The 1000 Cranes created by the many volunteers for the “One Year After: Benefit Concert for the Children of Tohoku, Japan” on March 10, 2012, made its way over the Pacific Ocean and landed in Fukushima, Japan bringing our best wishes to the orphans in the Tohoku region. Please read this moving letter from Katherine Geeraert, Home Communications Manager for Soma Children’s Home and founder of Friends of Soma.
P.S. This letter arrived on the Fourth of July!
Filed under children, Fundraiser, humanitarian relief, pictures, stories
Eight months after the disaster of March 11, 2011, we visited Ishinomaki and interviewed survivors rebuilding their lives. We condensed these interviews into a 15 minute film, Then and Now, and posted it online. As a direct result, over 20,000 US dollars in funds and supplies have been delivered to Tohoku. But we’re not done yet.
Then and Now is one of 50 semi-finalists in the Youtube, Your Film Festival competition, and you can help us get to the next round.
http://bit.ly/ishinomaki2venice
Please follow the link above and vote for our film: Then and Now.
The top 10 films will be screened at the Venice Film Festival and even more people around the world will have a chance to hear everyone’s stories. Please visit this site and place a vote! http://bit.ly/ishinomaki2venice
Help us support our friends in Ishinomaki and all over Tohoku!
Help us get our film in the top 10. You can vote once a day so please vote every day!
Thank you so much!
Jeffrey
By MALCOLM FOSTER | Associated Press – 6 hrs ago
Yahoo News
TOKYO (AP) — A teenager who lost his home in Japan’s devastating tsunami now knows that one prized possession survived: a football that drifted all the way to Alaska.
Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say the ball with the youngster’s name inscribed on it is one of the first pieces of debris from last year’s tsunami to wash up on the other side of the Pacific.
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Beautiful origami cranes by Anne Marie as a part of the 1000 Cranes Project, supporting the March 10, 2012, “One Year After: A Benefit Concert for the Children of Tohoku, Japan” event at the Old Mission San Jose in Fremont, CA.
Filed under Concert, Fundraiser, humanitarian relief, pictures
Filed under earthquake, Japan, japan crisis, News, pictures, Tsunami
Repost
The first thing I noticed was the smell of rotten fish. There were about 40 of us on the tour bus that drove through Onagawa, a small fishing village about 2 hours north of Tokyo. We had just finished 2 days of voluntary mud digging in nearby Ishinomaki and were brought to Onagawa to understand the extent of damage. I had my mask on during the ride and when I got off the bus, I simply tried not to breathe.
But that wasn’t it. I think I mentally blocked my emotions too. It was simply too much. To see how this village had no chance. Then I got angry, mad angry that the people chose to live in an area that has been wiped out by tsunamis before. Then again, is there a place in the world that’s completely safe?
I decided to join the voluntary relief effort organized by American Chamber of Commerce Japan and Peace Boat because I knew I wanted to do something. The last time I volunteered was when I was a kid and I still remember how great it felt to be able to help someone.
Although I didn’t actually get to talk to the people who directly benefited from our black gunk digging, I do believe that our 2 day clean up gave them a bit of hope: that there are strangers out there who care. We wanted to talk to the locals and understand more what they are going through, but we were all mindful of the fact that they’ve had their share of volunteers coming and going through a revolving door for the past 2 months, giving them volunteer-fatigue.
So instead we got to know each other more. And for me that was a wonderful gift. I didn’t expect anything from this trip other than to do some good. Instead I met a few dozen like minded people who all went to Ishinomaki to “get our hands dirty”. ["Get Your Hands Dirty" was actually the project name].
I also didn’t realize how out of shape I was. After the first day of mud shoveling and bagging, I was so tired I couldn’t stay awake beyond 9pm and the last time I went to bed voluntarily at 9pm was when I was 6. My muscles were sore the next morning, but what was worse for me was the sun burn I got on my back (from forgetting to put sun block on!) So a word of warning for those who decide to volunteer anywhere outdoors, remember to slap on sun block on every single patch of skin you can see. Also, prepare for some heart aching moments as I’ve discovered when I found some photos in the debris. I don’t know if the children in the photos survived, but looking at their smiling faces in the photos was enough to rip my heart out.
Right now, Tohoku is trying to get back on its feet with the help of volunteers and government assisted programs. It was clear to us that this road to recovery will take at least a decade if not more. But that hasn’t scared us away. We have all started to converse among ourselves and with Peace Boat on what we can do next.
Some are planning on another trip north, one I believe is working with his company on donating sustainable housing, while I am working on getting the word out – that more volunteers and donations (not just monetary) are needed in the coming months, etc.
I believe that volunteering teaches us to be more grateful for what we have. And a lot of us need this little reminder once in awhile. The first night I got home, I was so grateful for the bed, the hot tub and good food.
I am humbled and grateful for the new friends I made in a country I had just moved to, in which I now call home.
Filed under earthquake, humanitarian relief, Japan, japan crisis, pictures, stories
Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco
http://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/archives/PR_e/2011/pr_11_1201.htm
Consul General Inomata and Mrs. Inomata hosted a reception at their official residence on December 1 in celebration of the December 23 birthday of the Emperor of Japan. Nearly 400 state and local leaders attended the event, including California Secretary of Service and Volunteering Karen Baker; Assemblymember Richard Pan; Millbrae Mayor Daniel Quigg; Sebastopol Mayor Guy Wilson; Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown, Pacific Area Commander of the US Coast Guard; Judge Roy Hashimoto of the California Superior Court in Alameda County; Judge Dale Ikeda of the California Superior Court in Fresno County; Judge Gerardo Sandoval of the California Superior Court in San Francisco County; Director Patricia Hayes of the State Department’s Office of Foreign Missions; and UC Davis Vice Provost William Lacy. Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California President Hiroshi Haruki, Japan Society of Northern California Chair Isao Steve Matsuura, and various citizens of Japan were also in attendance.
The program began with the singing of the American and Japanese national anthems. Consul General Inomata then welcomed everyone to the celebration and noted that San Francisco City Hall will kindly be flying Japan’s flag on the occasion of the Emperor’s actual birthday and Japan’s national day, December 23 (please see here for further details). He then thanked Japan’s friends in California and the United States Government for their strong support after the March 11 earthquake and noted that 2011 also marked the 60th anniversary of the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the first Japan-US Security Treaty. The Consul General underlined the continued importance of the Japan-US alliance and the further expansion of Japan-US ties, asking for attendees’ support in continuing to strengthening this steadfast alliance.
After the Consul General’s remarks, Secretary Baker extended greetings on behalf of the California State Government.
