Spring is
here in New York! I trust this finds you well and enjoying the warm
sunshine.
We are
pleased to report that ease NY Japan Recovery Event on March 11 was a great
success. Thank you to all of you who came and everyone who was there
in spirit in support of our initiative. We are deeply moved by the
caring and kindness shown by so many people.
Reflecting on
my own experience from one year ago, I was scheduled to fly
to Japan with my one-year-old daughter on March 11,
2011. I was woken up by a phone call from Makiko in the middle of
the night and learned about the disaster which had just hit Japan including
her family in Kesennuma-city. There was not enough information about
the situation, and my flight was not going to be cancelled. I
decided to take the flight as planned. I thought I could go help
Makiko’s family.
Arriving
at Narita Airport, I found all the transportation was
paralyzed. It took us more than 6 hours to get to a hotel
in Tokyo. Frequent aftershocks continued every
day. Bottled water was sold out, the threat of radiation
contamination was increasing. It was a very difficult time,
especially with a young child, but I thought of the people who lost their loved
ones, homes and livelihood. My difficulty was nothing, compared to
what they were going through.
For the past
year, I have been wanting to go to the hardest hit areas and work as a
volunteer. But with both business and family responsibilities, I was
only able to send monetary contributions. Approaching the one year
anniversary, everyone at ease NY thought of ways to help, and came up with the
idea to hold the ease
NY Japan Recovery Event on March 11. Everyone of my staff
was eager to participate. It is my great
honor and pleasure to work with such caring colleagues. One of our
therapists has volunteered to work at the site removing debris.
In
addition to this event on March 11, we have held an “aroma fundraising”
campaign since last year, together which we have raised
$5,711.05. We will donate the full amount to “Ashinaga
Ikueikai” which supports orphaned children.
We
continue to pray for the victims and those affected by the disaster and wish
for their fast recovery. It is our aspiration to give what we
can and help those in need in Japan and beyond.
Thank you for your support as always.
Shizuka Moriwaki