds presented their views on regeneration activities, and highlighted problems and issues. It was a fruitful Symposium, giving participants the opportunity to ponder what each should be doing as a Japanese citizen.

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The chief priest of Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine opened the Symposium by offering a silent prayer. The various talks were interspersed by the beautiful singing voices of primary school children and sutras being recited by the head priest of Tougeji Temple in Iwate Prefecture. At the end, Mr Syed Tahir recited the Quran and it became a day to reach beyond national and religious boundaries and pray for peace.

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With the support of many volunteers, participants were offered Pakistani curry, chai and desert just as has been served to victims in the disaster areas. We hope that we were able to satisfy the participants' hearts as well as their stomachs.


The following gives a brief summary of each talk.

Opening

Opening Remarks
Solidarity Tohoku Foundation Board Chairperson, Mr Yasuhiko Sata

The Symposium was held in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, which is the base of Mr Tahir who has worked enthusiastically in Tohoku. The Symposium was opened with the expression of gratitude to everyone who provided support.

Silent prayer
Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine Chief Priest, Mr Fukuno Hitoshi

A message from the Emperor about the disaster was conveyed and a silent prayer took place in candlelight.

The Emperor's poem from New Year poetry party held at the Imperial Court:

"When one looks down to see what the beach was like when the tsunami came,
the sea is a blue calm
"

● Talk 1

Maiya Ltd., President, Mr Haruo Maiya(Video message)

I am very grateful for the support received from all over Japan. Regeneration plans have been formed and debris is being removed, but victims' anxiety is increasing. We must try our best with a fighting spirit, but we must not forget the enormous tsunami damage. Six of our supermarkets (which had been established for 50 years) were totally destroyed, and we lost 7 billion yen worth of sales. Sixteen employees, my mother, and a house that had been our family home for many generations were also lost. I had to temporarily sack 350 employees but by July I was able to re-employ most of them.

● Talk 2

Ashinaga, Board Member Mr Koji Ogawa

Ashinaga is a private organisation totally reliant on donations and receives no government support. The disaster struck just before the start of the new academic year and even though financial resources were lacking, two days following the disaster we decided to give a lump sum gift for the children who lost their parents.

Since then, we have received donations of 4.8 billion yen and we are now giving out 2 million yen. One month after the disaster we set up a Tohoku office and are proceeding with plans of building care centres for orphans (called Tohoku Rainbow house) in five locations. The participants were moved when they listened to the recordings of guardians of orphans.

● Talk 3

Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital, Director Mr Kiyoshi Ishikawa

The title of the talk was "Hoping for the quick recovery of medical services in the disaster areas : Disaster relief is the mission of the Red Cross". Mr Ishikawa talked about the activities of the hospital. Eighty minutes after the disaster the Red Cross had set up a dedicated office, and by evening the initial action group was dispatched to Ishinomaki. All Red Cross Hospitals got together and sent 228 staff by the end of August.

Medical coordinator Mr Tadashi Ishii in Miyagi prefecture organised a team of 3600, and the dedicated action of the Red Cross staff from Ishinomaki (who were victims themselves) was regarded as a model for medical professionals. The Ishinomaki relief team who are medical experts of disaster set up a disaster medical research center.

In the future it is necessary to provide emotional and psychological support. It is very difficult to time the end of medical support, and we must not forget the disaster areas even after support activities have ended.

● Talk 4

Ishiki Clinic, Chairman, Mr Tetsuya Banno

Report on activities of Japan Medical Association Team in 6 evacuation centres in Iwaki City, Fukushima prefecture, as well as problems of future JMAT activities.

The Japan Medical Association (JMA) initiated the dispatch of disaster medical teams, JMATs, to affected areas through prefectural medical associations. In cooperation with the medical association in disaster-affected areas, the Team's mission was to provide medical assistance at hospitals and clinics in the disaster-affected areas and to continue provision of ongoing medical treatments that began before the disaster. (DMAT: Disaster Medical Assistant Team.)

● Reciting sutras

Tougenji Temple Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture, Chief Priest Mr Ryouki Sato

Chief Priest Mr Sato who miraculously survived the disaster read the sutras for the repose of the souls.

● Chorus

Sugiyama Jogakuen Primary School 2nd grade

The choir performed three songs, and the last song 'We are the World' received a call of 'encore' from the audience. The messages sent by the children were all warm and gave the participants the feeling of a bright future.

● Keynote 1

Director, KNI, Dr Shigemi Kitahara

The title of the talk was 'The day hospitals save Tohoku - In order to save this country from collapse'.

Dr Kitahara brought up issues regarding Japan's medical service and social security. He pointed out reasons for the current situation of medical services in Japan and measures for saving a medical breakdown. He outlined numerous challenges KNI is undertaking, including non-medical services such as revitalizing the inside and outside of Japan in corporation with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

It is important to believe that thoughts will be brought to realization, and people should share a common awareness of the issues and put it into practice from tomorrow - this will be the changing force of society.

● Keynote 2

Saitama Gakuen University Head of Business Administration Department
Solidarity Tohoku Foundation Board Member, Mr Tadanobu Okuyama

The title of the talk was 'Tohoku regeneration - disaster and yet another crisis'.

Mr Okuyama made some suggestions on government policy from an economy standpoint. The summary of the talk is as follows:

  • The calm and orderly actions of people in the affected areas deserve praise. On the other hand I feel doubt and exasperation at the distorted system of authority (academic field, mass communication, civil service, government bodies).
  • The national debt is currently in crisis, and the Bank of Japan ought to take urgent measures to counteract this.

● Panel Discussion

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Mr Eba, Chief Priest Mr Sato, Sakura Hospital External Medicine Director Kobayashi joined the other speakers and discussed the future of Tohoku and regeneration of Japan.

Mr Eba said that in this world there is no darkness but only shadows; light and shadows are one and the same. He appealed for support for self-reliance.

Mr Kobayashi made use of his own relief effort experience during the Hanshin Awaji earthquake. He took an ambulance and nurses and headed for Miyagi prefectural office. The disaster relief office had no information, so without depending on official administration he continued to do his best and offer help as surgeon just relying on his own instinct.

Mr Kobayashi realized the difference between injuries sustained in this disaster and those in the Hanshin Awaji earthquake, and the importance of search work to return the bodies to the families as soon as possible.

Mr Kobayashi thinks it is important to continue support so the enthusiasm doesn't go cold. He still continues to support the area by buying things from the affected areas and selling them.

● As a result of the Symposium

At Rentai Tohoku we have been supporting self-reliance with a main emphasis on caring for disaster victims through provision of meals.

The special quality Japanese people have of 'altruism'- regarding other people's happiness as their own, will save Japan. We must cherish this beautiful way of thinking. All religions are based on altruism. Japan is now facing political and financial crisis. Self-reliance in Tohoku will save Japan, and save the world. Our activities will focus not just on Tohoku but will extend to the world.

Categories:Staff reports

2012.04.18 13:24 admin

2012.02.24 10:59

Curry Event (Sunday 19th February 2012 • Tochigasawa temporary housing estate, Takatacho, Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture)

Rentai Tohoku Staff, Liu and Tahir here.

On Sunday 19th of December 2012, we held a Pakistan curry event at the Tochigasawa temporary housing estate in Takatacho, Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture.

When we first visited the Tochigasawa temporary housing estate in Takatacho in the autumn of 2011, we promised to hold an event in order to revitalize communication between residents. This finally materialized. However since there is no community hall at this temporary housing estate, with the help of the President of a wood processing company located next to the estate, we held the event on its grounds.

• Departure

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At 7am we departed from Minami Exchange Center in Sennmayacho. This week the snow had stopped and visibility was good and we arrived at the temporary housing estate without any delays.

• Event preparation

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Even though there was no warm community hall, we put all the ingredients on a portable table and we prepared the ingredients surrounded by the nice scent of wood.

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The company owner let us use their office for our preparation work, and the residents helped us prepare the vegetables and meat in an efficient manner. Preparing the total of 40kg of material was complete in about an hour.

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After completing the preparation, everyone had a break, including the company President who provided with the venue, as well as the Coordinator of the Temporary Housing Association.

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Outside the office, cooking has begun in large pots, using all the ingredients the residents prepared.

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Not only our volunteers took part in the curry making, but the residents also tried their hand at it.

We felt a little nervous as there was a nutritionist among the people who helped us. However, we were relieved to find out that this curry, containing many different kinds of nutrients, is most suitable in such cold weather.

• The meal begins

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Now the curry was ready to be served. Everybody received their portion as they listened to the nutritionist giving advice on healthy eating. The lively conversations revolved around the taste of the curry and how it was made.

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After the curry, we finish off with Pakistani chai.

• Gift from the residents

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While we were relaxing, drinking chai, there was a nice aroma. It was grilled onigiri. We asked if this was our dessert, but it turned out to be a present from the residents to us volunteers. We ate them together with homemade pickles. The residents' words were full of kindness when they said, ' thank for your hard work, please come again ! '

Categories:Staff reports

2012.02.24 10:59 admin

2012.02.17 09:56

Curry Event (Sunday 12th February 2012 • Miyata temporary housing estate, Takkoncho, Ofunato City Iwate Prefecture)

Rentai Tohoku Staff, Liu and Tahir here.

The average age of the people residing in the Miyata temporary housing estate is high, and there are more than 40 elderly residents living alone. Since residents with children tend to move to temporary housing estates located near schools, there are only 5 families with children left at the Miyata temporary housing estate. With the hope of being able to help enliven the residents who normally don't have much opportunity to interact, we held this curry event on the 12th of February 2012.

• Departure

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We depart in our car loaded with supplies and food prepared the day before at Sennmayacho Exchange Center. There has been heavy snowfall in the southern part of Iwate prefecture but we head for Ofunato with thoughts of the people awaiting our arrival.

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• Preparing for the event

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Coordinator of the Temporary Housing Residents Association welcomed us and helped us setting up the tent and cooking equipment in the cold, as well as preparation of the meal.

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Although it was difficult to check the contents of the cooking pots due to the cold temperature outside, the residents actively participated in the making of this meal.

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In the community hall, we cut up all the ingredients with the help of many ladies.

• The meal begins

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Due to the limited space in the community hall everyone enjoyed the meal in turns. Despite this, they spent such an enjoyable time as to forget the cold outside. The stars of the Miyata temporary housing (the three children) also seemed very satisfied with the unusual Pakistani curry.

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Categories:Staff reports

2012.02.17 09:56 admin

2012.02.06 21:38

Chinese New Year Party (Sunday 29th January 2012 • Takinosato industrial park temporary housing estate in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture)

Rentai Tohoku Staff, Liu and Tahir here.

We received a request through a supermarket chain in Rikuzentakata to hold a Pakistani curry and Chinese dumpling party at the Takinosato industrial park temporary housing estate, and therefore held this Chinese New Year Party on the 29th of January. The event didn't simply involve provision of meals, but rather we had residents taking part at each stage of the party from preparation to participation.

• Preparation

In order to provide the best possible ethnic food (Pakistani curry and Chinese dumplings) to the temporary housing residents we started preparing this meal with the help of local residents on the 28th of January at the Minami Konashi Exchange Center in Sennmayacho.

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Although it was quite difficult to get the ingredients ready for 250 meals worth of curry and dumplings, everyone is very pleased with the result at the tasting session. We are looking forward to the real event tomorrow.

• Leaving for the temporary housing estate

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On the 29th of January we headed for Rikuzentakata from Sennmayacho along roads where snow still remained. At Takinosato industrial park temporary housing estate, we chose the tent site together with the residents and erected the tent, and then carried the supplies from the car into the assembly hall of the temporary housing.

• The making begins - Dumpling team

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Although it is very difficult to make the dumpling skins, volunteer ladies from China taught the residents how to make them, and once they got the hang of it, they seemed to enjoy themselves.

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The team continued to make dumplings without break.

• The making begins - Curry team

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Malik, a Pakistani doctor from Rentai Tohoku, participated in the curry team. He dealt with the chicken (cutting the meat and removing the skin) as though it was a surgical operation. There was a feeling of tension in the air!

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  In contrast, the vegetable preparation team members were chatting together in a friendly mood while preparing vegetables.

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The men's team in the tent outside were stirring the curry, standing by pots of 1m diameter with huge ladles. Although it was hard work stirring continuously with these big ladles to prevent the curry from catching the bottom of the pan, it was a good opportunity for exercise.

• Completion

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600 dumplings were made before 12 o'clock. They were cooked in boiling water and were placed in egg soup, ready to eat.

• The meal begins

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At 12 o'clock, nearly 200 people gathered in the assembly hall; however there wasn't enough space and some people enjoyed eating outside. The weather was good, so it felt like a picnic.

• A gift from the residents

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After the Chinese New Year Party, when we were leaving the temporary housing, the residents gave us a postcard with the character 'road' written on it. Reading the message on the postcard gave us great strength. Since then we feel that, 'bond' isn't simply a character, but is a true link between hearts.

We will continue to support making bonds between hearts.

Categories:Staff reports

2012.02.06 21:38 admin

2011.12.26 11:52

Christmas Party (23rd December • Takekoma Primary School Temporary Housing, Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture)

  Rentai Tohoku Staff, Liu and Tahir here.

  While urban areas such as Tokyo and Nagoya are already in the mood for Christmas and New Year, the distant disaster areas have only just begun their first steps towards recovery. We held a Christmas Party on 23rd December with the disaster victims who have been facing hardship for the past nine months to help relieve their stress and renew their hope for recovery.

  This Christmas event wasn't simply the usual meal distribution event hosted regularly by Rentai Tohoku. We met with people of the Residents' Association and decided to provide curry for 300 people (Rentai Tohoku and residents of the temporary housing would provide for 150 people each) and aim for an event in which the residents themselves would be actively involved.

• Preparation
  There are around 300 people living in the temporary housing at Takekoma Primary School, however due to inadequate space, it was not possible to erect an assembly hall. The event this time was therefore held at a hall Kamihosone, a short distance from the temporary housing. Since it was the day before Christmas Eve, the volunteers put up a large Christmas tree and the Coordinator of the Temporary Housing Residents' Association decorated the tree as well. Children gathered, naturally fascinated by the tree.

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  Inside the hall at Kamihosone, residents have started preparing Japanese style curry. The Takekoma Primary School Temporary Housing team and the Rentai Tohoku team continued curry making in a friendly atmosphere.

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  The children are very interested to see the volunteers who are trying to handle the giant cooking ladles inside the Rentai Tohoku tent.

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  The children who are waiting for the curry to be ready are quite excited watching dances, Japanese traditional performances, singing, and Chinese shadow boxing.

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• The meal begins
  At 12 o'clock, the people began eating and comparing the curries made by the residents' team and the Rentai Tohoku team.

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  Although there is a tendency for there to be lack of communication between residents in the temporary housing, as a result of this sort of party, the residents were able to talk about their fond memories and thoughts.

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• Memorable moments of this event
  The student volunteers from Nagoya brought lots of scarves and gloves handmade by Nagoya citizens and distributed them to the residents along with encouraging messages and good wishes.

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  The Coordinator of the Temporary Housing Residents' Association surprised us when he distributed Christmas presents not only to the residents but also to ourselves.

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• Conclusion

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  This event on the 23rd of December was the last event of 2011, however, Rentai Tohoku will continue to support the recovery effort into 2012.

Categories:Staff reports

2011.12.26 11:52 admin

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