On the 27th and 28th, we visited the cities of Minamisōma and Fukushima in Fukushima Prefecture!
As the end of November approaches, Fukushima is getting colder. We were still lucky enough to see blue skies, and thankfully, we were told there was no need yet for studless snow tires.

 

 

This time, we travelled with three members of our staff and three volunteers. Two of these volunteers joined us for the first time, with one being from Hiroshima and the other temporarily visiting from Venezuela. We were happy to have new volunteers with us, even if they came from far away!

On the 1st day, we headed to Minamisōma to perform thermotherapy at Ōmika Lifelong Learning Center and Omachihigashi Public Restoration Housing.

When we visit Omachihigashi each month, we are always welcomed in with warm arms. We even met two new people who were invited by their acquaintances. After a brief explanation on thermotherapy, we began our usual treatment. We received positive feedback from our newest themotherapy patients, and we hope to see them again next month.

The new volunteers were also hard at work, asking participants where their bodies felt stiff and whether the temperature was too hot.

 

 

 

On the 2nd day, we moved on to Fukushima City. We visited the non-profit organization Hanamiyama wo Mamoru Kai (Committee to Protect Hanamiyama) where we always stay, the children’s learning facility Rainbow House, and Minna no Ie Second, a community facility for restoration-related activities.

At Minna no Ie, we also worked with the children there to help them make Christmas cards in preparation for our annual “Christmas Card Exchange Project”. The project involves trading handmade cards between the children of Nepal, Fukushima, and Ukraine.

 

　　　　　　

　　　　　

 

 

 

 

With some help from their mothers, the children used colorful tape, stickers, and crayons to create their own original cards.  We will be sending these beautiful cards to the children in Nepal!

 

 

 

 

In the evening, we visited Joho Elementary School in Koori City to pick up the Christmas cards they had made. These cards will be sent to the school in Ukraine which participated in our 2017 and 2018 Ukraine & Fukushima Children’s Exchange Program. We would like to thank everyone at Joho Elementary School for their contributions!

 

 

 

Thermotherapy participants

Day 1: 5 at Ōmika Lifelong Learning Center, 15 at Omachihigashi Public Restoration Housing
Day 2: 15 at Minna no Ie, 12 at Hanamiyama wo Mamoru Kai, 4 at Rainbow House, 4 at Iinomachi Community Center

 

 

<Bonus>

We enjoyed lunch at Sakegawa Shokudo, a restaurant in Minamisōma famous for their salmon and ikura (salmon roe) rice bowls. Since we weren’t able to visit the eatery last year, we were very excited to be able to visit this time. We were even given some miso-marinated salmon to take home with us.
Thank you for the delicious food!