Wednesday, August 26, 2015

2015 SWTJ Summer Camp

August 2015: 4th SWTJ Summer Camp for Tohoku Kids in Senmaya

Thanks to the generous support of SWTJ supporters from home and abroad, this year again, the SWTJ summer camp for Tohoku kids could take place and was a great success! 
Ten volunteer youth leaders from all over the country came together to spend some exciting days in the comfortable Senmaya community center with elementary and junior high school-age kids from the Tohoku region. Some of the kids had already taken part last year, while others joined for the first time. Everybody had a great time, and even the rain couldn’t dampen our good mood.  

SWTJ youth leaders in their last meeting before the camp
In the photo above, some of the youth leaders make preparations for the camp on the day before the arrival of the children.

August 12:
This year again, we were able to rent the comfortable Senmaya Community Center (Senmaya Minami Koryu Center), a former elementary school in a village not far from Ichinoseki in Iwate Prefecture, right next to the border with Miyagi Prefecture.

Starting point: Kesennuma Station

Day 1: August 13:
Everybody gathered at Kesennuma Station, and soon it was time to say goodbye to the parents, and to get on the train with the cool volunteer camp leaders! Some of the children had participated last year alreadz, and were excited to reunite, while some others took part for the first time, and, while a little apprehensive, were full of anticipation.

Learning to play cup and ball.

Once we arrived in Senmaya, we made teams. There was a ‘play cup and ball’ workshop, and a handbell workshop, and the kids quickly became really good at their new craft! We aimed at organizing a handbell and a cup and ball performance at the end of the camp, and at obtaining the cup and ball player certificate of the Japan Cup and Ball Association! 


Each child paints his own cup and ball tool!

Curry rice, salad and fried chicken enjoyed by all! Everybody helped prepare the delicious dinner!

At night...the much anticipated ghost walk! After all, we stayed overnight in an abandoned former elementary school...

真っ暗な廊下の向こうには…
Even after seeing some scary things, the kids went ahead courageously. Some kids did start to cry...
All the volunteer leaders changed into ghosts and other scary beings. The kids sure screamed! And later beamed in excitement. A night of success.

Day 1: August 14:

Today, river play was on the schedule, but unfortunately, it was raining. So instead, we stayed inside and made colorful bags with the help of rubber eraser stamps. Look at these nice outcomes!





We made a map with the kids so that they could see from where in Japan all the goodies and camp supplies came from, and where the sponsors lived. Thank you to all the sponsors from all over Japan! 


Finally the rain stopped for some time and we could have a delicious BBQ outside! And we even had time in the afternoon to play outdoors. Yeah!



The blindfolded kid has to try to hit the water melon so that we can all enjoy it. Go go!!
Really looks like he's going to hit it in the right place!
At night we all participated in the local Bon-Festival Summer event of Senmaya village, a great opportunity to socialize with the local people. Many stalls were established in the school courtyard, and everybody enjoyed the music, the traditional dance, and the delicous food from the stalls. SWTJ's cotton candy machine worked full time too!



Some of our kids became really good at making cotton candy themselves!
Our last camp evening of course ended with the much loved fireworks.

Day 1: August 15:

On our last day, the sun finally came through!! Off we were to the river!

Big smiles!

A local resident lent us this marvelous raft- so much fun!

Back home there was only little time left- but we had some important projects to complete, most of all, show off what we had learned in the workshops!
The handbell performance.
Getting the cup and ball certificate from the licensed teacher!


There was one more ritual to be accomplished...every year we would mark the kids’height on a big poster. Some had grown over 10cm in just one year, and others had surpassed the camp leaders!
Soon, we had to say good bye... everyone was a bit sad...
But hopefully, we can meet again next year!


SWTJ would like to say big thanks to everybody who made this camp possible- to our generous sponsors, to the people who sent food or camp utensils, to our great camp leaders who donated their time and skills, to the wonderful people of Senmaya village who already welcomed us for the third time this year, and to the families who entrusted their children to us and allowed us to build strong bonds with these future leaders of northern Japan whose residents are so courageously rebuilding their lives after the tremendous tsunami damage of the year 2011.  

Monday, January 19, 2015

February 10/11, 2015: LOVE&HOPE FOR TOHOKU (7th Event)

This year again, SWTJ is organizing a 2-day charity concert/ family event in Kyoto!

Feb 10 (Tue) and 11 (Wed) 2015 
All profits of the event will be used to send musicians to Tohoku to play for evacuees in temporary housing or in homes for the elderly during the 4th Anniversary period of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March 11 2011.
Come join us on Feb 10/11 ! 
Have fun, meet some great people, and help us send musicians to Tohoku for the Anniversary in March! 

PLACE:
MEDIA SHOP
Kawaramachi Sanjo Hitosuji Sagaru
Daikoku-cho Kitagawa VOX Bldg. 1F
KYOTO

HOW TO GO:
From Keihan Sanjo Station in Kyoto: Cross the bridge, turn left to the south immediately, walk along the road that looks down to the river for a few meters, then turn right into Daikoku cho. The VOX Building is a few meters ahead of you, after crossing Kiyamachi-dori, on your right.
From Kawaramachi/Sanjo: walk to Sanjo Bridge, turn right and walk south along the river up to the first turn, turn right into Daikoku cho, the VOX Building is a few meters ahead of you, after crossing Kiyamachi-dori, on your right.

PROGRAM Tuesday Feb 10: 
FIDDLE AND GUITAR CONCERT by the fantastic Tabula Rasa (Takehiro Kunigi, fiddle; Fukue Genta, guitar):
DOORS OPEN: 18:00
LIVE CONCERT STARTS: 19:00
TICKETS: 3,000Yen at the door (2,800 Yen for tickets reserved in advance). Reserve your ticket by sending an email with your full name and the number of tickets you wish to reserve to:

Also enjoy:  Drinks and snacks for sale at BAR-CAFE TOHOKU/FOTO EXHIBITON of SWTJ activities.
BONUS: Your concert ticket entitles you to free entry on Wednesday Feb 11 for a daytime fun event with live music of some amazing and well-known Kansai musicians! 

PROGRAM Wednesday Feb 11: 12:00 - 21:00 
Solidarity Ticket: 1,000 Yen (buy ticket at the door): 
9 hours of SWTJ photo exhibition, live music and workshops for people of all ages. Great fun for families!
Kids elementary school and younger: entrance free.
Live music, games, workshops!
(a fee for materials will be requested for some workshops). 
LIVE MUSIC PROGRAM:
13:00 Sidewalk Salon Orchestra
15:00 Yoshiko Stonpea
17:00 Goto Yuzo and Mori Sense
18:30 Beetorusu
20:00 Fanfare Roma'n Guilde 
WORKSHOPS: Free fun Tambourine Workshop with amazing artist Tajima/ Yamaguri Puppet Making (small fee for materials)/Naruto Kokeshi wooden puppet painting (small fee for materials)/Wooden Broach Painting (small fee for materials)/ 
St. Valentine Chocolate Cookie Decorating and Wrapping (small fee for materials)/ Bag Decorating with Potato Stamps (small fee for materials). 
Snacks and drinks will be sold at the event. Look out for our   takoyaki dumplings and cotton candy!



SWJT Musicians play for evacuees in Tohoku (Photo from Anniversary Activity in 2013)


Be part of our commitment for Tohoku:
We Won't Forget- We Will Continue!
All profits of this event will be used for SWTJ activities for evacuees during the 4th Earthquake and Tsunami Anniversary in Tohoku! 
Watch out for our report after the Anniversary in mid-March. 


Below: text and pamphlet in Japanese for your Japanese friends:




2月10日、11日の2日間、SWTJのチャリティーイベント第7弾を開催します。1日目は、ちょっぴり大人なライブを愉しむ夜、2日目は、こどもから大人まで皆で愉しめる、お祭りイベント。会場では、SWTJ写真展「3月11日から、これからと」も両日共に同時開催いたします。

ご家族とお友達と。来月震災から4年を迎える東北への想いを馳せて過ごす時間に、ぜひお越しください。SWTJはこれからも、ー わすれないとは、続けること。ー をモットーに活動を続けていきます。

開催日:2015. 2. 10(火)、 11(水/祝)
会 場:MEDIA SHOP
京都市中京区河原町三条下る一筋目東入る大黒町44 VOXビル1F
電話番号:075-255-0783
http://www.media-shop.co.jp/

− DAY1| 2/10− 



Tabula Rasa (功刀丈弘+福江元太)LIVE 
feat. SWTJ CAFE 「東北のおいしい時間」


時 間:CAFE OPEN 18:00 / LIVE START 19:00
入場料:前売り ¥2,800 (小学生以下無料)当日券:¥3,000
特 典:このイベントにご参加頂いた方には、翌日のお祭りイベント入場を無料とさせていただきます。


関西の誇るアイリッシュフィドル奏者、功刀丈弘率いる Tabula Rasa のライブと、SWTJがお届けする「東北のおいしい時間」。普段お目にかかれない、東北の食や飲み物などを素敵な音楽と一緒にお楽しみいただく予定です。


− DAY2 | 2/11− 



SWTJ のお祭り - LIVE, WORKSHOP, GAME, FOOD - 

時 間:OPEN 12:00 / CLOSE 21:00
入場料:¥1,000(小学生以下無料)※出入りフリーの缶バッジ付き

ライブあり!ワークショップあり!ゲームあり!屋台あり!子どもから大人まで、みんなで1日愉しめるイベント。ご家族揃って、祝日の一日をお過ごし下さい。


【ライブ】
●13:00 〜 Sidewalk Salon Orchestra:瀬戸信行(クラリネット)+ 山田やーそ裕(六弦ギター)+ 池田安友子(パーカッション)
●15:00 〜 よしこストンペア
●17:00 〜 ゴトウゆうぞう+森扇背
●18:30 〜 ベートルズ
●20:00 〜 ファンファーレ・ロマンギャルド
(瀬戸+登+山田+田島+池田)
瀬戸信行(クラリネット)+ 登敬三(サックス)+ 山田やーそ裕(六弦ギター)+田島隆(ギター)+ 池田安友子(パーカッション)

【ワークショップ】
●タンバリンで遊ぼう!
ちびっこにも大人気!タンバリン博士こと田島隆氏と一緒に、タンバリンだけを使っていろんな演奏をしてみるワークショップです。(参加費無料)

●山ぐるみ先生のパペット作り
巷で人気のお茶目な山ぐるみ。今回は手袋を使って、パペット(
操り人形)を作ります。山ぐるみの販売も行います。お気に入りを探してみよう!(有料)

● ie-ie ブローチ作りワークショップ
木を使った台のかわいいブローチに色を塗って仕上げます。
(有料)
●鳴子こけし絵付けワークショップ
東北にはいろんなこけしがいます。今回は宮城県の鳴子市で作られたこけしの台に絵付けをします。あなただけのオリジナルこけしを作ってみよう!(有料)

●デコレーションチョコレートクッキーとラッピングのワークショップ
もうすぐバレンタイン。美味しいチョコレートクッキーに
さまざまな可愛いトッピングを載っけて、すてきなラッピングで包みます。お気に入りが出来たら、だれかにプレゼントしてみよう!もちろん、自分のプレゼントでもOK。 (有料)

●芋版deプリント トートバッグ作りワークショップ
芋版をつかって、ぺったん、ぺったんするだけで、簡単にかわいいマイトートバッグが出来ちゃいます。ママやパパと一緒に子どもたちも参加できるワークショップです。(有料)


【ゲームコーナー】
●バッキュン★パタリン 東北妖怪的当て!

東北を中心に生息するといわれている、いろんな妖怪たちがあなたを待っています。当たりはすてきな景品が貰えるよ!(有料)