Temporary accommodation on the outskirts of Minamisanriku

 

The eaves above the entrance door to the assembly place are only some tens of centimeters wide. So when it rains, the wind will blow the rain into the entrance hall.

 

At today's Salon we made decorations for the 'Setsubun' festival (celebrating the last day of winter). The primary school students became teaching assistants in the event, showing the participants how to make origami demon faces.

 

Some of the creations

 

 

We received various goods from the supporters of our Jonet salons.

Since the morning, the large bags of miso paste were divided into smaller portions and 4kg bags for each person were distributed.

 

Vermeer on the Coast

 

Noshibukuro, decorative envelopes used when giving cash gifts, 

which children gave one of the participants

 

The beautiful sweaters made by the knitting ladies

 

This reminded me of a Vermeer painting of a girl.

 

The main event at the salon was how to introduce food, taught while making hotcakes 

 

Manhole cover in Hasama, Tome city.

This area is a stopover place for migratory swans.

 

 

Tributary of Hasama river that flows through the town 

was frozen solid  

 

Today’s Jonet Salon was a session on how to introduce food.
The mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws sat in two separate groups in the narrow assembly hall, with the mother-in-laws carrying on their knitting, not budging an inch.

The daughter-in-laws started chatting about New Year.
They really wanted to tell everyone what they had done.
The woman, who showed everyone the hand-made noshibukuro her daughter had made, talked as if in riddles.
It seems the envelopes weren’t just for putting money in.
She said things like ”Next, please open the fridge...” and finished with “It’s next to the shiny thing, ”then “...and just as I was wondering what shiny thing, I realized it was stuck to Dad’s head! Our Dad and Grandad are both bald!”
They all chatted about their New Year episodes.

Untiringly, they then quickly moved on to how their lives had changed with the disaster.
There were no jobs at sea, so they had worked removing debris and for the first time had experienced what it was like to rest at the weekend.
Some felt like they’d become normal people, while others, who had moved into temporary housing away from their parents, spoke of how they didn’t want to lose that great feeling of being able to wake up when they wanted.
Suddenly, shouts of “Hear, hear!” came from the mother-in-laws!

During the salon, there was some excitement over an ambulance.
A man with bad legs had fallen while out walking.
He was only slightly injured so that was a relief.
The salon continued after this and then came to an end.
We were given hand-knitted hats as we looked freezing cold, and we left after leaving a big pile of wool that had been donated from people all around the country.

Near the temporary housing, the search was continuing for bodies.
I popped into Handa Shoten on my way home in Sanuma, Tome city, which had a stall at the talk place, and bought some miso.

   

Knitting Wool

 

One ball of wool was delivered.

 

“These are the clothes I wore when I was evacuating.”

The Jonet office has been sent a lot of knitting wool, embroidery thread and other handicraft goods from people all over the country. As well as being used for holding salons in various locations, they’ve been sent to temporary accommodation so they can be used freely by individuals who can’t get out and about. In the meeting halls of the temporary accommodations, even people who aren’t very good at handicraft are learning from other people and knitting and embroidering beautifully.

Some people are making urgently-needed winter clothes for themselves or their families, others are making things in response to requests, but everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. We’re also sending out goods made by people who Jonet is supporting.

The other day, we received a letter:

‘My house was washed away in the tsunami on 3.11, and my daughter, her husband and my grandchild, who lived with me, all lost their lives. I blamed myself for not being able to protect them and was crying every day. There were times when I thought of death … I had the sudden urge to have a go at knitting. I’m very happy to receive the knitting wool from you.’

Everyone seems to be valuing their time, all engrossed in their knitting.

 

Everyone's efforts

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Jonet wishes to help each and every person recover again, so we talk to everyone we meet. 

When we met one older woman, who said it would have been better if she’d just died, we told her not to say that, as without the knowledge and opinions of older people to help rebuild the town, it would not be a town worth living in.
We started the Amu-amu-oppi (knit-a-tit) project to shine a light on seniors.
Now the woman, who is at the centre of this project, helps those around her, including the project staff, as well as herself. She is booked up with interviews.

The two sisters from the Chiba nori (dried seaweed) shop decided to restart their business, thinking that “It’s better to run up more debt, than to default on one’s debt.” They are working from early morning to late night, and even on the weekends. They employ local women and have provided land for the Jonet House (trailer house) so local women have a place to do activities, as well as many other small considerations for the people in the town. 

The florist in Onagawa had lost everything, so started again with objects she found (scrap wood that had been washed up). Ideas came to her and she slowly got the shop together and is now adorning the shops around her with flower arrangements. She is someone the town cannot do without. 

We introduced these three to a certain organization offering grants.
Following the judging, three groups were chosen, including Chibanoriya and the Amu-amu-oppi project.
Unfortunately the florist was not included in the judging as she did not attend due to the fact she had problems buying goods on the market, plus she felt she really shouldn’t depend on grant money.

※We will post the photos of the award ceremony when we receive them.

The first Salon of the new year

 

Matcha (green powder) tea. 

Come what may, a cup of tea is always welcome.

 

This notice about graveyards was put up for information at the assembly hall.

In last year's disaster, many graves were swept away and left empty by the tsunami, while the site of other graves can no longer be located.

 

Although it seemed that walking had become hard for her, this lady came to the salon. She took part in the hand massage and in the handicraft class.

 

The women's gatherings are joined by children and men, too.

 

 

Making 'Hawaiian' straps

 

Written by a local lady resident, who describes the everyday lifestyle of the area.

 

Spring is coming! Are these daffodils? 

 

After the salon - two ladies engaged in a friendly chat on a bench outside.

 

Fruits delivered from Ehime

We added them to the Jonet bag. Early fruits that are not yet on the market.

The first salon of the New Year was held in the town of Natori with everyone who came over to help us.

 

On January 1st, 2012

New Year Day, 2012

We received a New Year card, written by a group of ladies who had participated in one of our Jonet salons. They say that official support has been sent to them only very recently. However, they are really strong, we have visited them several times and every time they encourage us.

Speaking of which, there was a call from the Chiba nori shop. The giveaways initially planned to be 20 and later increased to 50 pieces, were all gone by 1.30 pm. “It is because we have the support from everyone from Jonet and people around Japan” were their words of gratitude for the number of clients that exceeded their expectations.

There were relief goods delivered to our office in the morning of the 1^st January. Thank you!

 

Preparation for the New Year Sale

 

The relief goods brought over for the New Year sale.

 

Chiba shop prepared to meet the New Year.

The sisters are busy at the factory, so the shop was on self-service mode.

 

 

Next to the toilet of Omoriya shop.

They need to pay for the disposal.

  

 

Recently renewed ditch covers.

 

 

The big decorated tree standing in the center of the town of Minamisanriku – may some light be brought to the grey ruins

 

The roots of the trees in the area were in decay

 

Using a deserted house (nothing but the roof is left) as a working site for removing oyster shells

 

This is the only way to get some warmth

The shops we support, the Chiba nori shop and the Omoriya shop, decided they were going to have a New Year sale. So we delivered several kinds of goods from the donations received from our supporters, to be used as giveaways to their clients.

These goods will be given to the clients who helped to enhance the shops’ business, as expression of gratitude from the owners of the shops. At Jonet, we also wish to bring a bit of happiness to all the clients of the shops at start of this new year.

Minamisanriku at the end of the year

 

Remnants of railway tracks

 

Junior high school students on their way to school

 

At the bay side arena where the temporary government office building is located

 

This man is processing freshly cropped seaweed.

 

Omoriya shop is reconstructed little by little.

A toilet was installed. As the water supply cannot be used, it is flushed with water from pet bottles. All paper must be disposed to the bin. However, having a toilet is a big relief.

 

By the National Highway No. 45

At the end of the year, we visited the townhall of Minamisanriku.

Inside the town, NTT telephone cable work was going on, but other than that, there weren't any other big changes as Minamisanriku approached the end of 2011. 

   

 

Busy, busy Santa. He makes appearances many times on this day.

Around Christmas and the end of the year, we received many goods for children. When we opened the boxes, inside we found chocolates, stationery, paper napkins and decorations that would be very popular with girls. The boxes were filled with the wishes that they would return to the way of life they had before. 

Santa Claus who had to deliver the presents made 5 or 6 appearances by December 31^st and we received numerous request calls for him.  

 

A bag full of donated wool thread kindly hung on the door of our office.

 

Presents for the children – these ones arrived from abroad.