[MORIOKA, Japan, 23 May 2011]
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On 20 May, an opening ceremony was held for the 63rd Iwate Prefecture Inter-High School Athletic Competition at Iwate Prefectural Sports Park Athletic Stadium (Morioka City).
The Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) extended assistance to the competition by providing travel and lodging expenses required for participation to children in the disaster area. This will allow high school students from the disaster area of Iwate Prefecture to realize the fruits of their practice just like students from other parts of the prefecture by giving them an equal chance to participate in the Inter-High School Athletic Competition.
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The Iwate Prefecture Inter-High School Athletic Competition doubles as the qualifying round for the national-level competition, meaning that this important event is the ticket for high school students that play sports to get to the national-level tournament. Following the disaster, it appeared nearly impossible for schools in the coastal areas of Iwate Prefecture, which were significantly damaged by the disaster, to participate in the event. JCU received a request from the Iwate Prefecture Board of Education and Iwate Prefecture High School Athletic Federation, and decided to implement assistance. Children dream of participating in this competition, and the event is an opportunity to renew the courage of the children, their parents and peers.
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Children began arriving at the stadium one after another from the early morning. Even from before the opening ceremony, schools battled back and forth as they chanted their individual and unique school cheers, filling the stadium with an air of anticipation.
At 12:20 players from all of the 84 schools took the field. Each of the players marched onto the field with pride so as to answer the grand cheers pouring in from the spectator stands. Whenever a school from the disaster-stricken coastal area entered, the crowd erupted with applause.
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| Players from Ofunato High School enter holding a banner that reads, “Thank you for your support!” | Players from Otsuchi High School march with a banner that says, “Smile – Gratitude – Progress”. | |
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| The banner says, “Let’s move forward toward our dreams” | The banner says, “We are all one, let us unite in standing up together!” | |
Before the opening ceremony a moment of silence was observed for the many that lost their lives in the Great East Japan Earthquake. After that, Ichio Yamada, the Chairman of the Iwate Prefecture High School Athletic Federation, opened the ceremony by commenting, “Your powerful marches and lively cheers reconfirm the strength of the bond between high school students in Iwate Prefecture and your steadfast determination in working towards reconstruction. I hope that you will overcome the hardship of this disaster and play with an energy that pushes us forward to tomorrow, granting bravery, spirit and hope to everyone in Iwate Prefecture.”
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Masatoshi Matsumura (a third-year student at Kamaishi High School) made a sincere promise on behalf of the teams: “We will exert every bit of strength that we have in order to impress and instill courage in all of the people that have helped us.”
After the opening ceremony, JCU answered the request of the Iwate Prefecture High School Athletic Federation by having Kana Oyama (volleyball), Mai Nakamura (swimming), Masako Chiba (long distance running) and Shingo Suetsugu (short distance running) come to the stadium to extend words of encouragement to the teams.
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| Ms. Oyama and Ms. Nakamura giving a pep talk to the teams. |
Kana Oyama, who had taught a volleyball seminar in Rikuzentakata in January of this year, spoke of how the disaster was something that has affected all of us. “I felt encouraged after watching them march forward so powerfully. I hope that the children will put their own success first,” she said. Mai Nakamura, who had also experienced the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake, encouraged the students in saying, “I spent several days unable to accept what had happened. I kept asking myself, ‘Why here? Why only this place?’ But then I decided that I had to do what I could and to the best of my ability. That is when I started swimming again. I pray that the endless potential of everyone here becomes a force for reconstruction.”
Masako Chiba encouraged the teams, saying, “If you play with everything you got it will give courage to the people of the Tohoku region. You are sure to have many chances to grow, and it is your choice how you embrace change.” Shingo Suetsugu also sent a strong message of encouragement to the young athletes. “Concentrate and play hard so that you have no regrets,” he said.
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| Masako Chiba talking with the players as they wait to enter the stadium. | Shingo Suetsugu talking to the players. |
One player representing Kamaishi Commerical and Technical High School joyfully commented, “I was really happy that they were so sincere in talking with us. I got a feeling I can win now!” Another student from Kamaishi High School excitedly said, “I can’t believe four athletes came all the way to Iwate! There were songs and cheers—definitely a day that I will remember.” Smiles filled the children’s faces, and screams like “This is so cool!” could be heard from all around.
Nearly 16,000 students filled the field on that bright sunny day, promising themselves again that they would energize Iwate Prefecture with their efforts on the field. The students planned to play their hardest so that they can compete in the Northern Tohoku Inter-High School Athletic Competition, which is to be held in August.
JCU will continue to support the disaster area including assistance for the Iwate Prefecture Inter-High School Athletic Competition.
All photo credits: ©Japan Committee for UNICEF
| 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 |
Number of UNICEF Children’s Mini Libraries distributed: Approximately 110,000 books to over 350 locations (as of 16 May 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 16 May 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).