By Andy Anderson | Co-Chair
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:
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 21st.
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:
By Andy Anderson | Co-Chair
By Andy Anderson | Co-Chair
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