[MIYAGI, JAPAN, 17 August 2011]
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On 16 August at the opening ceremony of the 34th Miyagi Sports Association Rubber Baseball Exchange Competition (Jumbo Tournament), the Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) provided icepacks as a countermeasure for heat stroke to primary school students participating in the competition, which had been pushed back three months due to the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Shin Watanabe, chair of the Miyagi Sports Association Baseball Council, gave a big smile as he explained to JCU, “After the disaster, on 13 and 14 March, I thought about visiting different parts of Miyagi Prefecture in my car, but the road was severed around Minamisanriku, leaving me without a way to go. I was unable to confirm the safety of the Association’s board members and was very worried about the children as well. After I was finally able to get in touch with everyone, we held a board members’ meeting on 23 March where we decided that the Jumbo Tournament just wasn’t feasible due to the circumstances. Still unable to give up, we held another meeting in late April but it was again determined that it would be impossible to hold the event as the baseball fields were still covered in rubble. The situation felt hopeless, but the children didn’t give up. Children from Ishinomaki, Higashi-Matsushima and Watari contacted me directly and demanded that we hold the Jumbo Tournament. They pleaded that they are finally sixth graders and want nothing more than to participate in the tournament. Thanks to the eagerness of these children, at the next board members’ meeting held on 23 May we decided that, while the winners still wouldn’t be able to participate in nationals because the tournament has been delayed, we should still hold the tournament anyway. I was very pleased with this decision and felt greatly relieved. We were worried how many teams would be able to participate at first, but in the end a total of 289 teams, just one short of last year, registered. Everyone was then very pleased that we had decided to hold the tournament. However, we still had a long way to go before making the tournament happen. First, the baseball field we had used in the past was rendered useless by the disaster and a lot of children had lost their baseball cleats and other equipment as well. We managed to secure the Kleenex Stadium and received assistance from people across Japan in the provision of equipment. I am so happy that we are able to hold the tournament today. I am absolutely full of gratitude. Just when we were about to give up, it was the eager voices of children that encouraged us to keep trying.”
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The mother of a boy in the sixth grade at Yanaizu Primary School in Tome City also commented that, “After the disaster, the children were unable to practice often because of fears of aftershocks. They were finally able to return to practice as normal from around late April. It made me feel so good to see them out there playing with such energy. This is the last competition for sixth graders, so we were determined to make it happen. I was so thankful when I heard that they decided to hold the competition. It’s truly amazing that so many primary school students are participating today. I hope that they will give it their all out there, but just be careful about heat stroke because it is a tremendously hot today.”
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| Players were provided with UNICEF bags. |
At the opening ceremony, Miyagi Sports Association Director Yuya Goto greeted the crowd: “Your entrance marches were more spirited and energetic than in past years. This year, countless precious lives were lost in the horrific 11 March disaster and many more have been affected. It brings me great pleasure to be able to hold this opening ceremony despite these circumstances. The baseball tournament is being held three months later than normal years, but I hope that you will demonstrate the spirit and skills that your coaches have provided you with to make this year’s competition better than others. When you play remember your passion for baseball, the feelings of your families, as well as the supplies and assistance that has been provided by Miyagi Prefecture and from people across Japan. Let these feelings serve as motivation that will allow you to play courageously out there on the field.”
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After the opening ceremony, the students sounded refreshed with energy as they told us, “We practiced a lot for this, so I am happy that we were able to compete. We’re not the best team, but I am determined to win. We promised that we’d all shave our heads if we lost.” Another student said, “This is our last tournament. When they said the tournament was on, my mom was really happy for me. That made me happy.”
The 34th Miyagi Sports Association Rubber Baseball Exchange Competition (Jumbo Tournament) is scheduled from 28 August (Sunday) until 2 October (semifinals and the finals) at Kleenex Stadium and other public baseball fields.
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 | ||
| 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).