Waseda University Student Reconstruction Support Stay Strong Japan

Working for a "special place" where a normal pace can be restored

Kaori Honda
2nd year student at the School of Fundamental Science and Engineering

In the study room of their refuge shelter at Chofu City's Ajinomoto Stadium, primary, junior and senior high school students studied from 9am and I was there to give support. During breaks from their study, I played with the primary school students and talked about university with the junior and senior high school students. In the beginning, I needed courage to participate as a volunteer. But now I think it was really worthwhile being involved in the running of the study room. For the students living in refuge conditions, it seemed the study room was a special place, one where they could resume a normal pace of life.

Listening to stories from those who experienced the disaster, everyone held different hopes and they needed a more diverse range of things than I had imagined. Because there were many needs, I could find things I could do to help, and became able to think in that way. From now on too, I want to look at the information sent out from the victims, lend an ear, and think about what I can do.

Demonstrating the "Waseda Spirit"!

Hidefumi Yoshida
5th year student in the Doctoral Program of the Graduate School of Education

At the start of May, I took part in restoration efforts in Kesennuma City. I was assigned to recovery work at a long-established electrical appliance store dealing in audio equipment and carried water on a cart from a water facility and cleaned muddied shelves. The first floor of the shop was destroyed by the tsunami, and all the goods, such as old records, were damaged. Despite more than a month having passed since the day of the disaster, throughout the chaotic shop, evidence of the tsunami remained. The storeowner described his predicament as, "I can't live. I don't have a job. All that's left is a loan." I saw upfront the reality of the massive damage, more than what I saw in the media, and felt dejected. Even now, the area needs volunteers. Even if only one, I felt that I want many Waseda students to go to the area and demonstrate the "Waseda Spirit."

Establishing a support and cooperation system using German

Yuma Eguchi
2nd year student at the School of Political Science and Economics

Since March 11, I have been continuing "support activities using German." My motive was an article on the Great East Japan Earthquake in a German newspaper. In the article was a comment stating that "Japan is finished." Because of the nuclear accident, the view of Japan had changed to being one of pessimism. At that time, I was in the Saitama Super Arena working as a volunteer for refugees from Futaba-machi in Fukushima Prefecture. I wanted to show the Germans how hard the refugees were trying to get on with their lives.So I immediately grabbed a pen and, with a dictionary in one hand, wrote a report on the victims' circumstances in German. The German newspaper company I submitted it to published the essay in a national paper. By doing so, I received an endless amount of messages of support from the German people who read my article. Now, with the help of the Goethe-Institut, the messages are translated into Japanese and passed on to the victims. On the road to recovery the world must join together! By using German, I want to help in that effort!!

(Offered by WASEDA WEEKLY)