[MIYAGI, JAPAN, 27 August 2012]
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On Monday, 27 August, the students of Asahi Kindergarten for the first time attended class at their new school. The kindergarten, located in Minamisanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture, recently celebrated the completion of its new building in an opening ceremony, and today celebrated the start of a new school term. When the students arrived a teacher asked them, "What do you think about your new school?" They energetically called back, "It smells fresh like a forest!"
In no time the students were happy as can be, running and rolling around in their new school building. One student, who was running around the porch that surrounds the building, yelled, "This building is too fun!" After the children left for the day, the teachers all lied down on the porch and relaxed, enjoying the natural soothing smell of their wooden building.
Mayor Sato of Minamisanriku Town told the Japan Committee for UNICEF, "I plan to make this building a cultural resource for our town. It has become a symbol of reconstruction for us all."
One teacher, who just a year ago suffered greatly at the hands of the disaster, now smiled and said, "I cannot tell you how happy I am to have a relaxing place to spend with the children. And can you believe how amazing this building is!"
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All photo credits: © Japan Committee for UNICEF
