Donate and Volunteer to Help Japan Rebuild!
Natori-Gazebo1.jpgYuriage Dristrict in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture is one of the most severely affected areas in Tohoku. More than 700 lives were lost from the district and houses and buildings were washed away or damaged by tsunami. Now almost all debris were cleared and people were scattered to start new lives. However, many people are coming back to Hiyoriyama, a small hill that used to have a shrine with a view of the whole Yuriage to offer prayers to those who were lost.
Although the visitors keep coming even on the weekdays, there is no place to take seat and make prayers in peace. Even if they wanted to stay, they could do was to stand in the drafty environment. The City of Natori started the discussion with the locals and they decided to make this place a space of memorial and interaction. Consulted by the City of Natori, Habitat Japan started building a gazebo and some benches and tables this October.
　　　　
Natori-Gazebo2.jpgOn October 14, Habitat's volunteers built four benches. A volunteer said, "I was surprised to see how many people kept visiting this place. I think it is very useful and also meaningful to build a gazebo here." A week after on October 21, those benches were used at the festival of the shrine. The visitors not only made prayers for those who were lost but also shared the joy of reunion at Yuriage. They enjoyed talking with their old friends sitting on newly built benches.
　
Hiyoriyama is now a symbol of disaster recovery. Habitat Japan aims to complete the gazebo, benches and tables by the end of this year and continue to work to create this new memorial spot for the locals to pray in peace.
　
◆ Back Number
2012.11.12　Iwate : Housing Consultation on the Local Paper
2012.10.15　Miyagi : Renovation of a New Community Center
2012.10.14　Iwate : Storage and Steps at Temporary Shelter
2012.10.13　Miyagi : Building Storage at Temporary Shelter
2012.10.10　Miyagi : House Rehabilitation Continues On　
2012.10.09　Iwate : 95 House Repairs Completed
2012.09.22　Miyagi : Building Sheds for Fishermen (2)
2012.09.20　Iwate : House Rebuilding Consultations
2012.09.19　Iwate : Building Storage Units at Temporary Shelter
2012.07.31　Iwate : Building a Storage for Shopping Street
2012.07.27　Miyagi : Building Sheds for Fishermen
2012.07.13　Miyagi : Rehabilitating the Community Center (4)
2012.07.06　Iwate : Home Partner Story (2)
2012.06.07　Miyagi : Rehabilitating the Community Center (3)
2012.06.05　Iwate : Homeowner Story (1)
2012.05.29　Miyagi : Rebuiding a Home with Volunteers
2012.05.10　Miyagi : Rehabilitating the Community Center (2)
2012.05.07　Iwate : Storage Cabinets for Community
2012.04.26　Iwate : Habitat Japan featured on Tokaishimpo
2012.04.20　Miyagi : Rehabilitating the Community Center (1)
2012.03.22　Iwate : Flyer Distribution on its 2nd Stage
2012.03.13　Iwate : Program Flyers to 600 Families
2012.03.12　Iwate : Habitat Japan on Chinese National TV
2012.03.11　Rebuilding Japan Program Goes On
2012.02.24　Miyagi : Building a Gazebo for Community
2012.02.22　Miyagi : Painting Pictures of Hopes
2012.02.11　Miyagi : Volunteers are Back on Sites
2012.01.13　Miyagi : Winter Items for 1,338 Families
2012.01.11　10 Months after the Disaster
2011.12.23　Miyagi : Distribution of 2,400 Hot Carpets
2011.11.17　Habitat Staff Featured in Ofunato Newsletter
2011.11.05　Distributing 278 Futon Sets in Onagawa
2011.10.22　Support for Fishery Industry
2011.10.21　Campus Chapters Raising Funds for Tohoku
2011.10.20　Corporate Volunteer Teams
2011.10.12　Futon for the Disaster Survivors
2011.09.12　KLA-Tencor Donates over 3.7m yen
2011.09.12　First Volunteer Team in Ishinomaki
2011.08.14　Quarterly Report (Apr to Jun, 2011)
2011.06.30　Standard Chartered Raises over 32m yen
2011.06.30　Volunteer Recruitment Started! (July departure)
2011.06.13　Oakwood Tokyo Lends Support to 'Rebuilding Japan' Program
2011.06.07　Volunteer Stories
2011.06.06　Homeowner Story
2011.06.06　Reports from the Volunteers （June 4-5）
2011.05.20　Volunteer Recruitment Started!
2011.05.14　Disaster Response Team Started
2011.05.03　First Volunteer Team Finished Its Work
2011.05.02　"I Never Imagined that I Would Smile Again"
2011.05.01　What Habitat Volunteers Bring to the Victims
2011.04.30　Children Return to a Cleaned Gym
2011.04.29　Volunteers Taking Action in Tohoku
2011.04.28　First Volunteer Team Heads Out to Tohoku
2011.04.19　Toiletries Delivered to Ofunato city, Iwate
2011.04.13　Toiletries Delivered to Soma city, Fukushima
2011.04.10　Thousands Support HFH's Response in Earthquake-Hit Japan
2011.04.04　Campus Chapters Fundraise for Rebuilding Japan
2010.03.31　Donation from APP Japan
2011.03.14　Donate to Help Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Victim