March 10th, The Interaction with Staff from Tohoku Support Project, Koudoukan, Hiroshima University of Economics

Hi! I'm Suzuki from HARU.

The entrance examination result of Tohoku University was announced the other day. I could see many new students and their parents in Kawauchi Campus.
I’m looking forward to working with them :)

On March 10th, we interacted with the students who are members of Tohoku Support Project, Koudoukan, Hiroshima University of Economics.

After each group introduction, the workshop was conducted to discuss our activity goals and challenges.

We heard that the members in Tohoku Support Project, Koudoukan, Hiroshima University of Economics are taking actions to make the most of what they’ve leaned through their practical actions in Tohoku areas, such that they hold photo exhibitions and tell it to elementary school students. They really stimulated us, the same group whose purpose is to support Tohoku areas as Tohoku Support Project, in that their actions are going toward the purposes: making people smile, keeping the memory of the devastating disaster from fading, and valuing life.

We had the tragic experience eight years ago today. We would like to work even harder, without forgetting that day. To activate the areas where we have a privilege to do activities, we will aim to bring happiness for them.

February 18th, HARU Daccha in Kadonowaki-West Public Restoration Housing in Ishinomaki City

Hi! I’m Hashimoto in the first grade from HARU.

We visited the assembly hall in Kadonowaki-West Public Restoration Housing and Ishinomaki Newsee in Ishinomaki city.

In the public restoration housing, we conducted foot bath massage and postcard making.
We prepared a few wash tubs with hot water mixed with ginger (see the following picture), and had participants work their one foot at a time into the tub, doing massage to their hands and arms. We could have a relaxing and good time of talking about food and memories in their local area. We’re sure that they spent a shot amount of time feeling relaxed.

In the postcard making time, we tried colored pencil drawing and papercut art on the back of postcard, following the theme “spring.” There were various kinds of work, such as the papercut art based on painted cherry blossoms, and the drawing of skewered dumplings with the proverb “dumplings rather than flowers.” I can’t wait for spring.

In Ishinomaki Newsee, we looked at the pictures taken right after the earthquake in Ishinomaki city and wall newspapers put in safe shelters. The wall newspapers were handwritten by reporters. One reporter told us stories and lessons: information which citizens wanted and actions which presses took, including the road conditions and administrative actions. It gave us pain to get to know the confusing situation. But, we felt warmth in the letters through which Hibi-Shinbunsya showed their best for providing information to citizens.

We would like to understand deeper Ishinomaki, continuing to interact with the citizens in Kadonowaki-West Housing.

August 5th, the festival ’Natsu no Asobi-tai’

Hello, I’m Akiko from HARU.
We took part in the festival ‘Natsu no Asobi-Tai’ which everyone can enjoy together in Yamamoto town.

This time, we got an opportunity to set up a booth:)
The contents were scientific experiments of dilatancy phenomenon and underwater soap bubbles, alsomitra (folding an origami and flying it) and make dancing paper cups.

Many children came to our booth and had fun.

The most favorite content for them was the scientific experiment of dilatancy phenomenon. Some of them touched material objects screaming and others played them for a long time.

Many people from children to adults joined this festival and had a great time with them!
Other booths had contents such as dish-spinning trick, quoits, origami, and selling rhinoceros beetles.

In the evening, the event ‘Otona no Asobi-tai’ started and Yamamoto town was full of people because of the outdoor live performance.
I thought festivals are a really good event because everyone can enjoy them.

The summer festival will be held on 11th August in Yamamoto town and HARU is also going to help it. Look forward!

July 29th, the Care of Pine Covered Areas (Weeding work)

Hi, I’m Soma from HARU.

We weeded pine covered areas in Yamamoto town, where we did the same activity this June.
Unfortunately, it was rainy. Thanks to that weather, however, it was easier to weed.

After that, we visited Tera café (the Free-Coffee at the Fumon-temple) and ate a piece of banana-tart. It was delicious as always!

We had a fulfilling time, talking with volunteers.

Finally, the people with whom we weeded today guided us to Yamamoto town.
We appreciated it. Please contact HARU if you would like to know Yamamoto town in detail :)

We are looking for new members! Please contact us anytime.

July 9th, Cooking 'Hiyashi Chuka' and Making 'origami' ornaments for 'Tanabata'

Hello. This is Keita from HARU.

I will report on the activity at Ohashi contemporary housing units in Ishinomaki city.

During the morning, the inhabitants and we cooked cooperately 'Hiyashi Chuka'.

'Hiyashi Chuka' is a famous Japanese dish with chilled ramen noodles and verious toppings; hams, crab sticks, thin omelette cut into strips, cucumbers, seaweeds, etc. You can place whatever you want on the noodles !

A lot of ingredients made 'Hiyashi Chuka' more delicious :-)))

'Hiyashi Chuka' is perfect for summer season !

We made 'origami' ornaments for 'Tanabata' in the afternoon.

'Origami' is a traditional Japanese art: folding a sheet of square paper into various objects.

'Tanabata', which is also called Star Festival, is a Japanese culture based on a legend of two stars, Orihime (Vegas) and Hikoboshi(Altair).

On July 7th of every year, people write their wishes on paper strips and hang them on bamboo leaves.

Everyone was making well designed works !

After finishing making them, we unified each work and hung it on the wall of the assembly hall. So wonderful :,-)

As a result of advertising this event to inhabitants living in public restoration housing in Kadonowaki area and Nozomi area as well as in Ohashi area, 19 people in total joined our event.

Thank you !