Building Healthy Communities for Recovery

   AAR Japan visited the former residents of Katsurao Village, Fukushima Prefecture, where the radiation level is significantly high, at Kaiyama Temporary Housing Complex and held a Fragrant Soap Making Class and a Classic Concert.  32 people have participated.

   AAR has been hosting monthly events at various Temporary Housing Complex since May, 2012.  From this experience, we have found that many disaster victims suffer from isolation, insomnia, depression and other hardships.  Aiming to ease their stress and improve their mental health, we have organized this event in which participants could relax themselves with botanical aroma.  Aromatherapy is effective in altering a person’s mind, mood, cognitive function or health from negative to positive.

   Chihiro Itani, an aroma-therapist, lectured ‘Aromatherapy 101’ class and introduced the variety of essential oils and their effects.  It was the first time to appreciate aromatherapy for many of the participants, and they seemed very interested in the lecture.  After the lecture, participants sniffed and compared various scents and chose their favorite to make a fragrant soap with.  “I love this smell!”  “This one smells like shiso leaf.”  “What shape should I make?”  The conversation took lively turn.  To our surprise, there were several male participants actively engaging in the making of soap, which was a rare scene in our usual events.  A male participant who made a heart-shaped soap happily told us that he would give it to his wife as a present.

   There was an Instrumental Trio Concert with trumpet, trombone, and piano following the Soap Making Class.  Familiar songs and famous songs were played, and there were many participants who hummed along with their favorite tunes.

   Three years have passed since the 3.11 the Great East Japan Earthquake, and residents of the temporary housing complex grieve the fact that there are less and less events for them now.  They were afraid that they have been forgotten over time.  We will continue to hold events to support the disaster victims and make sure that no one is left behind.