引き続き、那智勝浦町で活動しているOPEN JAPANメンバーからの報告です。

台風4号が接近している那智勝浦町では、土砂災害等の危険があるため避難が進められています。

避難されている方にお話を伺う中で、脚の手術をされた方がいらっしゃいました。
普段はベッドでの生活だが、避難所では毛布一枚で長時間過ごさなければならず、身体的につらいとのことでした。

昨年からの度重なる避難に疲れていて、かたくなに避難しようとしない人もおり、避難所の快適さが今求められています。寝袋やキャンプマット、簡易ベッドなどがあると便利だと思われます。改善できることはたくさんあるようです。

また、避難所の体育館の椅子一つを出すのにも、行政の許可をもらう手続きに時間がかかってしまうといった現状があります。

緊急時でもなるべく速やかに快適な環境を作り出せるといいですね。

(報告 by ひーさん)

台風４号が日本に接近しています。

昨年9月の台風12号で大きな被害を受けた那智勝浦町では、OPEN JAPANのメンバーの多くが現地入りして、復旧や避難の支援活動を行って来ました。

今回の台風で、再び土砂災害などの恐れがあるため、メンバーが現地に入って昨日の夜18:30から区長さん、自主防災の方々と避難についての打ち合わせをしました。

また、岐阜からもボランティアが駆けつけ、自力で避難するのが困難な方々を車でお送りする支援活動を行なっています。

台風4号は今晩にも紀伊半島に上陸すると予想されています。

今後も現地の動きなどを逐次報告していきます。

(報告 by ひーさん)

朝日夕刊の9面に載りました。
大きなカラー写真付きで、石巻から支援に駆けつけた様子が紹介されています。

（このページはオープンジャパンの活動報告ブログですが、オープンジャパンだけでなく他、石巻で一緒に活動をしている仲間の活動も含め、まとめて報告させて頂いている事をご了承ください。）

明神社お祭りの国際的ブログ、その２はJillianに書いてもらいます！
カリフォルニアから来たJillian、とても明るく積極的に活動してくれました。

Volunteers (many college students) outside the Car Sharing office.

During the first part of my volunteer time with Open Japan, I helped with a project called “Japan Car Sharing Association.” Tsunami survivors can share cars donated by various people and companies. One woman told us how she had just gone shopping and was driving in her car when the tsunami struck. Fortunately, her car was stopped by some electrical poles, so she was able to survive. Now, she says her shared car helps her get to the hospital–before, her taxi bills were more expensive than her hospital bills.

Yukari helps prepare stickers for the Car Sharing cars.

For the second part of my time with One Japan, I helped with a project called “Sanraisu” / “Sunrise”. This project delivers donated, 3 kg bags of rice to senior citizens living alone in temporary housing. While the rice is a great gift, one of the main parts of this project is to check in with the elderly and make sure they are alright–that they can get around, that they can be involved with the community. Many of them are very grateful for an ear to listen to them. Even though I lacked the Japanese vocabulary to have a meaningful conversation, I think they were encouraged that people from not only all over Japan, but from all over the world, care about the people of Japan. (Picture–Haruka with a temporary housing resident).

Live painting

For my third project, I helped prepare a shrine for Children’s Day. The first day we cleaned up, and the second day we helped with the festival. Many events, such as live painting, taiko performances, and children’s games made it an exciting time. There was also a lot of donated food and drink, such a tuna sashimi and amazake (a sweet, non-alcoholic sake) that made it a delicious, as well as fun, day.

Some boys play a game where pine cones are thrown into different baskets for points.

Kids are invited up to try taiko playing.

The littlest taiko player.

Yukako shows off the prizes for the children’s games.

Taiko drummers giving a dedicated performance.
Banners flown during the taiko performance.
Some festival guests –including Open Japan volunteers, such as Kin from Hong Kong, are given the chance to try taiko as well.

Ishinkomaki citizens and Open Japan volunteers help carry the portable shrine around the temple and neighborhood.

Time to clean up!

My broom dance.

Yukako cleans up as well.

Cleaning up the shrine before the temple. A rainstorm the day before had left a lot of debris around the place; to say nothing about broken glass, wood, and stones left over from the tsunami.

Following Friday’s shrine clean-up, we had a BBQ where local Ishinomaki natives joined us for drinks and food. I was touched by the people’s generosity, as well as the stories they shared. This gentleman told us about the shrine’s connection to sumo wrestling, as well as his personal experiences following the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami.　(Jillian)

5月5日こどもの日、渡波地区大宮町の明神社で例大祭が行われました！

津波で大きな被害を受けた大宮町の中、松の木が瓦礫を受け止めたことで奇跡的に助かった御社には200人を超える方々が避難しました。コミュニティの中心として再建を目指す宮司さんとひーさんの運命的な出会いがきっかけで、ボランティアが境内の片付けを手伝うようになりました。昨年の5月5日には、まだまだ周囲に瓦礫の山が残る中、延べ700人を超える片付けと準備作業の甲斐あって、「まつりで復活！石巻！！」と題して例大祭を開催することができました。その後も、神社では炊き出しや青空カフェ、縁日を開催するなど、大宮地区のコミュニティ復活に向けて中心的な役割を果たしてきました。

昨年のまつりに参加した石巻の方々や、まつり作りに関わったボランティアが、今年も石巻に集いました。

さて、今日は国際色豊かにお送りしようと思います！

まずは香港から来てくれたKINに書いてもらいました。

I have been travelling two years, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia… In this two years, I awaly think about what is the purposes of travel, for taking photo? food or shopping? Now, I am travelling in Japan. I never try a trip like this time. In my original plan, I will go Osaka, Kyoto, Ngayo, Sapporo and Tokyo, but I changed my plan and cancelled the trip to Kyoto, then come to Ishinomaki to join open Japan for 6 days.

Yes, I can’t go to kyoto, but in these days, joining the cleaning of the temple and the sunrice event, preparing 端午節event. I learn the Japanese culture. I think Japanese people is closed to each other like a big big big famly. People who is living in other town spent time to do volunteer during the relaxing holiday.

I am very happy to join volunteer in Open Japan. One year ago, I went to Chrischruch (a city in New Zealand was destoryed by earthquake) to look the how terrible of the earthquake. Now, I come to Ishinomaki. This time, not only walking around and taking photo, I can give a hand to Ishinomaki.

Finally, yes, I can’t spreak in Japanese, and I don’t understand Japanese language, but I can feel. I learn a word “絆” in this volunteer plan. I get a lot. I think this what I want during travelling.

Raining day in the sunrice event

Everyone preparing the food for 端午節event

I am happy to join this event (KIN)

その２はJillianに書いてもらいます！