Fukushima music relief: Bandaid! 福島で音楽による応援活動：バンドエイド！

June 29th - July 1st ６月２９日から７月１日まで

On this leg of the “Music Relief” aspect of our relief mission, six of us visited 6 evacuation centers and 2 old folks' homes in the Fukushima area. 救援ミッションを、音楽で応援するために、６人が福島県にある６つの避難センターと２つの老人ホームを訪問させていただきました。

Our band: Mike Marrington, Yoichi Nobuka, Gene Kato, and Florence McNair, and our managers: Takuji and Eiko Tadaura (taking the photo) バンドメンバーです：　マイク・マリングトン、延賀陽一、加藤仁、フローレンス・マックネア。そしてマネージャーの只浦卓二さんと栄子さん。（えいこさんはカメラの後ろにいます。）

Among these places that we visted, was the Fukushima Big Palette in Koriyama. This was our 3^rd visit. We discovered that many of the evacuees have been moved to temporary housing, but still many of our friends were there to hear our show. 訪問した場所のひとつは、郡山市にある「ビッグパレットふくしま」です。ここを訪問するのは３度目です。以前そこにいた多くの人達はすでに仮住宅に引っ越したので、いませんでしたが、私たちがお友達になった人もまだたくさんそこに住んでいて、バンドの演奏を聞いてくださいました。

Also, the JICA headquarters in Nihonmatsu city, where we were welcomed by many of our friends who we met the last time we came. They were happy to hear the new songs that we performed with our full band, and many sang along with the songs that they were familiar with from the CDs that we had left them last time. (Which made us VERY happy!) また二本松市にある「ＪＩＣＡ二本松」も訪問しました。先回訪問した時には、とても歓迎され、多くの方々とお友達になりました。今回、バンドメンバー全員を連れて来て、先回歌わなかった歌を歌ったので喜んでいただきました。また歌った多くの曲は、先回私たちがプレゼントしたＣＤの中に入っていたので、皆さんがＣＤですでに聞いて知っていた歌でした。（皆さんがＣＤを聞いてくださっていたことを知って、とてもうれしかったです！）

We also visited the evacuees at the Koriyama Agricultural Research Center, the Azuma Undou Sougou Kouen, the Aoyama Primary School, and visited for the second time the Koriyama Seishounen Kaikan. 郡山農業研究所、あづま運動総合公園、青山小学校も訪問しました。そして郡山市青少年会館へは今回二度目の訪問となりました。

We were able to bring a special Japanese manga book designed especially for the disaster, donated by the artist, our friend, Jeremy-san. 私達の友人のジェレミーさんはアーティストで、災害の状況のために特別マンガ本を製作したのですが、私たちに寄与してくださったので、それを皆さんにお渡しできました。

We made balloons for the children, and made many new friends. 子供達や新しくお友達になった方達のためにバルーンを作りました。

Once again, our wonderful managers and friends the Tadauras made our stay in their home in Fukushima very comfortable and wonderful. We couldn't have asked for a more fulfilling 3 days! 私たちの素晴らしきマネージャーであり、友人である只浦さんご夫婦が、福島にある彼らの家に滞在させてくれたので、私たちは快適に過ごすことができました。これ以上充実した３日間はなかったと言えるくらいです！

TV spots! TVスポット！

Here are some links to TV news broadcasts that covered the volunteer work by the Fumbaro project and Sakana no Miura in Tohoku. Check them out!

Go to http://ainote.ramdisc.net/bbs_top.html for a full list of the broadcasts so far.

以下は、東北地方における「ふんばろう」プロジェクトと魚の三浦さんによるボランティアワークを取り上げたＴＶニュース放送へのリンクです。見てください！

http://ainote.ramdisc.net/bbs_top.htmlにいくと、今までに放送されたリスト全部を見ることができます。

Below is the Fumbaro project commercial

「ふんばろう」プロジェクトの宣伝

FUNBARE HIGASHI NIHON (June 20th to 23rd)

By Megumi Kitano

"Funbare” is the way the the people in Tohoku say “Gambare.” And Fumbaro Higashi Nihon is the name of this project started by “Sakana no Miura” and his associates. (see earlier post for more details)

「ふんばれ」とは、東北地域では「がんばれ」という意味で使われています。そして「ふんばろう東日本」とは、「魚の三浦さん」と彼の仲間が始めたプロジェクトの名前です。　（さらに詳しい事は前のポストを参照してください。）

It was amazing to see how what started as a personal initiative has grown and spread all over the country and even abroad, as all throughout the day, small boxes, bigger boxes, a whole bunch of boxes and even truckloads would arrive from concerned individuals and companies around the world—from people all wanting to do something to help support the recovery of this area.

一人の人の率先で始まった事が大きくなって、今では全国から、また海外まで広がり、世界中の気遣う個人の方々、また会社から、小さな箱から大きな箱、たくさんの箱、トラック一杯の荷が一日中届いてきます。皆、この地域の復興を支援するために何かすることを望んでいる人達です。

This trip, we had received 160 boxes of aid via Mr. & Mrs. Shimonaka (who are based out of Tamba City southern Japan) and their network of associates. Thank you so much for providing this. We were able to rent a truck to take up everything, as well as 10 volunteers all from Saitama and Chiba Prefectures—Noda, Shirai, Tateyama and Matsubushi.

Here are pics of the donated tent that we all camped out in.

このトリップで、私たちは（兵庫県丹波市に住む）下中夫妻とその知人の方達からなるネットワークを通じて160箱の支援物資を受け取りました。送ってくださってありがとうございます。全部運べるようにトラックを借り、また埼玉県や千葉県―野田市、白井市、館山市、松伏町から来た１０人のボランティアを連れて東北を訪問しました。

寄贈されたテントです。私たちはこの中で寝泊まりしました。

We helped to divide and sort the content of the boxes, so that it could easily be taken per family and took it to evacuation centers and temporary housing units.

Everyone from this evacuation center said they would be moving to a nearby housing unit the following day. There will continue to be needs once they move though, such as laundry soap, hangers, umbrellas (going into rain season) food seasoning, cutlery, dishware, and other basic housing necessities.

避難所や仮住居のために一家族分ごとに持っていけるように、送られて来た箱の中の物資を分類しました。

この避難センターにいる人達は、皆、次の日に近くの仮住居に引っ越すと言っていました。でもいったんそのような住宅に移ると、洗濯洗剤、ハンガー、傘（梅雨に入るので）、調味料、食器類、その他の生活必需品などが必要になってきます。

This is still the background view of many of the temporary housing units. A large part of the rubble has been cleared, but due to the scale of it, there's also lots that hasn't been touched yet, so it remains.

多くの仮住居ユニットが後ろに見えます。瓦礫の主要な部分は片付けられていますが、被害のスケールが大きかったので、まだ片付けられていない所はたくさんあります。

This trip Kato Aiki and Isamu Tanaka also drove up from Tateyama to help build a roof, as the makeshift tarp was beginning to need some improvement.

このトリップで、加藤アイキさんと田中勇さんが館山市から車で来てくれました。そして一時しのぎの防水シートが古くなってきたので、屋根を作ってくれました。

The local fisherman started bringing their fish to Mr. Miura, and the simple beginnings of rebuilding his fish outlet has begun.

Cutting, gutting, cleaning, filleting and packaging the fish for customers that love it.

地元の漁師の方が三浦さんに魚を持って来てくれたので、三浦さんの簡素な魚小売店の再開しました。

魚が好きなお客さんのために魚を切ってさばき、包装しました。

Lots of thanks to the many many people who were involved in so many ways to make this work possible. Every little bit makes a difference.

Special thanks to those who drove long hours tirelessly to get to Tohoku and back, as well as those who lent the use of their vehicles, man power, skill, and also those who gave financial support for the gasoline and tolls or to buy things that are most urgently needed.

いろいろな面で関わって、この仕事を可能にしてくださった非常に多くの人に心からのお礼を言いたいです。ありがとうございました。少しの助けでも東北地方に影響をもたらします。

また東北と関東地域を往復して、長時間辛抱強く車を運転してくださった方達、そのための車を貸してくださった方達、提供してくださった労力、スキル、またガソリン代や高速代や一番必要とされている物を購入するために出資してくださった方達にも、心からお礼を述べます。ありがとうございました。

More Trips to Minamisanriku-cho (May 31st – June 3rd, June 6th – 10th)

再び南三陸町へ（5月31日から6月3日までの訪問と6月6日から6月10日までの訪問）

Thanks to the combined efforts of A LOT of individuals, we have been able to coordinate the delivery of more supplies, and bring volunteers up north to help with the sorting and distribution.

多くの方々の協力に感謝します。そのおかげで、私たちは、さらに多くの生活必需品を届け、分類分けや仕分けを手伝ってくるボランティアの人達を送ったりすることができました。

May 31st – June 3rd　5月31日から6月3日までの訪問

The Kuriowa family collected more supplies from their neighbors and friends, and Avery Sakamoto and his sister Mari drove a truck all the way from Nagano prefecture to help us get it all to Minamisanriku-cho, along with supplies we collected in Noda.

黒岩さん家族は、再び友人や近所の方々から生活必需品を集めてくれました。坂本エィブリーさんと妹のマリさんが長野県からトラックで来てくれ、そのすべての物資とまた野田市で集まった物資を載せて南三陸町まで行ってくれました。

Everyone went up to help with the delivery. Arai san, Kaoru Ogihara, and Jamie Kuroiwa were able to stay longer. Supplies are constantly coming in from all over the country, and the sorting and delivery is a huge job. They were caught on film by a TV crew who were there at the time. Footage coming soon!

多くの人が配達の手伝いを助けにかけつけてくれました。新井さん、荻原かおる、黒岩ジェイミーは、他の人よりも長く滞在しました。物資は、日本中から絶え間なく届いていて、仕分けや配達は非常に大きな仕事です。そこにテレビの取材班がいたので、作業中の場面を撮られました。その映像をもうすぐお見せします！

A BIG THANK YOU to the Kanno family in Sayama-shi, Saitama, who financed the last trip on May 18th – 21st, and part of this trip as well.

埼玉県狭山市に住むカンノウ家族が、5月18日から21日の訪問のために出資してくださったので、心からのお礼を述べます。ありがとうございました。

June 6th – 10th　6月6日から6月10日までの訪問

We did another collection of relief supplies at Noda on June 5th, and after sorting the goods, we loaded up and were off with a team of 11 in three vehicles. Kato Aiki drove a truck up from Tateyama to help us get the stuff up there. First stop was at the Matsudo Market where our friend Mr. Kasai again donated dozens of boxes of fresh vegetables.

6月5日、野田市で再び救済物資を収集しました。物資の仕分け後、3台の車に物資を載せ、11人からなるチームも乗りました。館山市から加藤合気さんがトラックで来て荷の運搬を助けてくれました。最初に立ち寄った場所は松戸市場です。そこで、再び友人のカサイさんが何ダースもの箱に入った新鮮な野菜を寄付してくださいました。

Then for some drama: the gas station attendant noticed a problem with the back tires on the truck. The mechanic checked and recommended not taking this truck on any long trips…yikes. But shoganai, (Japanese for “oh well…”) all we could do was pray and drive REALLY slowly, as it was too late to back out now.

All was well in the end, as everyone arrived safely that night to a warm welcome by our friends there.

それからちょっとしたハプニングがありました。ガソリンスタンドの店員さんが、トラックの後ろのタイヤの問題に気づきました。整備工の人が点検し、このトラックを長い旅には使わないことを提案しました…困ったな。でも仕方ありません。後戻りするには遅すぎたので、ただ祈り、非常にゆっくりと運転しました。

結局は問題なく全員、安全に夜到着することができ、友人の方達に温かく迎えられました。

Sorting supplies into packages

品物を分類して、パックします。

Another truck to unload

またトラックが到着し、荷をおろします。

The mighty Olivier Vaivrand

(sorry, the time setting is off on some of these photos)

強いオリバー・バイブランドさん。（時間が間違っている写真がありますね。ごめんなさい。）

K-trucks that we used for delivery

私たちが配達に使ったＫトラック

at a shelter in Tome city for evacuees from Minamisanriku-cho

南三陸町の避難者を受け入れる登米市の避難所

Here is our whole team, along with Miura san, and some other volunteers

三浦さんや他のボランティの方達と一緒の、私たちのチーム

Delivering supplies at temporary housing units

仮住宅に物資を届ける

A BIG THANK YOU to the TFI members both in Japan and around the world whose donations financed this trip. We couldn’t do anything without your support and prayers. Thank you so much!

このトリップのため出資してくださった、日本国内の、また他の国のＴＦＩメンバーに感謝します。皆さんのサポートと祈りがなかったなら、何もできなかったことでしょう。ありがとうございます！

Megumi Kitano and Sakana no Miura san

北野恵さんと魚の三浦さん

About Ainote volunteer network

We had formed a simple volunteer network with some friends last year called Ainote (literally “love’s hands”…but it doesn’t sound quite so cheesy in Japanese) with the goal of helping ordinary people to be able to help others in some way through coordinating overseas trips to developing countries, etc. (see website ainote.jp.fm) When the earthquake and tsunami hit, we were able to use the network to begin coordinating help for the Tohoku disaster victims. If you would like to be involved, either personally or by supporting in some way, please contact us at tohokumission@gmail.com.

愛の手ボランティア・ネットワークについて

「愛の手」という友人たちからなるシンプルなネットワークを形成しました。発展途上国へのトリップなどをコーディネートすることによって、普通の人が何かの面で他の人の力になるのをお手伝いすることが、ゴールです。（ainote.jp.fm　というウェブサイトを見てください。）地震と津波が起こった時、このネットワークを使って東北津波被災者の方達を支援するコーディネートを行なうことができました。直接にか、また何かの面でサポートすることで関わることをご希望されるなら、どうかtohokumission@gmail.comに連絡してください。

Bringing Food and Aid to Minamisanriku (Again!)

(By Gene)

An associate of ours, Shimonaka, from Tamba city in southern Japan contacted us about a friend of his living near us who had 500 kgs of rice, along with other food items that he wanted to donate to the tsunami victims. We were able to pick up all the supplies, thanks to our friends Sean and Akira who came in their van to help us get it all to Noda. Thanks guys. Kasai san, a friend who works at the Matsudo Produce Market also donated a carload of fresh vegetables for us to take to Minami Sanrikucho in Miyagi Ken.

On the evening of May 18th, we loaded the supplies and drove through the night (thank you Arai san) to Minami Sanrikucho. Mr. Shimonaka and his son Daiki had gone on ahead of us with half of the supplies in their car. We spent the next three days there with Miura san, along with other volunteers who had come to help. We sorted the supplies that we had brought, along with other stuff that arrived every day by mail, and delivered it to some of the more than 40 locations that Miura san has been supporting regularly.

At this point, most of the immediate physical needs of the evacuees still in government sponsored evacuation centers are being covered by the government. Just prior to our trip, the Miyagi prefectural government announced that they were no longer requesting donations of supplies from private individuals, as they already had more than they needed. However, while this may be true in some cities, the situation on the ground in Minami Sanrikucho was a very different story. In most cases, only those who are still living in the evacuation centers are receiving relief aid from the government. Evacuees who want to move into government built temporary housing will in most cases no longer be eligible to receive supplies, meaning they have to buy all of their needs themselves. Because of this, many of the victims are unable to move into temporary housing even if they do win the housing lottery, as their jobs and livelihoods were wiped out in the disaster leaving them unable to support themselves. In Minami Sanrikucho, nearly 90% of the town was destroyed in the tsunami, so there are virtually no shops left to buy basic necessities. With thousands of vehicles destroyed, many of the victims have no way to get out of town to shop, even if they have the needed money. Basic utilities have yet to be reconnected in most areas, and even when the water network is back on, it is estimated it will take months for the water be drinkable, as the water table was polluted by the tsunami. There are also many people in the surrounding villages whose houses were not completely destroyed, but the first floor was ruined, leaving them without cooking or cleaning supplies and basic household goods, and no income. It is to these people that our friend “Sakana no Miura” (literally, Miura the fish man) has been delivering supplies that have been sent to him from concerned individuals all over the country. He has been in the news quite a few times since, and what was once just his personal initiative has grown considerably as more and more people heard about what he was accomplishing. We were put in touch with him through one of our friends in Saitama, and this was the second trip that we made to deliver supplies through Miura San’s network. We will be making another trip from May 31st, and hopefully again from June 6th and June 20th.

Distributing

Sorting rice.

The vegetables that we brought.

This is Enoki Takaaki, who is an actor and a very nice guy. He came to help out for a couple days along with some of his associates.