[IWATE, Japan, 17 June 2011]
Students battled it out in the first events of the Iwate Prefecture Inter-High School Athletic Competition since May, up until 6 June (swimming and rowing competitions will be held between 17-19 June). Schools participating from the coastal regions demonstrated tremendous energy in their performance; Takata High School won the boy’s table tennis category for the first time in 29 years, Kamaishi Commercial and Technical High School won the boy’s group karate category while Ofunato High School took the girl’s category (individual participants from the coastal area also took part), and Takata High School came in second place for girl’s volleyball. All schools successfully demonstrated their full potential.
Ofunato Higashi High School, one of the schools most damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake, came out victorious at the Kamiyoriki Rugby Competition (seven person competition) held on 27-28 May in Hachimantai City.
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| The team has 11 second and third year students and 9 first year students. | ||
Koki Ishikawa, a coach at Ofunato Higashi High School, commented, “Seven or eight of our team members either had their entire house destroyed, partially destroyed or have a house that is still submerged underwater. I am tremendously happy that, despite the circumstances at hand, these students were able to play rugby and compete. For a long time we were unable to have all of our team at practice, and were only able to restart practice from the end of April. The students will treasure this experience for the rest of their lives because of the support they received from so many people and because of this victory. Now that we have more players, in the future I hope to compete in a 15-man match. I hope to practice so that we can keep winning, one match at a time.”
Team captain Eiki Sato (third year) spoke of his future ambitions in commenting, “All I can say is that this is the greatest! We achieved our goal. I hope that we can compete in a 15-man match in preparation for the qualifying round at Hanazono.”
Students from schools in coastal areas also displayed brilliant success at track and field events held between 27-30 May at Kitakami Stadium.
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| A UNICEF banner on display at the stadium. | The Track and Field Club of Kamaishi High School. | Third year students from the Track and Field Club of Kamaishi High School. |
Kamaishi High School Track and Field Club captain Yuki Minato (third year), who took first in the 400-meter race, sounded invigorated as he said, “I wasn’t totally satisfied with my time, but I was still able to win in the finals. I plan to do my best in the inter-high school competition in order to get ready for the Tohoku regional competition. During these hard times what we can do is make our track and field team known by working hard and instill hope in those around us. I will keep working hard so that we can be such a team.”
Yukimi Noda (third year), also from Kamaishi High School, took second place in the girl’s 5,000 meter competitive walking competition. She commented, “I came in second but I really wanted first! After the earthquake I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to compete in the inter-high, so I am really happy that I was able to participate and am truly grateful for the support of those around me, which is what made my participation possible in the first place. I will be leaving Kamaishi after I graduate, but many of my lower classmates will be here for a long time. I hope that they will utilize their strength as high school students to pull the community along. I ask everyone to continue training hard so that your display on the field fuels the energy of the community.”
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Masatoshi Matsumura, a third year student at Kamaishi High School that made an oath on behalf of the students at the grand opening ceremony, took second place in the long jump competition and first in the triple jump.
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| Miyako High School Track and Field Club. |
Captain Yuzuru Onatomo (third year) of Miyako High School looked back over the competition and comment, “I competed in the 100 meter and 200 meter relays. I’m satisfied because the relays will take us to the Tohoku regional competition. Also, personally, I made it to the finals in the 200 meter race, breaking my personal record, so I was happy about that.” He continued, “The community has yet to reconstruct itself and some things are still very hard. But when we put on a good show here and that information is spread through the community it makes everyone smile. I hope that our lower classmates will continue to work hard and invigorate the local people of Miyako.”
Another third year student from Miyako High School commented that, “Honestly, I didn’t finish with a time I was satisfied with for my own competition. Nevertheless, after the tsunami came and badly damaged our community, I thought there wasn’t even going to be an inter-high competition this year. It is thanks to my teammates, people from the community, other prefectures, and a vast amount of assistance that we were able to get things back to normal so quickly. It brings me joy to know that we came together as a team to battle it out in this final competition and that we were able to make it to the Tohoku regionals.”
Takata High School, competing under the banner “Energy, Smiles, and Teamwork!”, had been severely damaged in the March 11 disaster, leaving the school building half destroyed. Today, the students use a school building of the former Ofunato Agricultural High School. One third year student from Takata High School reflected on the competition, saying, “At first I didn’t think that we would be able to compete this year because of the disaster, but thanks to the support from so many people we were able to successfully take part in this year’s inter-high. It made me happy that thanks to some of the third year students the team will be going to the Tohoku regional competition.” The team captain, also a third year student, expressed his gratitude by commenting, “We are tremendously grateful for the support of so many people. Without their help we wouldn’t have been able to participate in this competition.”
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The softball competition was held on 4-5 June at Ishidoriya Athletic Park in Hanamaki City, and the students of Takata High School played with all their energy. Due to damage from the tsunami, all of Takata High School’s classrooms were completely destroyed. The players found only a single helmet that had somehow managed to escape the tsunami in one of the classrooms, and they wore it with pride during their match.
At a team meeting before the match the coach told the team, “This is the first time I have seen you all in the same uniform. You guys look great. There is only one thing I have to tell you and that is: keep smiling while you play. Smile to keep yourself relaxed. Let’s smile for all of the people that have supported us!”
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| The team put up a good fight against Morioka Commercial High School, but they lost a close first match 2-4, eliminating them from the tournament. | ||||
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| Third year students from Takata High School Softball Club. |
Team captain Yumi Kumagai commented, “We have been through a lot, but the three third year students overcame everything together. I feel that our performance today was an expression of our gratitude to our upperclassmen and parents for supporting us.” Another team member, Aya Murakami, said, “This was our best match yet. It will be a great memory.” Another teammate, Yuna Murakami, commented that, “There was a lot of hardship and a lot of joy. Losing is never easy, but I’m happy we were able to enjoy the game.”
All players from Takata High School voiced that, “We gave it everything we had. We hope that our efforts reach back home.” The Iwate Prefecture Inter-High School Athletic Competition is receiving wide support from all over Japan. The swimming and rowing competitions are scheduled for 17-19 June, followed by the Tohoku Regional Competition and National Competition.
All photo credits: © Japan Committee for UNICEF/2011/K.Goto
| 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 | 6-7 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 | ||
| Miyagi | Minicar | 8 Apr. | 3 cars | ||
| Miyagi | Nutritional supplements | From early April | 4,000 bottles | ||
| 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 | Preschool-size chairs, tables and low tables | 14 Apr. | 75 chairs; 11 tables; 9 low tables | Donated to preschools, primary schools, junior high schools and high schools in the disaster area as well as their new locations | |
| Miyagi | Mopeds | 15 Apr. | 5 | ||
| Iwate | Notebooks and stationery sets for primary and junior high school students | 15. Apr. | 16,700 sets | ||
| Miyagi | 183 computers; 57 copiers and fax machines; 61 printers | 18-21 Apr. | Distributed to preschools, primary schools, junior high schools and high schools in the disaster area as well as their new locations | ||
| Fukushima | Movable blackboards | 21 Apr. | 10 | ||
| Fukushima | Temporary toilets | 22 Apr. | 20 | ||
| Iwate | Geiger counters | 28 Apr. | 14 | For schools in Soma City | |
| Iwate | Dressing room/ breastfeeding partition system | 28 Apr. | 21 sets | ||
| Saitama* | Milk | From late April | Shelter in Futabamachi, Kazo City | ||
| Saitama* | Yogurt | From early May | Danone Japan | Shelter in Futabamachi, Kazo City | |
| Iwate | Color pencils (120 sets) and paint (240 sets) | 13 May | |||
| Iwate | Student lamps | 14 May | 15 | ||
| Iwate | Stationery sets | 16 May | 840 sets | ||
| Fukushima | Lockers | 16 May | 22 sets | For the Board of Education of Minamisoma City | |
| Fukushima | Computers | 16 May | 1 | Ishikawa Town Board of Education | |
| Miyagi | 2 copiers; 2 computers; 2 printers | May | For Higashi-Matsushima Day-Care Center and Watari Day-Care Center | ||
| Iwate | Water receiving tank, water purifier tank, water supply tank | May construction | May construction | ||
| Miyagi | Solar-powered vaccine refrigerator | 18 May | |||
| Fukushima | Fans | 30 May | 112 | Minamisoma City Board of Education | |
| Fukushima | Masks | 30 May | 100,000 | Minamisoma City Board of Education |
-Number of UNICEF Children’s Mini Libraries distributed: Approximately 130,000 books to over 650 locations (as of 6 June 2011).
-Number of children that have participated in the UNICEF “Let’s Play! The Outdoors Playtime Project” in Fukushima Prefecture: Approximately 5,600 (as of 26 May)
*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 1 June 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).