一般財団法人　連帯　東北・西南　RENTAI　TOHOKU-SEINAN

We would like to introduce our meeting/lodging house,
which is the center of our activities.
It is located in Sennmaya-cho in Ichinoseki, Iwate prefecture
 (30 mins drive to Kesennuma, 40 mins drive to Hiraizumi,
60 mins drive to Ofunato).

・It is a two storey house. There is enough space in the living room
 to enable several dozen people to gather for meetings.
・Kitchen, shower, flush toilet
・For bedding we have 10 sleeping bags available.

-Examples of usage-
＊As an activity hub for support workers (in some cases
 the duration of usage will be need to be decided
 following a discussion).
＊As a meeting house for local people.

＊As a lodging house or meeting place for advisors
 from various regions and/or local people.


If you would like to make use of this facility, please contact the staff member
in charge at the email address given below.
（Staff member in charge：Nagayama）
E-mail

Our office is located in Kawasaki-cho in Ichinoseki, Iwate prefecture
(30 mins drive to Kesennuma, 40 mins drive to Hiraizumi/60 mins drive to Ofunato).

Here is a description of the vehicles we have available for rental.
Number of vehicles：6 vehicles（one campervan and five 4WD SUVs）

 

Campervan（Dodge Roadtrek190）

•Seats seven, sleeps five
•Shower, kitchen, toilet, fridge, microwave,
 fully airconditioned
•Luggage rack, sufficient space in the rear
 to carry relief supplies
•Left-hand drive

4WD SUV（Chevrolet Blazer）

･Seats five
･The vehicle has a front bench seat which makes
 it easy to rest,
 or change in the car, and transport ill
 passengers from the disaster area.
･Right-hand drive


-Examples for vehicle usage-
＊As accommodation or a means of transport when going to
   temporary clinics in the disaster area for medical support
＊As accommodation or a means of transport for volunteer activities
＊As a means of transport for disaster victims who are having
   difficulties getting around in their daily lives

If you would like to make use of our vehicles, please contact
the staff member in charge at the email address provided below.
(Staff member in charge: Nagayama)
E-mail

（Mr. F・Age:32 ・ Male   Tokyo resident)

We helped with the transportation and production of bamboo materials for the rafts used in oyster cultivation. Due to land subsidence, the port becomes inundated with water twice a day. Although the smiles and laughter of the people of Katsurajima trying to raise their own spirits didn't die out, within this positive atmosphere there were voices of concern that more people are needed to help make the rafts necessary for seaweed and oyster cultivation.

Details of activity：Helping the fishermen who cultivate seaweed (shearing ropes used for rafts)
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（Mr. S ・Age:41・Male Tokyo resident)

Our activities on the island involved mainly physical work (under the guidance of fishermen) such transporting bamboo which are used to make the rafts necessary for oyster and seaweed cultivation, as well as helping with the manufacture process for ropes also used in raft making. 
The rafts have been wrecked twice in the past year with the Chile earthquake, and now the Tohoku Earthquake of 11 March. Although the plan was to produce 800 rafts by the autumn, currently there are 400, which is only half the required amount, and people are working without a break.

Soon a Shinto ceremony to purify the site will be held, and debris-removal work will also begin in earnest.

We need to continue to directly help those who experienced extensive damage, and I hope that this can help strengthen the ties between the people of Tohoku.

Details of activity：Helping the fishermen who cultivate seaweed (Shearing ropes used for rafts)
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（Mr. A ・Age:26 ・ Male   Tokyo resident)

What I felt when I came into contact with the people at the site is that they are all have a positive outlook. Everything they had spent their time and effort on until now has all fallen apart and there is no other way but to start building their lives again from scratch. Electricity only started coming through at the beginning of May, and there being no hospital, the island residents told us warmly how grateful they were for us to come week after week to volunteer.

I felt strongly that despite being in difficult circumstances, in order to be able to live alongside the beautiful sea again, it is necessary to recognize what needs to be done and carry it out. When living in urban areas there is always a tendency to have sparse interaction with neighbours, but in Katsurajima the whole town is like one big family, and regardless of the fact that there was a huge earthquake disaster it felt steeped in a warm atmosphere.