一般財団法人　連帯　東北・西南　RENTAI　TOHOKU-SEINAN

（Ms. A ・Age:33 ・ Female   Saitama prefecture resident)

Details of activity：Helping the fishermen who cultivate seaweed (shearing ropes used for rafts)

Though the volunteer activities in Katsurajima aim to support people concerned with the fishery cooperatives and island residents, volunteers themselves can individually think about and then discuss what they felt as a result of their experience, and how to make use of these experiences in their daily lives and work. I feel that if they can maximize the feelings and thoughts they gained from this experience and materialize that in thier actions, it will heighten the importance of these volunteer activities.

With regard to the clean up of swimming beaches, I felt that due to the fact that collected rubbish can only be incinerated once in two weeks, and weather and sea conditions can cause the once-collected rubbish to be dispersed all over again, it would better to carry out this activity in a more organized way.

（Mr. I ・Age:34・Male   Tokyo resident)
 

[Situation of the island]

Seaweed drying machines (see photo) belonging to five fishermen were washed away by the tsunami. With one machine costing around 40 million yen, it is difficult to invest in new equipment, so they have decided to have joint use of the five drying machines that remain.

I felt that the work we carried out this time of cutting ropes necessary for raft production could have been done off-site. In other words if the rope and soldering iron are available, the work could done in Tokyo. Then, even those people who would like to participate in volunteer activities but cannot for various reasons, could participate in this type of work.

In fact, if we were to have people who can travel to the site take part in other activities, I think we would be able to increase the amount of help we can offer to the people of Katsurajima.

Details of activity：Helping with construction of rafts for seaweed cultivation; clearing the coastline

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（Mr.K・Age:47・Male  Tokyo resident）

While having the good fortune to enjoy weather that heralded the beginning of summer, we were drenched with sweat from our efforts and determination to clean up the coastline. During preparation of ropes to be used to make rafts for seaweed cultivation, we concentrated on our work in silence while imagining the delicious seaweed that would grow on the rafts that would be assembled using these ropes.
With only 200 rafts completed out of a total 800 needed, there is still a long way to go. However, the appreciation the fishermen showed for our efforts to help was impressive.
This small fishing village, abundant with the bounties of nature has experienced damage from last year's Chile earthquake, and now this year's major earthquake disaster. 'We've really had it' the fishermen would laugh, but behind their feelings to somehow move on, I felt that there must be an immeasurable amount of suffering and grief.

(Mr. H, Age 34, from Kanagawa)

Fishermen were cheery, but while cutting ropes for seaweed farm rafts, they told me that their struggle was in fact two years in a row as last year's Tsunami caused by the earthquake in Chile also destroyed their seaweed farms. Even so, I felt their determination to stay positive and find a way to overcome difficulties.
However, when they talked about their lives at evacuation centres, I could sense their various worries and stresses. Though what we can may be limited, I believe that it is important to go on providing support to them.

(Mr. K, Age 45, from Sendai)

As it was drizzling yesterday (11 June, 2011), all the fishermen made rafts for seaweed farms at the workshop.
While working, they chatted in their local dialect, with which they seemed to be able to express their feelings more clearly. As I understand their dialect, I could sense the immensity of the damage the earthquake brought to them.

Today (12th June, 2011), I joined a clean-up at a bathing beach. I felt at a loss seeing the enormous amount of wreckage. There would be a lot of fallen trees buried in sand, and more and more rubbles will be washed up on the beach. We must bear in mind that it will take a long time to recover the affected area.