Soul Flower Earthquake Fund 2011
Itami Hideko (28th March 2011)
The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake happened in 1995. At that time we started a fund to raise money which focused on the elderly, disabled, and others in need of help. This was different from a big charitable fund. People were informed in a small-scale way but nevertheless we received a great deal of cooperation and donations of money. Some people made donations every month for many years while others kept donation boxes in their businesses. Thanks very much to everyone.
Those who experienced the earthquake hoped that this would never happen again but then there was another enormous earthquake in Japan. This time it was not just an earthquake but also a tsunami and then a nuclear power plant accident. Nobody knew what to do in Japan when we were faced with a disaster on such a large scale, but we remembered that in Kobe we had formed a circle around a bonfire in the cold and our smiles had returned. Now we are getting together, standing up and holding hands, in the hope that it will never happen again.
We want the Soul Flower Earthquake Fund which began in Kobe to be used from now on to help the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. As I write this, on the 20th March, I am getting information from a handful of people I know at the earthquake site. I am sending some goods to the site directly and also through the assistance of some trustworthy volunteers. Also, I am thinking about how to get involved in the care of evacuees to Okinawa.
I think that families with children from Fukushima Prefecture must feel especially worried and are unable to express this anxiety in words. I want to give my support to finding places where they can settle as soon as possible and to create a situation where children can go to school without fear. I want people to understand and support this idea to use the Soul Flower Earthquake Fund for this purpose. I am going to start calling this fund the ‘Soul Flower Earthquake Fund 2011’.
We all learned so many things through the experience of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake such as the warmness of people, the importance of local community, the importance of friends, the love of our homes, the arrival of deeply upsetting and traumatic situations, the fragility of human beings, and the strength of music. The victims’ feelings and the passion of their supporters will change over the course of time. But the recovery will take even longer if the damage is greater. This should not be forgotten by supporters such as us.
I hope that the Soul Flower Earthquake Fund 2011, together with our heartfelt feelings, will make a difference to the victims in Tohoku.
Those who experienced the earthquake hoped that this would never happen again but then there was another enormous earthquake in Japan. This time it was not just an earthquake but also a tsunami and then a nuclear power plant accident. Nobody knew what to do in Japan when we were faced with a disaster on such a large scale, but we remembered that in Kobe we had formed a circle around a bonfire in the cold and our smiles had returned. Now we are getting together, standing up and holding hands, in the hope that it will never happen again.
We want the Soul Flower Earthquake Fund which began in Kobe to be used from now on to help the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. As I write this, on the 20th March, I am getting information from a handful of people I know at the earthquake site. I am sending some goods to the site directly and also through the assistance of some trustworthy volunteers. Also, I am thinking about how to get involved in the care of evacuees to Okinawa.
I think that families with children from Fukushima Prefecture must feel especially worried and are unable to express this anxiety in words. I want to give my support to finding places where they can settle as soon as possible and to create a situation where children can go to school without fear. I want people to understand and support this idea to use the Soul Flower Earthquake Fund for this purpose. I am going to start calling this fund the ‘Soul Flower Earthquake Fund 2011’.
We all learned so many things through the experience of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake such as the warmness of people, the importance of local community, the importance of friends, the love of our homes, the arrival of deeply upsetting and traumatic situations, the fragility of human beings, and the strength of music. The victims’ feelings and the passion of their supporters will change over the course of time. But the recovery will take even longer if the damage is greater. This should not be forgotten by supporters such as us.
I hope that the Soul Flower Earthquake Fund 2011, together with our heartfelt feelings, will make a difference to the victims in Tohoku.
Itami Hideko
Soul Flower Earthquake Fund 2011
Soul Flower Earthquake Fund 2011
"Soul Flower Earthquake Fund 2011" Report
Report 1. (05 Apr 2011)
According to Mr.Ueno, who has been working with the Peace Boat members in Ishimaki (Miyagi Prefecture), food for the victims is slowly arriving, although there are no cooking utensils and no cooking facilities for large numbers of victims at the site. We suggested that the Sinmey Wok (Okinawan cooking utensils, traditionally used for ceremonial cooking for great feasts) would be useful. The Sinmey Wok can be used in various ways, e.g. boiling, frying, steaming and stewing.Thus, we decided to send these and large gas stove burners. The local paper Okinawa Times advertised our request, and we received many of these items in three days.
The Sankyo Gas company (Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture) supported us, maintaining and ordering new gas stove burners for this purpose. On the 5th April, we sent the above and 200 school bags (these bags had been collected by primary schoolchildren in Itoman City (Okinawa Prefecture) by the Seino transport company cargo container, to the place of refuge in Ishimaki Minami-Sakai (Miyagi Prefecture) disaster zone.
Our fund money will be spent for 2 Sinmei Woks, 6 new gas stove burners and for the sending cost. We will report the total amount of this work when we receive all the bills.
http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/article/2011-04-02_16215/
http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/article/2011-04-05_16300/
Report 2. (19th Apr 2011)
Rep.1 Spending details:
Wok x 2 (14,000 yen)
Gas stove burners x 6 (66,000 yen)
Transport 116,500 yen (supported by the Seino Unyu transport company and the Ryukyu Kaiun transport company)
Along with Okinawa Times and the Sankyo Gas company support, we could send a total of 50 Woks and 13 gas stove burners this time. Many thanks.
Wok x 2 (14,000 yen)
Gas stove burners x 6 (66,000 yen)
Transport 116,500 yen (supported by the Seino Unyu transport company and the Ryukyu Kaiun transport company)
Along with Okinawa Times and the Sankyo Gas company support, we could send a total of 50 Woks and 13 gas stove burners this time. Many thanks.
Report 3. (13th Apr 2011)
Spending Details:Radio x 16 (radios for the places of refuge and others) and spare batteries (57,367 yen)
Transport (2,770 yen)
Radios which can be easily used by the elderly are in need. We work with Hibino Junichi (Kobe City Nagata Town FM-Waiwai president) who is currently working in the disaster zone, and we sent the above goods to FM-Aozora (temporary radio station for emergency) in Miyagi Prefecture,
(After the disaster, it was very difficult to get batteries in many regions of East Japan. Despite this, batteries are such important items under conditions where there is no electricity supply, in order to obtain emergency alarms from radios, using torch lights etc.)
Report 4. (20th Apr 2011)
Spending:
Radio x 39, Batteries (52,829 yen)
Transport (2,620 yen)
We sent portable radios which the elderly can easily use, to FM Iwanuma (Miyagi Prefecture Iwanuma City).
4 Radios were donated by Nakahama Kyoko.(Peace Music Festa member).
Numerous emergency local FM stations begin to operate these days and it is also reported that portable radio is so important for all who are involved in restoration works in the disaster zone where numerous earthquakes are still occurring.
Radio x 39, Batteries (52,829 yen)
Transport (2,620 yen)
We sent portable radios which the elderly can easily use, to FM Iwanuma (Miyagi Prefecture Iwanuma City).
4 Radios were donated by Nakahama Kyoko.(Peace Music Festa member).
Numerous emergency local FM stations begin to operate these days and it is also reported that portable radio is so important for all who are involved in restoration works in the disaster zone where numerous earthquakes are still occurring.
Report 5. (26th Apr 2011)
Spending:
Stationary Goods 67,696 yen
Transport fee - Paid by our members
Goods detail - papers, pallets, paint brushes, coloring books, scissors, crayons, glue, tapes, staples, Origami, bubbles, balloons, sweets etc.
Working with Mr.Ueno (See Rep. 1), our members (Nakagawa, Okuno, Takagi, Ishida, Sakai, Abe) brought the above goods for the Ishimaki City Playschool.
They also visited FM Aozora and brought clothes to the Support Goods Centre in Watari town (Miyagi Prefecture)
Stationary Goods 67,696 yen
Transport fee - Paid by our members
Goods detail - papers, pallets, paint brushes, coloring books, scissors, crayons, glue, tapes, staples, Origami, bubbles, balloons, sweets etc.
Working with Mr.Ueno (See Rep. 1), our members (Nakagawa, Okuno, Takagi, Ishida, Sakai, Abe) brought the above goods for the Ishimaki City Playschool.
They also visited FM Aozora and brought clothes to the Support Goods Centre in Watari town (Miyagi Prefecture)
Report 6. (1st May 2011)
Spending:Radio x 600, Batteries x 2400 (428,400 yen)
Sending Details
50 radios for FM Iwanuma (see Rep.4)
300 radios for Minami Soma City (Fukushima Prefecture)
250 radios will be also sent to the disaster zone soon.
It is difficult to buy analog radios these days, although our band’s musical goods sales staff member, Takato Ako and her friend Tetu organized buying many of these radios (with free delivery charge!).
We bought 600 radios and sent them as above.