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【JPN Relief-80】 Building a tree house at castle ruins
Donate and Volunteer to Help Japan Rebuild!
Habitat for Humanity Japan (HFHJ) is supporting people living in temporally shelters in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, one the areas severely affected by the 2011 earthquake and Tsunami. In addition to assisting repairs of the damaged houses, HFHJ also supports revitalization of the affected communities. In Goishi area, the HFHJ volunteers are working with the local residents to clean the ruins of Matsusaki castle.
The Matsusaki Castle was built in the early Edo period in this area. The site of the castle still shows evidence of the structural remnants, such as the moat and mounds of the castle. As this land is a private property and located in a remote area, the existence of the ruins has not been widely known even in the local community.
The Town Rebuilding Committee of Goishi came up with an idea to use this forgotten castle ruins as a symbol of rehabilitation and recovery of the area and planned to build a tree house there to attract attention. The committee is hopeful that the local resident, especially children, will learn more on their local history, and through that experience, they will be proud of their hometown.
HFHJ supports the community by sending volunteers to clean up the area and build the tree house together with the local residents. Heavy rains and typhoons in the fall delayed the progress of the project, but the volunteers and the local people have been working hard to complete the tree house. To enhance its local character, all timbers used for the tree house are locally produced and processed.
"When we looked up at the tree behind the stone monument, and dreamed of a tree house on that tree, we shared our ideas with HFHJ" said Mr. Muneo Oikawa, a member of the committee, with a big smile. "Then HFHJ gave us help!"
The tree house project has become a symbol of hope among the local residents.
◆Back Number
2013.11.11 Repair work of Kawakudari Community Centre Completed
2013.10.21 Installation of solar system completed
2013.10.11 More than 30 houses repaired in Miyagi
2013.09.19 Home Partner Story (4)
2013.09.02 Home Repair Project in the UN report
2013.08.22 Installed Solar Panels at Community Centers
2013.08.15 Solar Project is up on National Geographic
2013.07.18 Home Partner Story (3)
2013.05.31 Installed first panel in solar power project
2013.05.09 YouthBUILD : Japan Team Volunteered for Disaster Relief
2013.04.09 Miyagi : Completion of A Community Center
2013.03.18 Miyagi : House Repairs in Higashimatsushima
2013.03.08 Rebuilding Homes, Communities and Hope
2013.01.31 Iwate : Building Shed for Fishermen (3)
2013.01.08 Iwate : Housing Consultations Continue
