General Secretary

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan

Thank you for your great support and prayer for our disaster relief work.

It is almost a year since March 11, 2011, when earthquake and tsunami occurred. The affected areas were so vast; along 500 km on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and the nuclear power plant radiation made thousands of people evacuate from Fukushima to all over Japan. Since then, we, in cooperation with YMCAs in Japan and Y's Men's Clubs, have done various kinds of activities in Miyako city, Iwate prefecture, Minami-sanriku town, Higashi-matsushima city, Ishinomaki city, Yamamoto town, and Sendai city in Miyagi prefecture and for those who evacuated from Fukushima; especially for vulnerable people such as children, youth, elderly, disabled and foreign citizens by utilizing Eastern-Japan Disaster Relief Fund and donations from a lot of entities within and outside Japan. We have focused on being close with victims, fostering children and youth to be breadwinners of relief work in the communities, and running YMCAs' camp programs and other activities. The target of our Relief Fund is 300,000,000 yen (300 million yen); approximately 3 million US dollars. We still need your kind help and generous contributions to continue our relief work, thankfully we almost reached to the targeted amount,. 

Mitsubishi Corporation's enormous amount of donation called "Mitsubishi Corporation YMCA Friendship Camp" is utilized as participation fee of camp programs for the kids from affected areas.

Next fiscal year, we will continue our work at Miyako Volunteer Support Center of Morioka YMCA, Iwate prefecture, Sendai YMCA Volunteer Support Center, and newly opened YMCA Ishinomaki Center within the affected areas. Also we foster youth leadership for rehabilitation and activities like camp programs.

On March 11, 2012, YMCAs in Japan will have ceremonies or events such as kite flying to remember the day of the disaster. Also we will have ecumenical worship in churches in Japan.

Christmas parties were held at tentative houses and elementary schools. A lot of participants enjoyed our programs. Also, we had "mochi-tsuki" programs several times. We eat "mochi", or rice cake, especially in the New Year. Mochi-tsuki is to make steamed rice into cake, as shown in one of the photos.

The followings are the activities by Morioka and Sendai YMCAs.

Morioka YMCA's activities

Morioka YMCA Miyako Volunteer Center is based at Miyako Church of United Church of Christ in Japan.

It is still very cold in Tohoku area these days. Since we don't wear shoes inside houses, people feel cold because of the coldness from wooden floor at tentative houses. So we decided to put thick polyurethane mats to insulate coldness from the floor. We put those mats where people gather and have activities as well. The idea of putting thick mats is from our hearing and conversation with the people in tentative houses.

Not only polyurethane mats, we also put artificial turf mats at the doors of the tentative houses. It is very slippery around the doors because rain and snow is fallen from the roof and the water freezes. Artificial truf mats can avoid water on the ground from freezing. It is especially hard and dangerous for elderly people to remove snow on the roof or on the road so we help people with getting rid of snow.

We received scarves from kindergarten kids at Yokohama YMCA. A photo and a message were attached to each scarf. The messages said that "I thought it was very cold in Miyako so I decided to make a scarf." The people live in tentative houses were happy to receive scarves and to read messages.

February 3 is called "setsubun"; according to the calendar, it literally means the day before spring comes. On setsubun, we have a traditional custom, which is called "mame-maki", to scatter parched beans to drive out bad luck or devil. We did mame-maki at elementary schools and tentative houses. Then some staff members wore Japanese devil's costume and everyone screamed a phrase "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" that means "Devils out, Good Luck in". 

Sendai YMCA's activities

In January, pupils of Nobiru Elementary School, Higashi-matsushima city received messages from elementary school pupils in Kumamoto. Some were video messages and some were messages on big sheets of paper that had cutting paper works to introduce famous places and things in Kumamoto. The idea of sending messages is from pupils themselves in Kumamoto who listened to a talk by a Kumamoto-born staff member of Sendai YMCA Volunteer Support Center and children decided to cheer the victims up by sending messages. 

One of the highlights of relief work is to support strawberry farms in Yamamoto town. We built greenhouses after cleaning mud on the farm. In Mid-January, strawberries ripened well were sent to Sendai YMCA and Kyoto YMCA. 

Miyagi prefecture is famous for oyster farming so we planned to help Miyagi Co-op Volunteer Team with oyster farming in Minami-sanriku town. Due to heavy snow the activity itself was unfortunately cancelled, but fishers made oyster soup for us. 

                 General Secretary

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan 

　YMCAs of Japan continue supportive activities for the affected, especially those who are vulnerable; children and youths, elderly, disabled people and foreign citizens, by applying Relief Fund and donations from within and outside Japan. Also we, as a community-based organization, operate activities the "cultivate the human and lives" to make youths develop holistically as doers of relief and recovery activities.

We have two categories of East-Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund;

1. Relief Fund for local communities

Support the operation, activities, and supportive projects of Volunteer Support Center in Miyako, Iwate, and Sendai, Miyagi through YMCAs.

2. For affected YMCAs

Sent immediately to YMCAs in affected areas

* More about our Disaster Relief Fund, please refer to the article on April 26.

The following is about activities utilizing the Disaster Relief Fund by Japan YMCAs.

The following communities damaged severely and the strongholds were 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, E. Shiogama City and Shichigahama Town, F. Higashi-matsushima City, G. Ishinomaki City (where Tokyo YMCA is supporting),  H. Minami-sanriku Town 

3 Fukushima Prefecture: No YMCA in the prefecture. 

 *Tochigi YMCA which locates south of Fukushima is supporting people there.

 *Many local YMCAs in Japan are supporting families who have evacuated from Fukushima and had several camp  programs for them.

 *The National Council of YMCAs of Japan offered retreat camps for the families of Fukushima at YMCA Tozanso International Youth Center near Mt. Fuji. Their children were able to play outside in the nature for a week without any fear of radiation.

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

   

Results of activities (Please see Table 2: Number of directors and volunteers sent to severely affected areas, on upper right)

 *Volunteers include mountaineers, specialists in disaster relief work, and some youths. 

At Morioka YMCA Miyako Volunteer Center:

From March to June;

-Asking needs, offering supplies, support at evacuation centers, setting up a Volunteer Center, and tidying and cleaning houses.

-Sending daily supplies

In and after July;

-Asking needs of affected persons one by one; cleaning houses, looking for things that are precious for the persons, getting rid of the mud in the ditches, accompanying to City Hall, controlling traffic for elementary school kids

-Orientation for High School and University students as volunteers

-Recreation and activities at Elementary Schools

At Sendai YMCA Volunteer Support Center:

From March to June;

-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. 

In and after July;

-Food supplies such as rice for those who live in tentative houses

-Asking needs of affected persons one by one; cleaning houses, getting rid of the mud, cleaning greenhouses for strawberry farmers

-Orientation for High School and University students as volunteers

-Recreation and activities at Elementary Schools

-Supporting schools by offering materials and staff

-Taking care of children and seniors

(Please see Table 3: Number of recipients/ those who benefited from YMCAs' activities in severely affected areas, on upper right)

At Tochigi YMCA

-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

-Support Sendai YMCA and its Volunteer Support Center. 

At Ibaraki YMCA (March)

-Support at evacuation centers managing and offering physical activities for affected kids 

Since July, local YMCAs and the National Council of YMCAs of Japan have executed 20 camp programs for the kids and families affected by the tragedy. Before we accept people from Fukushima, we had some lectures for staff and volunteers to learn what exactly "grief" is about, how to communicate with people who might have lost their family members or their own house and do on. About 850 people (kids and their parents) participated to camps of two-day to eight-day which were sponsored by Mitsubishi Corporation. We appreciate Mitsubishi for their cooperation.

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

6. Accept evacuees at YMCA Tozanso International Youth Center run by NCY of Japan.

The YMCAs and organizations which area located outside Japan (named below) have sent Japan YMCA Disaster Relief Fund (as of October 5). We really appreciate all the entities' kindness and prayer.

Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Chile - Santiago, China - National Committee, Chengdu, Germany, Hong Kong - NCY, YMCA of Hong Kong, Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, Y's men TST Club, India, Korea - Seoul, Macau, Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Myanmar - NCY, Mandalay Interfaith Network, New Zealand, Pakistan- Lahore, Philippines - Baguio, Manila, Manila Down Town, Makati, Palestine - Gaza, Singapore - Metropolitan, YMCA of Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan - YMCA of Taiwan, Taipei YMCA, Thailand - YMCA Bangkok Association & Y'men Club of Bangkok, SMIT's District of S.E. Asia Region, Uruguay, USA - YMCA of the USA, Honolulu

Y'Care International, Help Age International-EAPRDC (East Asia Pacific Regional Development Centre), JCCCNC(Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California)

God bless all your efforts to support and encourage us in Japan.

General Secretary 

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan

The Presidents and General Secretaries of YMCAs from all over Japan gathered at the 121st General Assembly held at Tozanso, International Youth Conference Center, on June 18 - 19. Reports by General Secretaries of Sendai and Morioka YMCAs showed everyone about their situation after the disaster. Supportive activities needed from now on were discussed. It was approved that all the YMCAs of Japan to continue supportive work. Also, many pictures and messages by children sent from YMCAs overseas were displayed and participants were encouraged by their support and prayer.

From June to the end of August, directors from Kumamoto YMCA (which is located in Kyushu, the westernmost part of Japan) are sent to Sendai YMCA. Also other YMCAs in Japan are asked to send their directors and volunteers. The activities such as hearing needs of the vast affected areas are continued. In summer, camps for the children in Miyagi Prefecture are now being planned.

*Managing a Volunteer Support Center

Since May, directors and volunteers have been sent from Kagoshima, Nagoya, Matsuyama, Hiroshima, and Kita-kyushu YMCAs as managers of the Volunteer Center in Miyagino-ku, Sendai.

*Magic performance

Sendai YMCA invited magic performers and dogs from Hiroshima to have a series of shows in Miyagi. 23 shows were held at nurseries, evacuation centers, and schools from June 4 to 10. The performers wanted to deliver vigor and dreams to the victims. After the shows, they thought that more supportive work was still needed there.

*Programs for children staying at evacuation centers

Supportive programs called "Ganbaro Nobirukko" for pupils of Nobiru Elementary School, Higashi-matsushima City are being continued on a once-a-month basis since school started on April 21.

In May, kids enjoyed swimming in a pool at Sendai YMCA. Some of the children said that they had lost their favorite bathing suits by tsunami. They looked very happy after they borrowed and put on new swimsuits, and the volunteers were also very happy to see them smiling. They had barbecue and pizzas for lunch prepared by Sendai, Aoba-jo and Hirose-gawa Y's Men's Clubs.

In June, an outdoor activity was held at a park in Tome City (inland area), Miyagi. 13 children participated. In the morning, they played at a stream catching fish and tadpoles. The cooking fire as well as lunch, okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pancake) and frankfurters, were prepared by themselves. In the afternoon, they enjoyed playground equipments, sharing nature and also played at a stream.

The activity in July is being planned at the moment.

   

The Volunteer Center is closely related to mountaineers and managed by former directors and volunteers from Osaka, Shiga and Yokohama YMCAs. From May to the end of July, a former director of Osaka YMCA is stationed, and from July to the end of March 2012, a Yokohama YMCA director will be stationed at the center.

The goal is to be back to the ordinary daily lives of the affected people, so activities are done in cooperation with them and detailed orientations for university and high school students as volunteers are held. Programs cooperated with the city halls and reactions for new needs are planned now.

The affected people are asking cleaning and tidying their houses after three months since the disaster. They finally might face the aftermath of the disaster.

In July, we got rid of mud in the gutters near the center. It was a hard thing but neighbors and high school students from Kanagawa Prefecture helped the work.

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

General Secretary 

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan

Two and a half months have passed since the disaster. Thank you very much for your continued support from both inside and outside Japan. Our staff members and volunteers are highly recognized as coordinators of volunteers and organizations in many fields of relief and recovery supporting activities. It is appreciated our being always cheerful and our drawing out the peoples' strength, our flexibility and our way of services to affected people.

YMCAs have cultivated the technique of group work; that is to raise each other in small group activities by organizing camps and various programs. YMCAs' activities are based on the love and spirit of service as exemplified by Jesus Christ. We pray for others and each of us is voluntary and responsible. That is how we have fostered leadership to build democratic local communities.

Many staff members and former staff members from YMCAs in Hokkaido, Yokohama, Toyama, Osaka and the National Council were sent to Miyako to do activities with mountaineers staying at Miyako Church. Also we are working together with students at Iwate University. We help to be back to their daily life so we do things to make the victims feel happy.

These days we are asked to get rid of mud in the gutters. It is a manual labor that needs a lot of people to do various kinds of things such as taking the covers, removing mud and controlling traffic.

We completed an activity to support children at Nobiru Elementary School, in Higashi-matsushima on April 21 when school started. We need to take care of the kids because they still live at evacuation centers. 

We are planning to do recreation and food services at Isatomae Elementary School, Minami-sanriku on May 22. It is offered by Principal of Isatomae Elementary School where Natari Elementary School is temporally renting classrooms because of loss of the building. Isatomae Elementary School was not fully damaged but the first floor was under water and balls and mats for P.E. classes are not able to be used again.

The volunteer centers in Miyagino-ku and Wakabayashi-ku in Sendai were planned to be closed at the end of April, but it is still in operation in May because of a lot of requests. The staff members and volunteers are highly recognized and they are welcome to continue their work. Staffs were sent from Kobe, Kyoto, Tochigi, Wakayama, Nara, Osaka, Shiga, Nagoya, Kita-kyushu etc. to help the volunteer centers.

Also, about 20 staff members and leaders were sent from Yokohama YMCA to help cleaning inside greenhouses where strawberries were planted in Yamamoto, Miyagi. The work was done from April 29 to May 1. From May 3 to 5, 30 people were sent to Minami-sanriku to tidying the houses and carrying furniture. There were 74 people altogether with staff members and volunteers from Yamanashi YMCA and Sendai YMCA. Y's Men's Clubs in Sendai offered packed lunch for the staffs and volunteers.

Yoshihiro Nakagawa, President

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan

YMCAs of Japan continue supportive activities for the affected, especially those who are to be weak; children and youths, elderly, disabled people and foreign citizens by applying Relief Fund and donations from both inside and outside Japan. Also we, as a community-based organization, operate activities that "cultivate the human and lives" to make youths develop holistically as doers of relief and recovery activities.

Target of Fundraising Campaign

TOTAL of the 1st term 　300,000,000 yen (300 million yen)

Expenses for Activities of Phase 1: 　50,000,000 yen ( 50 million yen)

Expenses for Activities of Phase 2:　150,000,000 yen (150 million yen)

Expenses for Activities of Phase 3:　100,000,000 yen (100 million yen)

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Almost USD 3,750,000

General Secretary 

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan

We really appreciate again all the continuous support and pray for us from all over the world. 

YMCAs in Japan unite together to overcome this tragedy. We will held the extraordinary board meeting on 16 of April and discuss our mid-long term relief action plan.

■Numbers of victims

Prefectures Deaths Unknown Displaced people  

Total                12,690 17,026 157,600  

   

Another big earthquake (M7.4) hit the same area around midnight on April 7.

【Iwate】

Morioka YMCA organized Miyako Volunteer Center in cooperation with Miyako Church of United Church of Christ in Japan. The center asks people's needs and connects people to the local governments or the council of social welfare.

From April 5, a staff of Toyama YMCA and one of its volunteers, expert volunteers from Hokkaido and mountaineer volunteers are supporting the Center.

The Center is to be ready for accepting volunteers who are able to help continuously; nevertheless it is only accepting experienced volunteers so far.

An article about the Volunteer Center from Iwate Nippo

http://www.iwate-np.co.jp/hisaichi/h201104/h1104051.html

According to the report by a staff of the National Council of YMCAs of Japan, the city is still covered with sludge and debris so the volunteers are cleaning the houses or the roads.

Another big earthquake hit the same area around midnight on April 7. The volunteers are evacuated to the 3rd floor of a nearby hospital while the tsunami advisory was being announced.

The earthquake killed at least 3 people and caused power failure in some prefectures.

【Miyagi】

On April 1, Sendai YMCA and its volunteer center sent supply and did hearing at Minami-sanriku town and Yamamoto town.

They offered a program for children from Nobiru Elementary School in the morning of April 6. They enjoyed playing tag, tug-of-war, relay and dodge ball.

Most of the 200 pupils are staying out of city or prefecture so they were happy to see their classmates.

An article about the program from Asahi Shimbun 

http://www.asahi.com/special/10005/TKY201104060433.html

Further information, visit the Volunteer Center website (Japanese only. Many photos) 

http://sites.google.com/a/sendai-ymca.org/volunteer_support/

General Secretary 

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan

As of March 29, the government reported the total number of death caused by earthquake and tsunami on March 11 was over 11,000 and the number of missing people was over 19,000 in Tohoku and Kanto area. The total number of death is expected to be over 20,000, and it may be hard to clarify the exact number. Over 180,000 people have evacuated because of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.

■The figures cited from the news paper March 29, 2011
Prefectures	Deaths	Unknown	Displaced people
Hokkaido	1		326
Aomori	3	1	264
Iwate	3,264	4,654	43,292
Miyagi	6,692	8,936	79,670
Akita			556
Yamagata	1		2,953
Fukushima	900	5,093	30,630
Tochigi	4		2,317
Gunma	1		3,397
Ibaraki	20	1	2,279
Saitama			3,381
Chiba	17	2	1,346
Tokyo	7		1,021
Kanagawa	4		533
Niigata			7,369
	11,004	18,687	181,194

General Secretary 

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan

As of March 22, 2011 the Government reported the total death caused by Earth quakes and Tsunami on March 11 were over 9000 and people missing were over 12600 in Tohoku and Kanto area.

The figures cited from in the news paper from Japan. March 22, 2011

Prefectures　 Deaths　　 unknown　　 houses broken

Iwate　　 　 　2,773 　　4,253　　　　　　 11,046

Miyagi 　　　　6,364 　　2,985 (more) 　　2,714

Fukushima　 　 735　　 4,437　　 　　 　10,981

Tochigi 　　 　　 　4 　　　　-　　　　　 　30,006

Gunma　　　 　　　1　　　　　-　　　　　　 13,206

Ibaragi 　　　　　　19　　　　 1　　　　　　 42,631

The below shows the activities done in YMCAs in the area

Iwate: The Morioka YMCA has been sending staff and volunteers in Miyako city, one of the severely damaged city. They are working closely with the churches in the area. 

The Yokohama YMCA will send directors to help them for one week. Also special mountaineers will be sent there.

Miyagi: The Sendai YMCA started to help people in community by offering place to stay and offering foods to the victims immediately after the Earthquake. Now sending a team to the affected areas for further investigation for possible activities.

Ibaragi: The Tsukuba YMCA helping refugees from Fukushima Nuclear Reactor threat area by offering child care and recreation programs cooperated with social welfare council.

Tochigi: Offering elderly programs in eastern area of Utsunomiya and Haga area, which had damages in many houses. The YMCA is also planning to take care of the people evacuated from the Fukushima Nuclear Reactor problems. The YMCA had some damages in its buildings and facilities. 

Tokyo: The Tokyo YMCA has been sending their staff to the affected areas and helping them plan the rescue activities. They collaborate with Y's Men's Club to deliver emergency commodity. Some of the YMCA buildings were damaged.

Kanagawa: The Yokohama YMCA has been sending their staff to the affected areas. Some of the YMCA buildings were damaged.

Fukushima: No YMCA.

National Council is the main office to coordinate national wide activities and oversea communication. Right now they have been gathering all the information from the YMCA staff members who were sent to the affected areas. Requesting fund raising from local YMCAs in the other areas and overseas. All the YMCA Japan, have been prepared to send staff and volunteers to the places when routes and places to stay are ready in the mid-and-long term.

Thank you very much for your prompt response and prayers for us from all over the world.

A week has past since the earthquake happened on March 11th. Over 6,000 people were killed and 17,000 people are missing. 400,000 people have evacuated. Because of the accident of power station caused by earthquake, many people also have been evacuated from the affected area. The temperature goes below its freezing point in the affected area, but the lifeline has not recovered yet.

The distribution of relief supplies has not gone well because of the interrupted road in the affected area and lack of gas for cars. Many factories also don't work in the affected area. Although we formed a special task force in Tokyo , the work has been disrupted often because of continuing aftershock and blackout. We sent a general secretary of Kyoto YMCA to the affected area on 14th -15th, and we had an emergency meeting with local YMCA's general secretaries to discuss the future plan on 16th.

Japan YMCA will send two directors who had experience of emergency relief on March 19th, and they will bring relief supplies and discuss the future plan with the staffs in the affected area.

Sendai YMCA in the most affected area has accepted the refugees at school and provided meals in the yard of their school right after earthquake. Other YMCAs also have accepted the refugee from the area affected by accident of power station, supported the people at public building, and provided recreation for children. YMCAs in Japan unite together to raise the fund and to overcome this tragedy.

We thank all again and especially to the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs for all the coordination, and we appreciate continuous support and solidarity.

Shigeru Shimada, General Secretary

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan

Thank you very much for your support and prayers from all over the world.

The 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11th killed 3,200 people, and over 15,000 people are still missing. The earthquake disrupted lifeline and 600,000 people have evacuated worrying about the safety of missing their family and relatives.

As broadcasted worldwide, the earthquake also caused explosion by the nuclear meltdown at Fukushima No. 1 power station of Tokyo Electric Power Company. Many people are concerning about its effect.

The Japan YMCA has formed a special task force to respond to the needs of the disaster areas. The top is Mr. Shigeru Shimada, the general secretary of the National Council of YMCAs of Japan, and its venue is the National Council of YMCAs of Japan. We already finished checking the safety of all YMCAs in Japan , and all YMCA staffs are fine as far as we know. As for Sendai YMCA and Morioka YMCA in the most affected area, their buildings did not have serious damage by earthquake. They provide the space and information for refugees. Tochigi, Tokyo , Yokohama , Chiba YMCA and the National Council of YMCAs of Japan in Kanto area got slight damage on their buildings, but they have started their daily program partly. YMCAs in other areas started donation campaign to support the people affected by earthquake and tsunami.

Japan YMCAs have supported the people affected by the disaster such as Great Kanto earthquake, Great Hanshin earthquake, and Chuetsuoki earthquake, using our network and knowledge under the spirit of Jesus Christ's love and service. In addition to the emergency support, we will do our best to support especially children, the elder, the challenged people, foreign resident who are vulnerable in the disaster in the middle- long term. We will cooperate with other civil society groups, government, NGOs, and churches. We will send experienced directors to the affected area and they will explore the possible support that YMCA will be able to provide.

We would like to ask your support to overcome this disaster and to recover as soon as possible. We appreciate your support through the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs.

Though we have received the proposal of support for human resources and goods, we will not be able to receive them now because of the difficult situation in the affected area. We have received many e-mails so far, and it takes time to reply back. We are sorry for the late reply.

Thank you for your cooperation and prayer for the victims and their families.

Shigeru Shimada, General Secretary

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan

Thank you very much for your concern and prayer. 

An earthquake with a histroric magnitude of 8.8 rocked the Tohoku region Friday, 11 of March, triggering tsunami that wiped away cars ships and buildings and houses all along the east coast. The quake was felt hundreds of kilmeters away, including in Tokyo　and Yokohama, where buildings swayed for a long time and people swarmed out of them. 

According to a National Police Agency tally as of 2:45 p.m. Saturday, at least 520 people were killed and 750 others were missing as a result of the magnitude 8.8 temblor. Another strong quake with a magnitude of 6.7 rocked an inland area on the Sea of Japan coast northwest of Tokyo, hitting Nagano and Niigata prefectures at 3:59 a.m. Saturday, but the extent of the damage from the quake, which occurred far away from the one that jolted Pacific coastal areas, was not immediately known.

Now, the government declared a state of atomic power emergency Friday after the Tohoku region was hit by what is being called the strongest earthquake in Japanese history and urged around 3,000 residents near a reactor in Fukushima Prefecture to evacuate.

We, Japan YMCA, fortunately all staffs of the local YMCAs and the National Council are safe. Some local YMCAs, especailly, Sendai and Morioka YMCAs where are located in Tohoku region are in the serious situation and lack of essential utilities until now. 

We set up the YMCA Emergency headquarters at the National Council and keep collecting informations and coordinating resources.

We really appreciate pray and condolences from YMCAs all over the world. May all people in the disaster can gracefully and completely avoid from the danger or suffering, and May God takes care of them.

Shigeru Shimada

General Secretary 

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan

E-mail:info@ymcajapan.org