[IWATE, Japan, 6 May 2011]
On 4 May (Wednesday), a soccer exchange event was held as a tribute to the reconstruction of the Tohoku region. Mitsuo Ogasawara of the Kashima Antlers called on primary school students in the disaster area to come and participate. Approximately 200 children participated in the event, which was co-hosted by the Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU), Iwate Football Association and the Morioka City Amateur Athletic Association. Participants were able to enjoy playing soccer on real grass at the Morioka Minami Park in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture.
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF /2011/K.Goto |
| Children returning home on the UNICEF Children’s Bus. |
JCU provided the “UNICEF Children’s Bus” as a way to bring the children to the venue where Mr. Ogasawara was waiting. This bus was used by JCU to facilitate UNICEF Children’s Bus Fieldtrips as a special promotion during Golden Week for children living in the coastal regions of Iwate Prefecture. The bus was used to pick up the children and transport them to a place where they could play and have fun in a safe environment. One of those events was this soccer exchange. With the cooperation of Iwate Kenpoku Bus, children from 10 different coastal areas between Kuji City and Rikuzentakata City were able to participate in the event. After reaching Morioka Minami Park on the morning of the soccer exchange, the children appeared as if they had enjoyed the near three-hour trip with their teammates on the bus. When they arrived one child said, “That was so fun, playing bingo on the bus!”
It has been nearly two months since the disaster and the soccer fields are now being used as a construction location for temporary housing, depriving numerous children of a place to practice soccer. Moreover, dust and various hazards make it difficult for children to play outside; people are still forced to live under very harsh circumstances. For that reason this marked the first time than some of the children had kicked a soccer ball since the earthquake.
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF |
| Soccer goods were donated by corporations and relief supplies were donated by Kashima Antelers supporters in response to an appeal made by Mr. Ogasawara. |
Mr. Ogasawara, a native of Iwate Prefecture, took time out of his busy schedule to spend the day with the children and watch over all of the games being played on the four fields. After the games Mr. Ogasawara held a free kick demonstration for the children, where he scored goal after goal by shooting the ball over a human wall formed by over 100 children. After that at the closing ceremony, he encouraged the children by telling them that in order to become good at soccer they would have to work twice as hard as everyone else.
As part of assistance for children in the disaster area, JCU works to support psychological care for children by providing them with a safe place to play sports and other activities. After the soccer exchange, JCU took a commemorative photo of each team of children that took part in the event and then boarded the bus to head back home.
Following the activities with primary school students, on 5 May, junior high school students hit the fields and Mr. Ogasawara watched over their games.
| 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 | ||
| 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 | 21 Apr. | 20 |
Number of UNICEF Children’s Mini Libraries distributed: Approximately 250 (as of 28 April 2011)
*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 28 April 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).