一般財団法人　連帯　東北・西南　RENTAI　TOHOKU-SEINAN

Activity description: Clean-up of a playground for building temporary housing

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(Mr. S, Age 52, Tochigi)

Before the Earthquake, Katsura must have been one of the scenic islands in Matsushima area, the popular tourist spot.

I mowed grass in the playground of a primary school where temporary housing was to be built. Through volunteer activities, I was hoping to form relations with the island's residents and contribute to the reconstruction of Katsura Island.

Details of activity：Cleaning up the land in preparation for temporary housing construction

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（Mr. K・Age:50・Male　Tokyo resident）

Hearing the Mayor express his feelings of gratitude with the following words was most inspirational: 'Despite being attacked by a several-metre high tsunami, the fact that luckily there were no deaths, and only damage to 40 buildings is due to the six young people of the island who lead the residents to refuge on higher ground'
However, there are still about 20 people living in primary school evacuation centres. The coastline is littered with driftwood and household items, and 40 houses are still a pile of rubble. I strongly felt the need of continued support in the long journey to complete recovery.

Details of activity： 'Uminoko Restoration Project' Office - handling phone calls and preparing information for posting

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（Ms. N・Age:27・Female　Tokyo resident）
I participated in volunteer activities on Saturday and Sunday, handling incoming phone calls and preparing materials for posting. On Saturday the telephone was constantly ringing and I was strongly impressed by the fact that so many people wanted to support the disaster area. Words of encouragement over the phone such as 'please do your best!', which were meant to be addressing the disaster victims, also gave me courage.

Details of activity：Uminoko Restoration Project' Office - handling phone calls and preparing information for posting

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（Ms. Ｎ・Age:24・Female　Tokyo resident)

At the fishery union office, I handled phone calls from people interested in the 'One Unit Sponsor' system, and prepared information for posting to them. The impact on the media was so great that the telephone wouldn't stop ringing and there was hardly any time to rest. Island resident Mr. S has been handling this office work practically alone and therefore had not been able to take a day off for a while. Through being responsible for incoming calls I was able to hear warm words of encouragement from people all over the country. The people who called sent everyone their kind words, and part-way through I had to fight back my tears whilst corresponding. I was touched by the kind feelings of the Japanese people trying to help each other. I felt pride in being Japanese and received a lot of strength myself.

Although I experienced such shock that I could not speak when I saw the damage caused by the tsunami, I was strongly impressed by strength of the people who strive to begin living alongside nature once again.

Details of activity：Cleaning up the land in preparation for temporary housing construction

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（Mr.Ｔ・Age46・Male　Tokyo resident）

I heard from someone in the evacuation centre that during the immediate aftermath of the disaster, relief supplies couldn't get through, so island residents themselves brought food and petrol, and divided the provisions among themselves to support each other. In addition, elderly women who no longer routinely helped with fishing started to assist in attaching seed oysters once again. Irrespective of age and gender, the effort that people are making to become independent is very tangible. The island residents have such willingness to cooperate, and when they spoke words of appreciation, and chatted with us, we felt encouraged and inspired to work hard.