被災した子ども達が、山と海でのびのび遊べる夏を創ります！！

先日、私は

「福島のことではなく、私達の星で起きていることです。」と書きました。

https://readyfor.jp/projects/komera-summer2014/announcements/11083　

　

世界の中心はどこでしょう。

きっとどこでも在りません。

そして、あなたの居るところが中心であり、世界の果てだと思います。

 

 

このプロジェクトが始まって、

たくさんの出逢いをいただきました。本当にありがとうございます。

 

 

英語が苦手な私達のために、何人もの方が英訳をしてくださったおかげで、

今日まで70日近くも世界へメッセージを届けることができました。

おかげさまで、新しい出逢いもいただきました。心から感謝しています。

もう一度、ここにも記しておきます。

 

 

あと2日弱、46時間で、満月です。
いよいよレディーフォーのスポンサー締切です。

 

 

でも、まだスタート地点に立ったばかり。

これで終わりではありません。

夏で終わりでもありません。

 

 

子ども達がオトナになって行った時に、世界の中心、もしくは世界の果てで。

あなたに出逢うかもしれません。

子ども達とつながってくださる皆様へ届けます。

（文字数制限があるので、数回に分かれます）

 

 

We have created a collective recuperation center for the young victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake (earthquake, tsunami and the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant), where we provide a place where children can play outdoors and experience a life in connection with nature.  Through the experience, we hope to support the children find comfort of mind and body, which will help them regain the energy to move forward.

 

In “Komera no mori”, we do not offer a set program to follow.  We encourage children to be proactive, in deciding on their chores, discussing and cooperating in creating their own ways to play and live together. 

The outdoor activities may include the following:  In the summer, children may enjoy playing by the river, trekking, night hikes (enjoying the fireflies and the starry sky), “Nagashi somen” (catching and eating somen noodles released in running water. ), which starts from cutting out the bamboos to serve as a track to release the noodles.  In winter, children may enjoy various activities in the snow, such as, sledding on sled or used tires, snowball fights, tracking animal footprints.  In the spring, the children can play in the snow and also take part in making over 200 kg of hand-made Miso!! There are endless activities that can be done in nature. Bathing in metallic drum can bathtubs is a children’s favorite too.

 

We try to teach the children, the importance of “eating properly” and its connection with our own “life” by actually cooking together.  We share the chores of chopping wood for fuel, washing the rice grains in cold water, cooking steamed rice over wood-fired oven, and then eat the products. We also cook dishes consisting mainly of organic vegetables and Miso soup.  As you can see, by sensing one’s connection to mother-nature, and by interacting with others, the children nurture the “roots” much needed for living.

 

Last year, in the summer of 2013, for the first time after 3.11, 2011, we organized a recreational camp “by the sea” at “Sadogashima island”. For those living along the coast line of Fukushima, Hamadoori, it was a natural thing to enjoy the Pacific widely spread in front of them, up until the disaster.  But today, people have a reason to be hesitant to enjoy what they used to. Despite the limitation left by the disaster, it is indispensable for children to grow up playing with fire, water and the soil as a life experience.  And the experience should not be taken away from them as they grow up.

 

 

Through the realization of this summer camp, we were able to fulfill the desires of the children “to swim in the sea and the river” and the desires of the parents “to go to the beach with the children.” 

 

 

We observed children jumping into the (then still ) cold water with jubilance.  We saw mothers, who were trembling with cold, soon follow and join the children with joy.  Everyone was absolutely ecstatic!! Then came more miracles…everyone came to discover countless numbers of small fish in the bay by the beach.  As if the fish were taken by surprise to have so many children in their waters, many fish were thrown out to the beach, where everyone could just catch them by hand, later to enjoy them as part of dinner.  Although it was only for an hour, I will never forget the scene of immense joy present then, for the rest of my life.

 

 

During camp, everyone jumped into the beautiful and transparent waters, swam, dived, caught fish and shellfish, and then ate rice balls.  I can’t but forget what one mother had told me.  “I was finally able to re-experience the relaxed and happy feeling that I used to feel before the disaster.  I was able to achieve one of the things that I couldn’t dare do after the disaster, which was to swim in the sea.”

 

 

We at “Komera no mori”, will keep on serving as a recuperation center for the disaster-affected children, so that they can spread their wings in our natural environment and enjoy the collective life, free from the effects of radiation.  I believe that both children and adults can free their hearts and relax, enjoy living again in the natural setting.

 

 

Today, we would like to go back to our starting point to nurture a collective community and lead it another step forward.  We are determined to continue “Komera no mori”, which can be the source of smiles for the children and family. We truly appreciate the support and contribution from all who are willing to support our cause.

 

 

 

*Picture 夏の笑顔
Smiles of children in summer

 

 

*Picture 冬～春の笑顔
Smiles of children in winter

 

*Picture making dinner
It is so delicious to cook and eat together