Original Japanese written by Yuki Johnson

The English below written and arranged by Heeday, based on the original Japanese

The English edited by Rev. Dr. Henry French, ELCA

 

The Japanese-speaking church in the UK, where Ms. Yuki Johnson is active, held a service to commemorate the East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 again this year, six years after the disaster. The Anglican-Episcopal Church in Japan, its Tohoku Diocese, and we, the No Nuke Project, sent messages to the Japanese-speaking congregation.

One of its leading members, Ms. Yuki Johnson, has sent us the following report on the service as well as some nice photos taken by Mr. Shu Tomioka.

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 We Won’t Forget You

　　　　　　For victims of the 2011 Great Eastern Japan     Earthquake and Tsunami

　　　　Marking the ６^h Anniversary of the disaster

　9:30 – 13:30

　11^th March (Sat) 2017

　　Please come to see the memorial tree

　　　 at St Margaret’s Church

　　　 Westminster Abbey

（Photo taken by Shu Tomioka at 11^th March 2017）

We held a vigil in commemoration of the 2011 disaster on March 11^th. Though the venue, Westminster Abbey, was not open to the general public on that particular day, we had more participants than we expected. At least 500 people attached a cherry blossom, the symbol of our remembrance of the victims of the 2011 disaster, to the Tree of Hope placed at the venue. Many of them also left deeply meaningful messages. The photos shown here were taken by Mr. Tomioka, a wonderful friend of mine.
With many thanks,   （Yuki Johnson）

 

At St. Margaret’s Church

 

— Ms. Yuki Johnson (center), volunteers, secretary of the Consulate, chairperson of the Fukushima Prefecture Association, Rev. Jane, and others

 

— Cherry flowers with names of places where victims lost their lives in the 2011 disaster written on them

 

— The flowers were attached to the illuminated Tree of Hope, together with the participants’ prayers

 

Original Japanese written by Izumi Koshiyama, No Nuke Project

The English below written and arranged by Heeday, based on the original Japanese

The English edited by Rev. Dr. Henry French, ELCA

 

On Thursday, February 23^rd, 2017, the kids of St. Timothy’s Kindergarten, located in Onahama, Fukushima, took a ride on a big bus to visit “Aqua World,” a prefectural aquarium in Ibaraki, Japan. Though their hometown, Onahama, stands on the Pacific coast and has its own aquarium, named Aquamarine Fukushima, it does not have dolphin and seal shows. Aqua World, located in Oarai, Ibaraki, has such shows. This made the kids very excited and happy.

In front of the shark tank, a boy of the kindergarten’s mid-aged class had sparkles in his eyes as he shouted, “Here are sharks!!” He was a lover of sharks, and watched every single move the sharks made with both of his hands on the tank’s glass.

 

Now, at the sea water tank of Okhotsk, the kids found many Paracanthurus hepatus, the fish featured in the Disney movie, “Finding Dory.” They were lost in the movie world. “So many Dories!!!”

 

Until the Ocean Show began, the children savored their lunches together.

 

Now, the long-awaited Ocean Show. The performances of seals and dolphins made the kids go head over heels with excitement. “Hurrah, hurrah!! Yay!!!”

 

 

 

 

Original Japanese written by Izumi Koshiyama, No Nuke Project

The English below written and arranged by Heeday, based on the original Japanese

The English edited by Rev. Dr. Henry French, ELCA

 

On Friday, February 10^th, St. Paul’s Kindergarten had another outing. A large bus took the kids and teachers to “Family Snow Park Bandai x 2,” a park for nature exploration and athletic activities located in the town of Inawashiro, Fukushima.

This Friday was blessed with a fresh snow fall. The kids’ homes are in Koriyama, where it had snowed some before they got on the bus. When they got off the bus at the park, they were surprised by the very heavy snow cover. However, tons of snow could not discourage them from walking to the slope with vigor and joy!

 

“Wow, the slope is almost here!” The kids dashed through the glorious white.

 

Some tried sitting on the snow, while others tried lying down on it, but the snow was so cold some started crying.

 

“This is not sand.” “Wanna make a cake of snow?” Time stopped for them as they played in the snow.

 

“All I see is snow, snow, and more snow; how could there be more snow?”

 

The kids were told to “Use your feet as the brake to stop the snow sled,” but for this kid the brake did not work well, and a teacher down the slope had to catch the kid.

 

Rev. Naoto Iwasa and Ms. Minako Sakihara, a teacher, who came all the way from subtropical Okinawa, joined the snow fun tour to help the teachers. The two were shocked to see how deep the snow cover was. The kids wrote, and gave them, letters of thanks.

Original Japanese written by Izumi Koshiyama, No Nuke Project

The English below written and arranged by Heeday, based on the original Japanese

The English edited by Rev. Dr. Henry French, ELCA

 

On January 31^st, 2017, at “Wakuwaku Hiroba” (“Hustle Square”) at St. Paul’s Kindergarten, the No Nuke Project held “Yoga and Massage for Mothers and Babies,” targeted at one-year-olds. The instructor was Ms. Yoshie Hatakeyama.

First, each mother sat on the floor and held her baby on her lap. As the instructor sang a song, each mother “rocked” her baby, moving forward and then backward, or sometimes standing up with the baby in her arms. Both the mothers and the babies seemed very happy as they relaxed together. Then they enjoyed playing with colorful cloths.

 

Next came the massage. To begin with, the children had a patch test to confirm that the aromatic oil used in the massage (named “almond sweet”) would not cause an allergic reaction. Then, using a doll, the instructor demonstrated how to effectively massage the children’s calves, knees, belly, chest, back, and soles. (The soles were massaged without oil, as applying oil to the feet could result in slipping.)

A belly massage improves digestion, while massaging the chest enables deeper breaths. Such massages are especially effective if done just before going to bed. (If your baby is ticklish, just opening and closing his/her arms is effective too.)

 

To conclude, the mothers listened to Yoshie’s stories, drawn from her own child raising experience, and they asked her questions while they enjoyed herbal tea blended by the instructor. The mothers and their babies all had a very relaxing time.

One thing to keep in mind during winter on the Pacific side of Japan: the atmosphere is very dry. So, it is a good idea to apply a moisturizer to the skin after a shower. This will help prevent skin allergies.

Every childcare story Yoshie told revealed her deep affection for kids, and was very helpful and practical to the mothers.

I, Izumi Koshiyama, experienced child raising many years ago, yet the yoga and massage were a delight to me as well.

Original Japanese written by Izumi Koshiyama, No Nuke Project

The English below written and arranged by Heeday, based on the original Japanese

The English edited by Rev. Dr. Henry French, ELCA

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The little town of Shinchi, Fukushima, was devastated by the gigantic tsunami caused by the seismic catastrophe of March 11^th, 2011. The devastation from the ocean brought serious harm to all the members of St. John’s Church—an Anglican congregation—who were living close to the church. Three of the church’s members were killed. All the other members who survived the catastrophe had no choice but to settle down somewhere else as refugees. How about the church building? It was demolished as a “dangerous building” on February 16^th, 2013.

The Tohoku Diocese, Anglican-Episcopal Church in Japan, launched the “Rebuilding Project of St. John’s Church, Isoyama” and has been striving to rebuild the church over the last five years and nine months. The Diocese bought a new piece of land in Kumano, Shinchi and reopened the church under the name of “St. John’s House of Prayer, Isoyama.”

While the general rebuilding of Tohoku, the hard-hit region of the 2011 seismic disaster, is still in progress, many refugees from the vicinity of Fukushima Daiichi are still living in temporary housing in Shinchi.

At 4pm, Sunday, December 25^th, 2016, the “House of Prayer” celebrated its first Christmas Mass, attended by 31 people. Worshipers included St. John’s own members as well as visitors from Nagoya, Sendai, Aizu, Onahama, and Koriyama. After the Mass, they spent time sharing peace and gratitude for the reopening of the church.

The House of Prayer (with its parking lot behind)

 

Scenes from the Christmas Mass

 

Original Japanese written by Izumi Koshiyama, No Nuke Project

The English below written and arranged by Heeday, based on the original Japanese

The English edited by Rev. Dr. Henry French, ELCA

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The emergency temporary housing at Izumi-Tamatsuyu, located in Iwaki, Fukushima, provides temporary housing to refugees from the little town of Tomioka, whose entire territory is part of the no-go zone. Another hard-hit town, Okuma, is also completely within the off-limits area and its former residents now live in the temporary housing of Watanabe-Hiruno, Fukushima.

The Fukushima Daiichi meltdown forced these people to leave their hometowns more than five and a half years ago. Those refugees have made good friends in their temporary residences, yet one of them told me that separation from such new friends might happen someday. Therefore, said the refugee at a “Comfy Café” held at one of the temporary housing facilities, making the most of the present time is the thing to do. That message still rings in my mind. A “Comfy Café” meets every Friday morning at the temporary housing of Izumi-Tamatsuyu (for Tomioka refugees), and every Thursday and Saturday morning at Watanabe-Hiruno (for Okuma refugees).

 

Scenes from the temporary housing of Izumi-Tamatsuyu, Iwaki, Fukushima (housing for refugees from Tomioka)

Present of potted flowers, and a ∗“potato boiling party”

※ “Potato boiling parties” (known as “imoni” in Tohoku Japanese) are common in the Tohoku region of Japan. At such parties, occasionally held outdoors, people boil potatoes and many other foods, and then eat them together as an act of friendship. Especially during the harsh winter of Tohoku, an indoor “imoni” brings people together around the boiling pots, and they enjoy “warmth” both physically and mentally

For a Wikipedia page explaining the Tohoku custom, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imoni

 

Scenes from the temporary housing of Watanabe-Hiruno, Iwaki, Fukushima (housing for refugees from Okuma)

A scene from a Comfy Café held there

 

※ In Japan, many cook and eat pumpkins on and around the winter solstice, wishing for good health throughout the winter.

Original Japanese written by Izumi Koshiyama, No Nuke Project

The English below written and arranged by Heeday, based on the original Japanese

The English edited by Rev. Dr. Henry French, ELCA

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“Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee” (The Gospel according to Luke 1:28).

This year, once again the kids at St. Paul’s Kindergarten are enjoying a blessed Advent.

^ The Sakura Class (Cherries) (3 years in age or younger): This class is learning the meaning of Christmas and having a good time with friends and the nurses.

^ The Tampopo Class (Dandelions) (Younger kids of regular kindergarten age): They are learning about the birth of Jesus so they can celebrate Christmas with joy.

^ The Momo Class (Peaches) (Medium-aged kids): They are also learning about the birth of Jesus so they too can celebrate Christmas with joy.

^ The Hikari Class (Lights) (Older kids): This class is moved by the birth of Jesus and waiting for His coming with longing.

The Hikari Class is now rehearsing a Christmas pageant. Today, they had their first dress rehearsal.

This is the sixth Christmas after the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown began. The situation of Fukushima’s children has not turned for the better. Still, all the parents and faculty members of the kindergarten are doing their very best, working together to keep the children safe. While, with the passing of time, more and more people are losing their concerns over Fukushima, many people, both in and out of Japan, are still graciously helping us. We are very thankful for it!

We ask for your continued help, so our children can grow up strong and happy.

(Original Japanese written on December 7^th, 2016)

Original Japanese written by Izumi Koshiyama, a new staffer at No Nuke Project

The English below written and arranged by Heeday, based on the original Japanese

The English edited by Rev. Dr. Henry French, ELCA

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On Friday, October 28^th, 2016, the children of St Paul’s Kindergarten visited “Kamega-jo Park,” located on the southern foot of Mt. Bandai, Fukushima. The sky was overcast, and the air was a bit chilly, but the kids were full of energy, taking walks and playing tag. Also, two nurses from Okinawa, who were visiting the kindergarten during the week, had a good time at the park with the kids.

 

Original Japanese written by Izumi Koshiyama, a new staffer at No Nuke Project

The English below written and arranged by Heeday, based on the original Japanese

The English edited by Rev. Dr. Henry French, ELCA

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Under the banner of “Nuclear Power and Human Rights in Fukushima,” the Human Rights Seminar of the Anglican-Episcopal Church in Japan met this year at St. Peter &St. Paul’s Church, Koriyama, Fukushima, from Tuesday, October 4^th, through Thursday, October 6^th. 26 participants gathered there from all Dioceses nationwide. Listening ardently to voices from Fukushima, the participants visited some sites of the damage done by the Fukushima meltdown, and discussed the nuclear power issue with enthusiasm. Thus, they had three days of earnest discussions and prayers, as well as good fellowship.