一般財団法人　連帯　東北・西南　RENTAI　TOHOKU-SEINAN

Activity description: Administrative work (telephone operation and preparation for sending information materials) at "Urato Umi-no-ko Recovery Project" Head Office
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(Ms. O, Age 29, Tokyo)

At "Urato Umi-no-ko Recovery Project" Head Office, the phone kept ringing and we received a lot of applications for "One Unit Sponsor System".
Most of the inquiries were from the applicants for the "One Unit Sponsor System". Many had paid for the subscription and wondered if the money was properly received. Some phoned to make sure if they were really of any help. Talking with the people at the Head Office, I created a database of the subscribers' information which previously had been hand-recorded in a notebook. Also I tried to streamline the usual workflow. I hope the new system will help to make the administration of Urato Umi-no-ko Recovery Project more efficiently done.

Activity description: Making floaters for seaweed farms, clean-up of the beach
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(Mr. T, Age 36, Tokyo)

I helped eight seaweed farmers with preparation of seaweed farms. We cut ropes to tie nets which will be submerged in the sea with the floats. While working, a member of the local fisheries cooperative talked about a plan proposed by Miyagi Prefecture to rebuild a seaweed processing plant. However, as the investment to be incurred by fishermen will be huge, the fisheries cooperative is struggling to reach consensus.  However, without this facility, it will be impossible to ensure production and maintain a stable supply of seaweed.

Activity description: Making floaters for seaweed farms, clean-up of the beach
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(Mr. N, Age 31, Tokyo)

I joined the volunteer work for 3 days from the 27th to 29th May.

Making floaters for seaweed farms
I helped to cut ropes at a certain length using a soldering iron and tie them in bundles to be used with  floaters. While working, I had a chat with 8 fishermen from the local fisheries cooperative about various things from the Earthquake to their private matters. Some had their houses completely destroyed by the Tsunami. And one said that his car was carried away some 300 m from Shiogama Marine Gate.

Beach cleaning
The beach was strewn with rubbish from the Tsunami, such as seaweeds, driftwood, broken glass, bottles, Styrofoam and so on. It took 3 hours for two of us volunteers to clear the area of 35m x 20m.
Before the Earthquake, the beach must have been a beautiful place where kids were running about barefoot on white sand, adults enjoying marine sports like water skiing. Hoping to have such a beach back as soon as possible, I picked up litters on the beach. As it was only Mr. T, another volunteer member, and I who cleaned the beach on that day, it would have been better if local people had joined us so that we could have talked with them personally.

This time, I learned the importance of communication through chitchat. Though I will do my best to help them through physical works, the crucial thing is to find out what is most needed for the future of Katsura Island.

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.

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

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（Mr. Ｋ ・Age:45・ Male　 Tokyo resident）

Katsurajima is a small island with an area of 6ha, circumference of about 2km, and approximately 240 residents,

When we spoke to the Mayor, Mr Ustumi, he told us that many of the island's residents are elderly citizens who are living off pensions, and of those, a tenth are cultivating oysters and/or seaweed.
The sight of Mr Ustumi actively taking part as the island's organizer despite having experienced the horrors of this natural disaster, was inspiring.

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Here are reports from volunteers who participated in meal preparation at Minato Primary School in Ishinomaki City.

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(Mr S, Age 39, Male, Tokyo resident)
I took part in activities such as meal preparation from 30 April to 1 May. Reconstruction of the devastated area had not progressed as much as I heard about through news reports, and I felt, first hand, the misery of the disaster site with the smell of sea water sludge, washed up rubble, cars, boats, and damaged houses.
Evacuees at Minato Primary School were living with dozens of people in the confined space of one classroom, and had been continuing this sort of existence without a break for more than a month.

I felt that there is a need from now on to undertake activities such as debris removal and sewerage cleaning move towards reconstruction of the devastated area.

(Mr M, Age 37, Male, Kanagawa prefecture resident)
Although initially before participating I was unsure if there would be anything I could do to help, but I realised that there are many activities I could be part of.

When I saw the vicinity of Minato Primary School, the area towards Ishinomaki port, and the areas where there was greatest tsunami damage, I felt that even just taking the first step to actually visit the disaster site was significant and would lead to providing practical support. I witnessed situations too dreadful to put into words, which gave me a shock and at the same time made me realise the significance of our daily support activities as well as the significance of what was lost.

However, according to stories I have heard from grandparents since I was a child,  the circumstances during postwar days were just as devastating, following which Japan was able to recover, which is why today's society exists. Up until now we have been receiving the fruit of our predecessors efforts for revival, but now, we, as the people concerned must strive for revival. 

(Mr T, Age 45, Male, Tokyo resident)
I felt that the town was divided by the disparity between the areas that received enormous damage and those areas where damage was slight. While in the former, people gather for meals prepared by volunteers, in the latter they go shopping at supermarkets. In addition, even within those areas where damage was great, when I spoke to people from the site, I felt that there is an emerging gap between those people who lost their houses and those who didn't.

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