East-Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Work ? Summary Digest (June 2, 2011) 

Shigeru Shimada 

General Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs of Japan 

  The following communities damaged severely and the strongholds have been already fixed. 

   1 Iwate Prefecture: Miyako City (activities by Morioka YMCA) 

   2 Miyagi Prefecture: Sendai City (activities by Sendai YMCA)  

A. Sendai city's coastal areas, B. Natori City, C. Watari City, D. Yamamoto Town, D. Shiogama City and Shichigahama Town, E. Higashi-matsushima City, F. Ishinomaki City (where Tokyo YMCA is supporting),  G. Minami-sanriku Town 

     

The following strongholds are now in preparation. 

   1 Fukushima Prefecture: No YMCA in the prefecture. 

Tochigi YMCA which locates south of Fukushima is planning to find a place to set a base. 

   2 Ibaraki Prefecture: Ibaraki YMCA which locates in Tsukuba City, southern Ibaraki, is considering opening a stronghold in northern part. 

   

Morioka: Hearing needs, offering supplies, support  at evacuation centers, setting up a Volunteer Center, and 

tidying and cleaning houses. 

Sendai: Offering a place for victims to stay, hearing needs, offering supplies, tidying and cleaning houses, 

support at evacuation centers, support at city hall's volunteer center, and offering physical activities for 

affected kids. 

Tochigi: Offering a place for victims to stay, support at evacuation centers in Utsunomiya city, collecting and 

offering supplies, support at evacuation centers, relief work at Asian Rural Institute, and support Sendai 

YMCA volunteer Center. 

Ibaraki: Support at evacuation centers (managing and offering physical activities for affected kids). 

Tokyo: Support at evacuation centers together with Ibaraki YMCA 

Yokohama: Support at Miyako Volunteer Center cooperated with Morioka YMCA, support at Sendai YMCA 

Volunteer Center with Sendai YMCA, and operating shuttle bus service for volunteers between 

Kanagawa (south of Tokyo) and Iwate together with Kanagawa Prefecture and other NGOs. 

Other YMCAs that have dong supportive work are as follows; 

Kyoto: Support at YMCAs' Volunteer Centers in affected areas, and supporting National Council's work 

Kobe: Support at Sendai YMCA Volunteer Center cooperated with Sendai YMCA 

National Council: Sending staff members to the affected areas, and accepting 22 people that have evacuated at 

Tozanso (International Youth Center) in Shizuoka Prefecture. 

Recipients/ those who benefited from YMCAs' activities 

Table 3: Number of recipients/ those who benefited from YMCAs' activities in severely affected areas

YMCAs	March	April	Total
Morioka	1,016	2,036	3,052
Sendai	3,128	3,025	6,153

 

Table 4: Number of recipients in other affected areas or evacuation centers

YMCAs	Recipients	Especially at evacuation centers
Tochigi	285	226
Ibaraki	500	NA
Tokyo	300	NA
Yokohama	1,500	1,000
Total	2,626	1,240

 

3) Activities and arrangements conducted by the National Council 

 1. Organizing supportive work by other YMCAs at evacuation centers coordinated by Morioka YMCA and 

Sendai YMCA 

 2. Providing information on collecting funds and donations, and fund management 

 3. Applying for donations by fundraising entities and management 

 4. Providing information and public relations 

 5. Planning and coordinating projects