[IWATE, Japan, 26 April 2011]
The tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake damaged the first floor of Funakoshi Primary School, Yamada Town, rendering the school unusable. On 26 April, however, the school’s entrance ceremony was held 20 days later than normal at the Iwate Prefectural Rikuchu Youth center. Many of the parents of students at Funkoshi Primary School work in the fishery industry, and now face a tremendous amount of difficulty in their daily lives, as the ports have been severely damaged and boats washed away.
The massive tsunami devastated the first floor of Funakoshi Primary School. Nevertheless, after the earthquake the teachers properly guided the all of the children to the top of a nearby mountain, escaping the danger of the tsunami. The school building is no longer usable and therefore the Rikuchu Youth Center, located about six kilometers from the primary school, was rented to hold the opening ceremony on 25 April and the entrance ceremony today.
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF |
The entrance ceremony was attended by Yamada Town Mayor Kiichi Numazaki, a large number of mothers and various other guests. The school’s principal, Michio Sasaki, greeted the incoming first graders with a big smile and gave a speech. “First graders, I would like you all to first remember two teacher’s names. The first is the teacher in charge of the first grade class, Ayako Sasaki. The second is the school principal, Michio Sasaki.” He then asked everyone to call out the teacher’s names, whereupon all of the new students energetically yelled out the names of the two teachers. This eased some of the nervousness in the room. Next, the principal began to talk about three promises he asked of the children. The first was to be extra careful not to become involved in a traffic accident, the second was acting in an independent manner and the third was to be kind to others. The principal concluded his greeting by asking that students keep these three promises in leading a fun school life.
In his greeting, Mayor Numazaki commented that he wanted all of the students to get along well and to have fun learning. He then spoke to the parents: “I intend to acquire the assistance of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in reconstructing Funakoshi Primary School as quickly as possible. We all face very difficult circumstances, but that is all the more reason to raise your children to be strong.”
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF | © Japan Committee for UNICEF | |
| Yamada Town Mayor Kiichi Numazaki giving a speech. | Sixth graders greeting the new students on behalf of the school’s other students. |
Next, the school’s six graders provided a greeting on behalf of all of the school’s students. “I would like to congratulate all of the incoming first grade students. There are two things that I would like to say to you today. First, greetings are important—good morning, hello, goodbye, etc.—so make sure to greet people when you see them. Second, run a lot and stay strong.”
One of the parents in attendance, Akio Yaguchi, spoke about his daughter Misaki starting school. “We were finally able to hold the entrance ceremony. I want her to make a lot of friends. Because of the disaster we have been staying at my parent’s house in Kamaishi City, and I bring my daughter to school from there. I hope that we can return to Yamada Town soon.”
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF |
After the entrance ceremony the first graders moved to a classroom where they received an explanation about school life from the first grade teacher Ayako Sasaki. The 24 new students listened attentively to Ms. Sasaki’s remarks. One of the new students, Ryota Nishitate, cheerfully commented, “I’m so happy I got to meet all of my friends today. I want to have fund studying and playing with everyone.”
Funakoshi Primary School has rented space at the Rikuchu Youth Center and acquired a school bus, making it possible for students to commute to school. The students are not familiar with the new environment, but everyone at the town hall, all of the teachers, as well as all of the parents are working tremendously hard to make school fun for the children.
The Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) has provided the children of Funakoshi Primary School with school supplies, desks and chairs for young students, and enough water bottles for all of the students, while also providing necessary school equipment, such s printers and movable whiteboards. Fourth grade teacher Kumiko Sano told us that she was so happy to receive the school supplies. JCU will continue to extend assistance to ensure that children can enjoy a rewarding school experience.
| Receiving Prefecture |
Type of Emergency Supplies |
Arrival Date |
Quantity | Donating Company |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miyagi | Water | 19 Mar. | 12,288 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Fukushima | Water | 22 Mar. | 12,672 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Underwear for boys and girls | 22 Mar. | 200,000 | ||
| Iwate | Underwear for boys and girls | 23 Mar. | 30,000 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 23 Mar. | 4,680 bottles |
KIRIN MC DANONE WATERS Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Children’s shoes | 23 Mar. | 10,000 pairs |
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| Miyagi | Children’s diapers | 24 Mar. | 80 packs | P&G Japan | |
| Iwate | Children’s underwear | 24 Mar. | 9,700 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 24 Mar. | 12,288 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Iwate | Shoes | 26 Mar | 1,404 pairs | Achilles Corporation | |
| Iwate | Underwear for boys and girls | 27 Mar. | 28,266 | ||
| Iwate | Boots | 27 Mar. | 7,462 pairs | ||
| Iwate | Wipes | 28 Mar. | 1,200 | P&G Japan | For babies |
| Miyagi | Recreation kits Early Childhood Development kits |
2 Apr. | 50 of each | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Iwate | Recreation kits Early Childhood Development kits |
2 Apr. | 50 of each | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Miyagi | Book bags | 6 Apr. | 70 | Nihon New Bag Chain | |
| Iwate | Book bags | 6 Apr. | 340 | Seiban | |
| Miyagi | Schoolbags | 8 Apr. | 18,000 | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Iwate | Schoolbags | 8 Apr. | 18,000 | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Miyagi | Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) | 8 Apr. | 5,000 | ||
| Iwate | Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) | 8 Apr. | 5,000 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 11 Apr. | 1,536 bottles | VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Replenishments for recreation kits | 12 Apr. | 60 sets | ||
| Miyagi | Miniature toy cars | 12 Apr. | Approx. 1,200 | TAKARA TOMY | |
| Sagamihara* | Water | 12 Apr. | 12,288 bottles | VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Play mats | 13 Apr. | Two types; 80 of each type | IKEA | |
| Miyagi | Drawing sets | 13 Apr. | 60 sets | IKEA | |
| Iwate | Chairs (for 3-5 year olds) | 14 Apr. | 75 | ||
| Iwate | Tables (for 6 people) | 14 Apr. | 11 | ||
| Iwate | Low tables | 14 Apr. | 9 | ||
| Iwate | Notebooks and stationery sets for primary and junior high school students | 15. Apr. | 16,700 sets | ||
| Miyagi | 183 computers | 18-21 Apr. | 3 computers at 61 locations | Distributed to kindergartens, primary, junior high and high schools affected by the disaster as well as their new locations | |
| Miyagi | Copier/fax machines | 18-21 Apr. | 57 | Distributed to kindergartens, primary, junior high and high schools affected by the disaster as well as their new locations | |
| Miyagi | Printers | 18-21 Apr. | 61 | Distributed to kindergartens, primary, junior high and high schools affected by the disaster as well as their new locations |
*Areas receiving disaster victims.
*In certain cases some supplies may be taken from prefectural supply storage warehouses and distributed to shelters and disaster sites in other prefectures.
As of 9:00 a.m. on 20 April 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).