On April 2–3, JEN brought its third shipment of relief supplies to Ishinomaki (Miyagi Prefecture), providing clothing donated by UNIQLO as well as other supplies donated from around the country. They have assisted more than 2,000 people in that town to date. Among the donated … Read more
If you take a ferry from Ishinomaki (Miyagi Prefecture) and sail for about two hours, you will reach a small island called Ajishima, home to about 500 people, most of whom are elderly. The tsunami hit the island before it had gathered full strength, but as … Read more
JEN is calling for volunteers to help in the effort to help in the sludge removal efforts, to distribute cleanup kits (rubber gloves, rubber boots, masks, shovels, buckets, etc.), and to prepare warm meals as it continues to assist and survey the conditions around Sendai … Read more
Various sources indicate that Japan has experienced over 900 aftershocks with about 60 over magnitude 6.0 and three over magnitude 7.0. Also in the news on the 12th was the announcement by the Japanese government that the nuclear crisis was even more serious than previously indicated. It … Read more
In order to break up the monotony for the children in Otsuchi evacuation centers, an Association of Medical Doctors of Japan (AMDA) volunteer organized a “Field Trip to the Self-Defense Forces Garrison,” where they met members of the SDF who came from Hokkaido to help … Read more
The Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) Secretary-General, Yoshiteru Horie, wrote twice to thank JCIE for supporting their efforts. He said that he had just returned from a visit to hard-hit areas such as Soma, Sendai, and Rikuzentakata, noting that “the extent of destruction is so immense … Read more
The Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) Japan is taking part in a project to “bring the hot baths to the earthquake-stricken region.” Having seen the images of the stressful conditions at the evacuation centers, an employee at Ascendia, a Tokyo-based IT firm, had the … Read more
JEN volunteers prepared 3,000 bowls of freshly cooked ramen to serve to people in Ishinomaki (Miyagi Prefecture) over a three-day period. On the first day, they set up a stand by the Watanoha Station, where trains have stopped coming since the earthquake. Despite the rain … Read more
In the Chinomori district of Ofunato (Iwate Prefecture), construction was completed on 71 temporary homes last week, which will house 188 people. With the help of local volunteers, Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) delivered household items to help make those families’ new lives a bit easier. … Read more
This week is the traditional “Golden Week” holiday in Japan, and many Japanese people are taking advantage of their time off to volunteer in the Tohoku region. As described in a recent Japan Times article, many groups are trying to organize the outpouring of concern into practical assistance … Read more