2015-07-11 Minami Sanariku Beach Cleanup

After waking up, we explored the area around the hotel and found a series of statues of anime characters. We loaded up in the bus and rode further out into the country side to Nagasuka Beach. Along the way, we picked up a former RFJK participant, Kazuya. We arrived at Tsunagari beach and received a quick orientation from the Sea Monkeys before starting our beach clean up. The Sea Monkeys is the same organization we worked with last year that helps coordinate this movement to keep this beach clean. We picked up larger pieces of debris and had fun working with 2 future RFJK participants, Hiori and Harumi. We ate yakisoba and tuna curry (a brilliant play on words) before painting a mural and returning to cleaning the beach. We sadly said our goodbyes after almost six hours of working, eating and playing together and headed to our next destination.

(I have poor internet access here so the pictures will come later)

2015-07-10 Asahigaoka Temporary Housing & Onagawa Collaboration School

After relaxing at the Onagawa Train Station/Yupopo Spa, we headed to a quiet neighborhood where members of the nearby temporary housing complexes were able to gather at a community center. We shared our chants and hula with them before they returned the favor with two unique dance numbers. We ate yakisoba prepared by the inimitable Atsushi-san while enjoying reach other's company. After a fond farewell we were back on the road. We stopped at the site of what was formerly Okawa Elementary School. This quiet location nestled below some tree covered hills and a river is now a shrine dedicated to the community members who lost their lives in the disaster. The school itself is just a barely distinguishable building with toppled walkways and wall-less classrooms. I admit to being deeply moved by the site and took a moment to reflect on how I had previously complained about the lack of WiFi or a consistent cell phone network connection just minutes earlier. My inconvenience seemed so minor compared to the trials and challenges each survivor must have faced (and in some ways continue to face). There was an air of reverence in the bus as we quietly rode to Onagawa Collaboration School. We were greeted by the teacher who had helped coordinated this meeting, Rie-sensei. She cheerfully introduced herself before leading us to the front of the school abutted by more temporary housing units. Standing in front of the school stood the 14(?) students of the school who had been patiently waiting our arrival. The Bridge Club members were individually escorted to the classroom where the tireless Rie-sensei and Teppei-sensei led us in a series of ice breakers and dutifully prepared presentations. Before we left we were treated to their original dance that I had the pleasure of watching/learning last year, Sanma de Samba. We performed our chants and hula and participated in a group reflection of the day's activities. We took pictures and shared our omiyage before learning that a few of the students would be joining us on our bus to be taken home. What would've been another somber goodbye turned into just a few more minutes on a "party bus" that was filled with awkward conversations that punctuated with raucous laughter once connections had been made. We checked into our hotel in Ishinomaki and had dinner with Akari. Much like her namesake she was a bright conversationalist who taught us some words like kurage (jellyfish) and yuki daruma (snowman) in the course of our conversations about music, anime and food. Like every meeting with the Rainbow for Japan Kids participants this one ended with another difficult goodbye.

2015-07-10 Pictures from the Previous Entry

Due to connectivity issues, I was able to write my entry yesterday morning before our activities went into full swing, but I couldn't add any pictures. Here are the photos that I intended to send last time.

2015-07-10 Onagawa Hotate Prepping

We wandered around the hotel in the morning and found a 7-11 about a mile away. After breakfast and a short bus ride away, we had a great experience with scallops. We scraped the barnacles, wedged them open, extracted the innards, and separated the meat. They served us some raw scallops, some scallops sauteed in butter and shoyu, and the himo. We spent some time at Onagawa Train Station that had a full onsen on the second floor.... And it's not even noon yet.

2015-07-09 Oshika

Left Sendai and headed DEEP into rural Japan to a tiny town called Oshika. Nestled in a midori forest, we were greeted by all 49 students of Oshika Junior High School. They treated us to a welcome assembly where they talked about what changes happened to their town/school after the tsunami, and they performed an original version of soran. We had a picnic in a park before riding a boat to a small offshore island populated by deer and a monkey. Some of us hiked around a waterfall while others fed some of the tamer deer. We rode back and were taken to our hotel. We checked in and marveled at the traditional style of the rooms replete with tatami mats and futon. The hotel has wonderful service staff, an operational public bath, but no WiFi. We had a extravagant dinner with whale meat, uni, sashimi, chawan mushi, etc. Four of last year's Rainbow for Japan Kids participants joined us for dinner and a fun night together. The jet lag is catching up to us, but everyone enjoyed a full day of once in a lifetime experiences.

2015-07-09 Sendai Morning

A few of us ventured out for some morning exploration around the hotel before breakfast. We fortunately found one gift shop that was open so early in the morning before getting some donuts and Mister Donuts.

2015-07-08 Sendai

Checked into our hotel after a walk in a drizzle from the train station. (See lobby entry) We walked down the shotengai to the buffet called Hinano to meet some past and future Rainbow for Japan Kids participants. Good food with great friends.

Shayna made her first purchase in Japan on the way back from the hotel.