The Kumamoto Earthquake Report 11:
Prayer for Recovery – Solidarity to overcome crisis

May 17th 2016

One month has passed since the Kumamoto earthquake. Some journalist who went through this month-long crisis experience indicated, ‘The destruction level isn’t much different from a month ago’ when visited Mashiki-town. Such observation reflects the huge challenges towards recovery of these affected communities.

On May 14th, an anniversary event was held at an evacuation center in Mifune sport center which is managed by Kumamoto YMCA.  Various boards with encouragement and support messages have arrived from all over Japan, and after going through the photo slides of how this past month had been, the participants of the anniversary event offered a moment of silence at the time of the first quake, 9:26 PM.

Right before the event, Teraoka, a deputy manager at this center, told us ‘I am thinking to use these at the event,’ holding candle lights in his hands. This center also held an event on Mother’s Day (May 8th) and male community members offered flowers, donated by near-by farmers, with words of appreciation to their wives and mothers.

There are relationships newly built during this one month.  At the time of East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, Teraoka had visited Miyagi and Iwate prefectures heavily affected by Tsunami, where he participated in the relief efforts.  One of the messages Teraoka has received this time says, ‘Please remember that many people keep you all in our prayers,’ which came from Kamaishi where Teraoka took part in relief activities 5 years ago.

Teraoka requested one of the community members who is leading relief support for the elderly, Morinaga, to deliver a speech at this anniversary event. Morinaga, along with his wife who ran a barber together, offers hair-cut service for the evacuees on voluntary basis. ‘Seeing these elderly people weakening day by day was heart-breaking,’ said Morinaga, but he said he was encouraged by new friends he made at Kumamoto YMCA who he says were all ‘calm, and dedicated.’

Morinaga offered his remark at the closing of the event. ‘When we are in crisis, let’s remember that solidarity is required, more than ever.’ The recovery-mind is definitely growing here, but accompaniment is required to overcome various recovery needs here. Teraoka plans to hand out photos when people go home from this evacuation center, hoping that someday, these people can look back the experiences here, a sign of moving forward. Until that day, accompaniment based on attention towards individual recovery of each affected persons should, and will, continue.

You can help the operation on the ground. Please see below:
Emergency appeal of YMCA Japan
Facebook page of Kumamoto YMCA (Japanese only)

Bank Detail Name : The National Council of YMCAs of Japan
Address : 7 Honshio-cho Shinjuku-ku,Tokyo
Beneficiary Bank : THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ,LTD.
Branch Name : YOTSUYA BRANCH
Bank Address : 3-2-1 YOTSUYA SHINJUKU-KU TOKYO
Swift code : BOTKJPJT
Account Number : 051-0111494

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan and the Church World Service Japan are working together as partner for relief activities in Kumamoto Earthquake.

Interviewer and photo taken by: Ryoji Inaba, YMCA Kumamoto
English translation: Takeshi Komino, CWS Japan

Messages of encouragement from all over Japan

Evacuees offered a moment of silence at 9:26 pm on May 14th

One of the evacuees Mr. Morinaga, who offeres hair-cut service for the elderly, has delivered an encouraging speech

Concert before the 100 candle-shaped lamps