[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
| 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).