Help Students, Families and Schools Recover

The TAMF Board had a Zoom board meeting in June and approved projects for the upcoming year which we will report as implemented!  

Three New Taylor Bunkos

We are excited to announce that three new Taylor Bunkos will be built by Endo-san for Onagawa Elementary School, Onagawa Middle School and Ohara Elementary School. This will bring the total number to 23.

 Randolph-Macon Students Produce “Beyond the Brokeness”

Randolph-Macon College (RMC, Taylor’s Alma Mater) and Ishinomaki Senshu University have an International Exchange Agreement. RMC students visited Ishinomaki last June and interviewed Ishinomaki residents. The 37-minute-long English speaking movie "Beyond the Brokenness" depicts the beautifulness in Japan and Japanese which students found in the area. This film was created in RMC's theater class. Fourteen students appear. They interviewed eleven people including a bereaved family, ISU, and other Ishinomaki residents. Scenes of clouds and waves are inserted. Three RMC faculty and students interviewed. 

They originally planned to act this story on the stage but had to change due to COVID-19. They want to perform the production on stage after the current situation. 

Yuki, a senior at ISU, visited RMC in 2018. He comments "They are not the disaster victim, but try to understand our experience. So kind. Thank you"

You can view the video production at this link:

https://www.rmc.edu/news-and-calendar/news-stories/2020/05/15/beyond-the-brokenness-(video)

The Ishinomaki section of the Kahoku Shimpo, the largest newspaper in the Miyagi prefecture, carried this story:

https://sp.kahoku.co.jp/special/spe1000/20200623_17.html?fbclid=IwAR16DG5mQ021ArBERHkcBixNPCB3oJZPOQyNXVSztcp-cqs1q7exRPsacd4 

Ishinomaki Senshu University (ISU) Library Video

ISU has produced a video about their library for prospective students that includes the Taylor Anderson Reading Corner or Taylor Bunko.  Naomi, the librarian in the video, wrote the book "A Gift from Taylor" which tells the story to students of why there are Taylor bunkos in their schools.  A copy of the book is in each of the 20 Taylor bunkos.  Well done Naomi and thank you! https://youtu.be/JGh84902hUA

TBS Television Stories about TAMF Activities

TBS aired two stories in Japan about one of Taylor’s students.  Eriko was in 5th grade at Kezuma ES in 2011.  The Anderson family visited her school in 2013 to dedicate a Taylor bunko. She now studies English at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. She says many students loved learning from Taylor and she speaks English fluently. Her school "happens to " be related to Taylor's Randolph-Macon College (RMC). Those two are sister schools, which Eriko didn't know when she applied for the program to visit RMC. Eriko visited RMC in March and met Taylor’s parents and was able to share her story in English with them.  We were unable to supply the links at that time, but have them now in the links below.  We just heard from the reporter that she has recently met with Eriko and Eriko reports she has gotten into the habit of reading books! 

The TBS reporter has since met with Endo-san, TAMF Advisor and Taylor Bunko bookshelf maker, and will share his story in a half hour special on Sept 21^st.

https://youtu.be/CMQCbe4LmSY

https://youtu.be/rRIBa54Eps0

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

Links:

• RMC Student Production "Beyond the Brokeness"
• ISU Library Video Featuring Taylor Bunko
• TBS Story about Taylor Student Eriko

Three New Taylor Bunkos

In February A whale shaped Taylor bunko made by Endo-san was presented to Ayukawa ES in Ishinomaki by Co-Chair Ichiro Fujisaki and Jason Hyland of MGM. This was the 18th Taylor Bunko built by Endo-san and each is different and designed for that school. The school was presented with book coupons to buy books of their choice. It also comes with the book by Naomi Chiba "A Gift from Taylor" which tells the story in Japanese and English to students of why the Taylor Bunkos were created. 

In March a Taylor bunko made by Endo-san was presented to Oshika Junior High in Ishinomaki by TAMF Advisor Shinichi Endo. This was the 19th Taylor Bunko built by Endo-san and each is different and designed for that school. The school was presented with book coupons to buy books of their choice. The Principal, Vice-Principal and teachers are shown in the pictures with Endo-san . We are so fortunate to have Endo-san's creative ability and craftsmanship as are the schools and students! 

Ayukawa elementary school and Oshika junior high school are located in Ayukawa at the tip of the Oshika peninsula. A tourist facility was established in October. In April, there will be open a whale land (Whale Museum). It is hoped that people will visit and the tourist industry will also help the Oshika peninsula to become popular and recover. 

The 20th Taylor Bunko was presented to Kitakami elementary school in Ishinomaki in April where classes in the new school building have recently begun. The Kitakami area was severely damaged by the tsunami so the population has decreased. There used to be three elementary schools in this area, but two of the three were completely destroyed. The new Kitakami Elementary School took the place of the three schools. Fund advisor and bookshelf maker Endo-san tells us, "Each of the bookshelf's design is symbolic of particular characteristics in each area." As always, they were designed with the input of the school. Endo-san also presented book coupons to the school principal so they can fill the bookshelves with books!

 Taylor Trophy Presented to Ishinomaki English Speech Contest Winner

This year’s speech contest winner was won by Risako, a ninth grader from Yamoto Middle School.   The wooden trophy was made by Endo-san.

 NHK and TBS Television Stories about TAMF Activities

“American tsunami victim's legacy lives on “ - An inspirational NHK World and NHK Story about Ayaka, a Taylor Scholarship graduate from the Sendai YMCA College who lives her dream after her loss of her mother in the tsunami. The story also tells of programs at Randolph-Macon College, Taylor's alma mater. There are links to video and digital story below.

TBS aired a story in Japan about one of Taylor’s students. Eriko was in 5th grade at Kezuma ES in 2011. The Anderson family visited her school in 2013 to dedicate a Taylor bunko. She remembers Taylor fondly and now studies English at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. She says many students loved learning from Taylor and she speaks English fluently. Her school "happens to " be related to Taylor's Randolph-Macon College (RMC). Those two are sister schools, which Eriko didn't know when she applied for the program to visit RMC. Eriko visited RMC in March and met Taylor’s parents and was able to share her story in English with them. Unfortunately the link has expired, but the story was also published by the Asahi Shimbun and is shown in the photo links.

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

Links:

• American tsunami victim's legacy lives on - NHK World
• American tsunami victim's legacy lives on - NHK World Digital st
• Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund