Building Healthy Communities for Recovery

   AAR Japan visited the former residents of Katsurao Village, Fukushima Prefecture, where the radiation level is significantly high, at Kaiyama Temporary Housing Complex and held a Fragrant Soap Making Class and a Classic Concert.  32 people have participated.

   AAR has been hosting monthly events at various Temporary Housing Complex since May, 2012.  From this experience, we have found that many disaster victims suffer from isolation, insomnia, depression and other hardships.  Aiming to ease their stress and improve their mental health, we have organized this event in which participants could relax themselves with botanical aroma.  Aromatherapy is effective in altering a person’s mind, mood, cognitive function or health from negative to positive.

   Chihiro Itani, an aroma-therapist, lectured ‘Aromatherapy 101’ class and introduced the variety of essential oils and their effects.  It was the first time to appreciate aromatherapy for many of the participants, and they seemed very interested in the lecture.  After the lecture, participants sniffed and compared various scents and chose their favorite to make a fragrant soap with.  “I love this smell!”  “This one smells like shiso leaf.”  “What shape should I make?”  The conversation took lively turn.  To our surprise, there were several male participants actively engaging in the making of soap, which was a rare scene in our usual events.  A male participant who made a heart-shaped soap happily told us that he would give it to his wife as a present.

   There was an Instrumental Trio Concert with trumpet, trombone, and piano following the Soap Making Class.  Familiar songs and famous songs were played, and there were many participants who hummed along with their favorite tunes.

   Three years have passed since the 3.11 the Great East Japan Earthquake, and residents of the temporary housing complex grieve the fact that there are less and less events for them now.  They were afraid that they have been forgotten over time.  We will continue to hold events to support the disaster victims and make sure that no one is left behind. 

   On March 12^th, 2014, AAR Japan and the ladies who live in Kojirahama Temporary Housing Complex in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, prepared red and white rice cakes for the students and teachers of Toni Junior High School. Kamaishi City suffered from catastrophic impact caused by the 3.11 earthquake. The ladies living in the Complex located within 5 minute walk from the school adore these junior high school students as if they were their own grandchildren, and have been wishing to do something for them. Likewise, Toni Junior High School appreciates the relationship with the residents of Kojirahama Temporary Housing Complex and often invites the residents to their school events. 

   To celebrate the graduation of the class 2014, the ladies suggested preparing something heartwarming as a graduation present, so AAR Japan decided on red and white rice cakes, as the combination of red and white is a symbol of auspicious or happy occasion in Japanese culture. As it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare rice cakes with traditional equipment, AAR Japan provided two new rice cake machines to the local community center in Toni district.

   With their practiced hands, the ladies finished preparing rice cakes so much faster than we initially expected. Soft and aromatic with the scent of glutinous rice, their rice cakes came out even better than the ones sold at stores. AAR Japan staff was moved when hearing the participant say “Knowing that this is for the students definitely gives us motivation!”

   In Japan, celebration has been traditionally accompanied by rice cakes. People used to prepare rice cakes with traditional equipment but are more apt to buy them at a store. Having two new rice cake machines, ladies of Kojirahama Temporary Housing Complex are now able to prepare rice cakes whenever they want to. In fact, the ladies were already discussing preparing rice cakes for the celebration ceremony of raising the framework of a public housing complex. 

   We do not know yet when the residents of Kojirahama Temporary Housing Complex will be able to move into new permanent houses. Some of the construction sites are finally fixed, but even on those places general contractors are not yet arranged to start the construction.  The prospect of moving out from the Temporary Housing Complex is still not clear.

   The longer the life continues in Temporary Housing Complex, the more important such social events become for the residents; as it is easy to isolate themselves in the Temporary Housing Complex.    Though the preparing of red and white rice cakes, the ladies of Kojirahama Temporary Housing Complex were able to socialize with each other as well as to build strong relationship with Toni Junior High School.  We sincerely hope that the young and the old of Toni Town continue to unite and move forward together. 

   This activity was made possible by your generous donations. We have purchased two new rice cake machines and some glutinous rice for this activity.