Showing visitors around

I do a broad range of activities at Miyagi Jo-Net as I wanted to help as many people who were affected by the disaster as possible.

People from all around Japan contact us saying they want to do something to help or send aid. If you feel this way, I invite you to come to our salon.

I ask this because I want you to see the disaster area with your own eyes.

The sludge under your feet, the smell, the vinyl tape and pieces of cloth caught here and there blowing in the wind.

Iron structures have been bent and twisted as if made of jelly.

When you stand there, it is as if you can almost hear the screams of the people. Then, when you return home, I would like you to tell everyone in your own words what you saw and felt.

Most importantly though, by coming all the way here from so far away you are cheering up the people in the disaster area.

Because the railway tracks have been swept away, the train station has disappeared and there is no platform, to someone like me coming from outside it makes the disaster seem less than it is. 

Now that the debris in the area has been cleared, it seems like there was not really that much damage.

So I invite you to our salon meetings or to show you around the disaster area.

Apart from receiving your support, talking with the people in the disaster area is sure to make this a special town.

Whenever you hear good news from the disaster area you might think about visiting again. Be sure to do so. It will lead to more support.　　

mon.jonet

Ishinomaki fish market

 

Tome’s shopping area
To the left of 77 Bank is the remains of the shop Handa (behind the green fence) The factory and shop were damaged in the earthquake
It has become a vacant plot of land

 

 

Inside the shop Omoriya in Minamisanriku
There is still no electricity so they chill the bottles with ice 

 

Members of the volunteer tour arrive in Minamisanriku
They have come prepared as they will go straight to work after registering at the volunteer centre 

 

Lots of goods ready to be used in volunteer activities 

 

Shizugawa hospital in Minamisanriku
Volunteers are throwing debris down from the first floor  

 

View from the window of Hotel Kanyo in Minamisanriku

 

 

Tanabata star festival decorations and wishes in the lobby

 

 

The shop “Chiba” in the temporary housing

There are only 2 rooms and one is filled up with products

Some of us had to sit in the kitchen while we spoke with the Chiba family. 

 

 

The cemetery next to Kadonowaki Elementary School in Ishinomaki. The gravestones are burnt and still scattered around.
A car that was washed up on a grave was cleared away, but... 

 

the remains from the grave had been removed too.