一般財団法人　連帯　東北・西南　RENTAI　TOHOKU-SEINAN

The most important aspect of our activities at has been providing emotional support to the people living in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Our logo, which represents our spirit, depicts Tahir and me delivering love together (laughs).

　

This marks our fifth event, and we have continued this "Green & White Day" event, modeled after an Italian event, with the hope that it would serve as a catalyst for "town revitalization" based on ecology. As you know, the local population has decreased to nearly a quarter of what it was before the disaster, and I hear that the average age of those remaining is over 65. Stopping and reversing the declining birthrate and aging population can be described as a "daunting task."I truly feel that this is not just a problem for the disaster-stricken areas of Tohoku, but a serious issue shared by all of Japan.

　

On the day of the event, under a clear blue sky that made the previous day's rain seem like a distant memory, approximately 40 people joined us. This gathering was a special occasion, held in memory of Keishi Onodera, who passed away on August 6 of last year.

　 　

Tahir prepared "Tomodachi Curry"--a dish he has provided for many years in support of disaster-stricken areas--for the first time in a long while. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Yuri Nagasawa from Senmaya and Masayoshi Sugawara from Hiraizumi for arriving early at the venue to assist with the preparations. While making the curry, I fondly recalled how Mr. Sugawara's late wife used to diligently help with the preparations for the meals, such as chopping carrots.

　 　

　 　

At the venue, in addition to "Tomodachi Curry," a variety of dishes--including yakisoba, okonomiyaki, and grilled vegetables--were served with a true spirit of volunteerism. The savory aroma wafted on the breeze, naturally spreading smiles and conversation throughout the crowd. We also provided two shō of rice grown by Ichiro Murakami from Senmaya, and every last bit of the food we prepared was devoured.

　 　

This gathering, where warm feelings flowed between everyone, was truly a "place where people connect." Smiles of joy at long-awaited reunions and moments of new connections seemed to be spreading everywhere.

We are deeply grateful for all the kind gifts we received from everyone, including famous local confections, bread, homemade sweets, wild mountain vegetables, and beverages. In particular, we were honored that Mr. Ken Sasaki traveled all the way from Nishiwaga Town to join us, and we thoroughly enjoyed his wife's heartfelt and truly delicious home-cooked dishes featuring plenty of the local specialty, "warabi" (bracken). Thank you so much, Mrs. Sasaki!

　

　

In conjunction with this visit, we also paid our respects at the graves of Venerable Kocyu Sugawara of Chuson-ji Temple--who has supported us since the very beginning--as well as Chief Priest Koyama of Senmae Shirahata Shrine and Mr. Keishi Onodera.

We hope that "Green and White Day" will be more than just an event--we hope it will serve as a catalyst to revitalize the community. We're already thinking about the next one, the 6th edition!

I'd like to turn the Senmaya shopping district--which seems to be losing its vitality year by year--into a lively gathering where we fill 200 to 300 meters of the street with long tables. I'd like to hold this event three or four times a year, ideally once per season, and make it an event that draws visitors from all over the country.

We received tremendous support from so many of you, from setting up to cleaning up. Thank you very much.

On May 22, in the main hall of Kurikoma-so, a traditional Japanese inn bathed in the soft light of dusk, we held a pleasant dinner gathering with Mr. Tsuguo Sugawara of Kurikoma-so, Chairman Yasutoshi Takahashi and his wife of Kurikoma Kenkyo Co., Ltd. (the company that designed and built the Haibuden Hall in Hangwan-mori, Kurihara City), and the head priest of Ritsugen-ji Temple, Toshihide Takahashi, along with everyone who has supported the Kurihara region.

Our connection with Mr. Sugawara began when he took an interest in an anecdote from his youth: he walked 500 kilometers over 43 days from Shirahata Shrine in Fujisawa City (where legend has it that Yoshitsune's head was enshrined) to Hangan-mori in his hometown of Kurikoma City--the place said to be the resting place of Yoshitsune's body--to transport sacred soil (mitamatsuchi).
（From Mr. Tsugio Sugawara's website）

Furthermore, when the Haibuden (dance hall) was completed near Hangan-mori in November 2022, we invited a troupe performing the "Shizuka no Mai" (Shizuka's Dance) from Kamakura. You can view footage of this event on the website below: https://www.rentaitohoku.org/plaza/month2211.html

　

The meal was prepared with great care by Mr. Sugawara's daughter, Sumie, together with her mother, and everything was absolutely delicious. In particular, the whole char skewered and grilled was, as always, exceptional.

Furthermore, Mr. Ikuo Takeyama from Ishinomaki City went out of his way to deliver tomatoes, bell peppers, and other produce--grown at a magnificent high-tech farm built with major post-disaster reconstruction funds--from Okawa in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, all the way to Kurikoma-so on Mount Kurikoma, specifically for the event in Senmya the following day. Mr. Takeyama, thank you so much for your continued support.

Mr. Takeyama is someone who experienced the tragedy of losing his mother, wife, and daughter--all three of whom were in a car in Okawa--at once in the sudden tsunami. Please enjoy the newfound happiness you have now!

The open-air hot spring bath with its cloudy waters, enjoyed while gazing out at the forest of Kurikoma-so, is truly exceptional. I'm sure Yoshitsune and Shizuka would have enjoyed bathing together in harmony as well!