UNITE FOR CHILDREN

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Relief

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Relief (96th report)
Report on the Iwate Prefecture Inter-Junior High School Athletic Competition
-Pro athletes deliver passionate messages of encouragement to children-

[IWATE, JAPAN, 10 August 2011]

At the Iwate Prefecture Inter-Junior High School Athletic Competition, which was held between 15 and 18 July, the Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) called on several athletes that currently compete, or did in the past, on the global level to attend the event.

 

At the main opening ceremony held on 16 July at the track and field stadium in Morioka City, sprinter Yuta Kanno came and delivered a message of encouragement to the students, saying, “I came here today to watch you all overcome your difficulties, and to give it everything you’ve got out there, never giving up. And I want to see you smile while you’re doing it! Give it everything you’ve got and reenergize Japan!” During the practice time after the opening ceremony, Mr. Kanno visited each school’s tent and gave them individual advice, interacted with the students, and gave an impromptu seminar on sprint starts to players from junior high schools in Otsuchi Town and Miyako City.

   

The children that participated told us, “I want to set a new personal record,” “Thank you for the school supplies. I plan to use the advice Mr. Kanno gave me on starting sprints to run as hard as I can,” and “I think his advice made me faster!”

On the same day, Eri Uehara and Kiyono Hirata, well-known soft tennis players, attended the opening ceremony for the soft tennis event in Kitakami City. Ms. Hirata encouraged the players, commenting, “I am so happy that this event is being held despite such hard times following the 11 March disaster, and I am sure that you have all worked tremendously hard to be here. At the training camp for the national team last week, we trained very hard under the slogan “Everyone in Japan shares the same heart”. We may be different in terms of age, but we play the same sport. I hope that junior high school students and adults alike will work hard and play good soft tennis.” Both players observed the matches, and after they were finished they played a doubles exhibition match against the winners in the girls singles from Ueno Junior High School.

Students that participated in the soft tennis competition told us, “We didn’t have much time to practice, but we were able to advance to the prefectural competition, and I am grateful for the support of everyone. We will give it everything we’ve got,” and “We would not be able to continue playing tennis without everyone’s support. I hope to repay everyone for their help by making it to nationals.”

Satoko Mabuchi attended the closing ceremony for the softball event on 17 July. At the ceremony she commented, “I know things aren’t easy, but watching you play today I realized that you have what it takes to energize the entire Tohoku region. Keep the thoughts of the other teams with you as you fight your way to the Tohoku competition and nationals.”

After her speech, Ms. Mabuchi spoke with the girls while she showed them the medal she won at the Beijing Olympics, and then put on a batting demonstration. She also took the time to carefully answer the students’ questions and provide them with advice. One student excitedly said, “Her advice about batting and how to ease nervousness was a big help. I plan to use that advice at the Tohoku competition.” Another student added, “It was inspiring to touch a gold medal. At the Tohoku competition, I plan to take it one game at a time, working towards making to nationals.”

   

On 18 July, the final day of the competition, Kana Oyama visited the volleyball venue. After watching the semi-finals and finals, at the closing ceremony she said, “The people that watch you all working so hard to win, chasing the ball and never giving up—you provide the people that see that with energy and courage. I am sure that the Tohoku competition will be tough, but work as a team and give it your best. Thank you for your inspiration today.”

 

After everything was finished, Ms. Oyama held a clinic for the nearly 500 players and junior high school students that attended as helpers on the day. In her clinic, Ms. Oyama provided careful instruction about the basics, such as the toss and receive. One player that participated said, “I intend to use each of the things that I learned.” Another student commented, “I will never forget receiving a spike from Ms. Oayama! I will give it my best at the Tohoku competition.”

The Tohoku Junior High School Athletic Competition is currently underway. Continuing on the Iwate Prefecture Inter-Junior High School Athletic Competition, the Japan Committee for UNICEF is providing support to assist affected children in Iwate Prefecture participate in the Tohoku competition.

All photo credits: © Japan Committee for UNICEF

Current arrival status of relief supplies

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
   
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
Fukushima Notebooks and stationery sets 16 Apr. 390 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 29 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
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
Iwate 1 copy machine 2 June Preschool
Miyagi Rain coats 4 June 1,000
Saitama* Shoes 15 June 460 pairs Converse Footwear Co., Ltd.
Fukushima Fans 21 June 21 Minamisoma City Board of Education
Miyagi Jerseys for teachers and windbreakers for students (various sizes) June Akashi Hifuku Kogyo Co., Ltd Junior high schools in Kesennuma City (6 schools)
Miyagi Used digital piano June 1
Miyagi Digital scale 6 July 200 Ishinomaki City Offices
Miyagi Fans 6 July 5
Miyagi Child-size tables and chairs; toys 22 July IKEA
Iwate Candles for events 23 July
Iwate Wall-hanging fans 1 August 200
Iwate Recreation kit replenishments Regular
Fukushima Fans 2 August 95 Minamisoma City Board of Education
Miyagi Hand sterilizer 3 August 4,680 Lion Corporation Preschools, etc.
Miyagi Antibacterial freshener 3 August 3,600 Magnet Corporation; Antimicrobial Technology Co., Ltd.; Jutech Corporation; Clean Techno Co., Ltd.; Mitani Valve Co., Ltd.; HY Corporation Preschools, etc.

-Number of UNICEF Children’s Mini Libraries distributed: Approximately 240,000 books to over 1,900 locations (as of 4 August 2011).
-Number of children that have participated in the UNICEF “Let’s Play! The Outdoors Playtime Project” in Fukushima Prefecture (including planned numbers): More than 31,000 (as of 4 August).

*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 4 August 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).