Disaster Response Japan Project #16410

Help Students, Families and Schools Recover

by The Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund

Help Students, Families and Schools Recover

Project Report | Mar 3, 2026
40th Taylor Anderson Reading Corner Installed and TAMF Advisor Activity

By Andy Anderson | Co-Chair

Sumiyoshi JHS Taylor Bunko Dedication

The 40th Taylor Bunko was donated to Sumiyoshi Junior High School in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture on January 5, 2026. Takahashi-sei, a third-year junior high school student, won the top prize at the Ishinomaki District English Recitation Speech Contest held in September last year and won the Taylor Anderson Award, which led to the donation of the Taylor Bunko. Endo-san (TAMF advisor), who produced the bookshelves, handed the principal, Abe-san, of the junior high school Taylor Anderson's related books and book cards for the school to purchase books for their new bunko.

The bookshelves are two back-to-back, and the upper part is made of redwood wood and decorated with an arch-shaped pattern inspired by the bridge between Japan and the United States. Taylor's thoughts will be conveyed to the students for a long time.

Chiba-san, Adviser to TAMF, visited the Taylor Anderson Memorial at Ishinomaki Minamihama Tsunami Memorial Park with a group of college students. They also visited Taylor reading corner at one of the Ishinomaki Elementary Schools. Thank you for visiting and supporting Ishinomaki schools.

Chiba-san, the author of "A Gift From Taylor", which is included in all Taylor bunko's, and other books, gave a talk about her 3.11 books at Sendai Seiyo Gakuin Junior College on November 20th. Thank you Chiba-san!

Thank you for your support which helps us continue programs like these to help Ishinomaki families, schools and students affected by the disaster to continue to recover, learn and expand their horizons! Please follow us on Facebook/Tamfjp

Sumiyoshi JHS Taylor Bunko Shelves

Sumiyoshi JHS Taylor Bunko Bridge Pattern

College Students Visit Taylor Memorial

Endo-san and College Students at Taylor Memorial

Chiba-san with Sendai Seiyo Gakuin Students

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Nov 3, 2025
Two New Taylor Anderson Reading Corners Installed

By Andy Anderson | Co-Chair

Gakusha Yume no Mori Taylor Bunko Presentation

A Taylor Bunko was established at 'Gakusha Yume no Mori', Okuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture, and a presentation ceremony was held on September 11th. Endo-san, advisor to TAMF and creator of the bookshelves, attended the ceremony, and spoke to the children about Taylor Anderson. In junior high school, they were learning from the new English textbook that includes a lesson about Taylor, and the timing was perfect. He also gave book coupons to the school so they may buy books for their new Taylor bunko.

Gakusha Yume no Mori is a certified children's garden and elementary and middle school compulsory education school, where kindergarten students, elementary and junior high school students are studying together. The school moved to Aizuwakamatsu City due to the 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami incident at the nuclear power plant, became "Gakusha Yume no Mori" in 2022, and returned to Okuma in 2023.

There are three donated wooden bookshelves, two of which are named after towns, with bear ears shaped. The kanji for Okuma town means "big" and "bear" so Endo-san made bear ears for the bookshelves made out of Ulin, a hardwood, since the kids will probably want to play with them! Endo-san is always so creative. It was also Endo's idea to use the flip side too. It also fits in will to a school with lots of trees, and the kids will be happy.

A Taylor Bunko was donated to Ishinomaki City Kitakami Junior High School. Kitakami Junior High School was damaged by the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, and students will now be able to study in a new school building. The Taylor Bunko will be placed in the hall adjacent to the library, and it will be a space for children to read books at their leisure.

The bench like bookshelves are made of redwood rods arranged in a rainbow-like arch shape. The principal plans to use the book coupons to purchase several textbooks from different Ishinomaki High Schools so the students can use them as a reference when choosing which High School to attend.

Gakusha Yume no Mori Taylor Bunko Bookshelves

Gakusha Yume no Mori Taylor Bunko Bookshelves Back

Kitakami JH Taylor Bunko

Kitakami JH Taylor Bunko with books

JH English Textbook Cover

JH English Textbook 1st page of Taylor Unit

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Jul 7, 2025
Four New Taylor Anderson Reading Corners

By Andy Anderson | Co-Chair

Ishinomaki Memorial Park Maintenance

The Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund Board recently held it’s General Meeting and Board Meeting to review our previous fiscal year accomplishments and new activities for this fiscal year.

Activities of TAMF FY 2024 –

- Four New Taylor Anderson Reading Corners (Bunkos)

o Fukuoaka Elementary School

o Ishinomaki Middle School (Taylor Trophy winner’s school)

o Naruse Mirai Middle Schoold

o Yuioie Nursery School

- Two Original Taylor Bunko’s Maintained with refurbishment and new books

o Mangokuura Middle School (originally dedicated September, 2011)

o Watanoha Elementary School (Originally dedicated February, 2012)

- Seven Taylor Scholarships to Sendai YMCA International Hospitality Department

- Support for Maintenance at Ishinomaki Memorial Park

- Support for Ishinomaki Kokoro Smile Project which helps children with loss from the tsunami

- Support for Chiba-san Taylor Bunko Ambassador Program

- Taylor Trophy awarded to Ishinomaki City Wide Middle School English Speech Competition

New for TAMF FY 2025 –

- Four New Taylor Bunkos in Ishinomaki and Fukushima

- Two more of the older Taylor bunkos maintained with refurbishment and new books

- Six Taylor Scholarships to Sendai YMCA International Hospitality Department

- Support for Maintenance at Ishinomaki Memorial Park

- Support for Ishinomaki Kokoro Smile Project which helps children with loss from the tsunami

- Support for Chiba-san Taylor Bunko Ambassador Program

- Taylor Trophy awarded to Ishinomaki City Wide Middle School English Speech Competition

We look forward to reporting on the new initiatives through out the next year!

2025 July Bonus Day campaign - July 16 - 17, 2025

July Bonus Day is a 24-hour crowdfunding campaign which patially matches eligible donations between $100 and $1,000 so that each donation will receive a portion of the $125,000 Incentive Fund. The more we raise, the more incentive funds we unlock!

Please give anytime within the campaign period, starting on July 16, 2025, at 10:00AM EDT, and ending on July 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM EDT. All eligible donations will be matched!

Yuinoie Nursery School Taylor Bunko

Kokor Smile Kids Activity

Bunko Ambassador at Okaido ES

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