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) is providing mobile medical treatment on the Oshika Peninsula in Miyagi Prefecture, one of the hardest-hit areas. Currently, the northern half of the peninsula is being covered by a medical team from Tokai University and the Japanese Red … Read more
Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) has been helping local chambers of commerce in Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures to get up and running again as an important first step toward the recovery of the local economies. Last week, they delivered supplies to the Rikuzentakata Chamber of Commerce, … 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
Last week, the Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) delivered washing machines and dryers to two evacuation centers on the Oshika Peninsula in Miyagi Prefecture. Many places on the peninsula are still without water and electricity, so this equipment was set up in central areas … Read more
One of Japan’s most famous marathon runners, Mari Tanigawa, has been working with the Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) as a board member and as a goodwill ambassador for their efforts to clear landmines. In early May, she joined the AAR teams in Iwate … Read more
In some fields, NGOs are winding down their relief efforts. For example, medical assistance is decreasing as the Tohoku region’s own medical institutions are starting to reopen. At the same time, other organizations are starting to prepare for the long-term task of the recovery, which … Read more
JEN reported that last week the total number of volunteers it has sent to the earthquake-stricken region is now more than 1,000. Their efforts last week included clearing rubble from the area next to the Haginohama Elementary School on the Oshika Peninsula. Before the disaster, … Read more
NICCO is working in cooperation with local governments, the Japan Pest Control Association, and the Church World Service (an American NGO) to conduct pest control efforts in Iwate Prefecture. When the tsunami hit this region, it swept seafood out of the processing plants, and this … Read more
It has now been three months since the devastating earthquake and tsunami struck the Tohoku region, so a number of NGOs have published summaries of their activities to date. We have summarized the reports from two of our fund recipients here. The Association for Aid … Read more