Help Students, Families and Schools Recover

Taylor Bunko Dedicated at Miyanomori Elementary School

On February 14, a Taylor Bunko was donated to Hirota Elementary School in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, along with a book certificate by Endo-san, an advisor to TAMF and a maker of bookshelves. The book certificate enables the school to buy books of their choice. In Rikuzentakata City, like Taylor, Monty, a JET ALT who was lost in the Great East Japan Earthquake, was working, and he taught at Hirota Elementary School. Endo-sanconveyed the thoughts of Taylor and Monty to the children. In the first photo Shinichi Endo handing acatalogue of Taylor paperbacks to the vice principal of Hirota Elementary School.

A student who represented the school used to play at the "Rainbow Bridge" which Endo-san made in Rikuzentakata.  Endo-san said he was very much impressed by a bond that was miraculously connecting person to person. 

The bookcase is made of Japanese red pine wood, Indonesian ulin and American redwood.  The dark colored one you see in the picture is redwood.  The two arches of redwood signify the two bridges of Taylor and Monty.  He hopes their wishes to make a bridge between US and Japan will come true.  Endo-san expresses how grateful he is that he is committed to this wonderful work to make bonds with various people. He said he had a joyous day. Endo-san’s children, Hana, Kanta and Kana, were students of Taylor and also lost in the tsunami.

Ishinomaki Senshu Staff Read picture books at Higashihama Elementary School Taylor Bunko

On December 20, Associate Professor  Takahashi of the Faculty of Human Sciences and two library staff including author Ms. Chiba visited Ishinomaki City Higashihama Elementary School on the Oshika Peninsula to read picture books. The purpose is an exchange project using the Taylor Bunko, and this is the seventh visit.

Higashihama Elementary School seems to be close when viewed on the map, but when you actually go there, it feels like you have come very far because of the complex terrain and winding roads unique to the peninsula. About an hour from the university, they arrived at the small Makihama fishing port where oysters with shells that have just been landed in season are placed. The elementary school is right next to it. The school building, which escaped difficulties on high ground, still retains the breath and stories of many children who have left the nest.

After a little chat in the principal's office, the staff immediately moved to the multipurpose hall on the second floor where the Taylor bunko is located. They were greeted by 10 crisp eyes. Currently, there are only five students at Higashihama Elementary School. It is a school like a family including teachers, but it will be closed by the end of next fiscal year because even after 11 years families have not returned to the area.

Please see the link to the story below.

Randolph-Macon College Senbazaru 3.11 Memorial Project

R-MC and University of Alaska Anchorage jointly present the One Thousand Origami Cranes Project this March. It is an honor to work with UAA to commemorate Taylor and Monty's dream to become a bridge between America and Japan. Mr. Dickson, another JET from the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), was also a victim of the tsunami. He was teaching in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture. Your submission is due March 4^th, please visit this link for details One Thousand Origami Cranes:11th Year of Remembrance of the 2011 Tsunami and Earthquake Disaster.

3.11 Fruits of Light Project: Building Bridges of Smiles / 3.11

In remembrance of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Randolph-Macon College and University of Alaska Anchorage in cooperation with Ishinomaki Senshu University in Japan will be offering an online workshop with a Japanese artist, Mr. Takahashi, on Friday, March 11th at 8:00pm (EST). During the workshop, participants will be drawing the smiles of those they love, miss and are thankful for, using an online platform "Smile Atelier." The drawings of smiles submitted as part of this year's "Building Bridges of Smiles" project will be displayed and illuminated on the R-MC and UAA campuses in March 2023.

For more details about the workshop, please visit our event page 3.11 Fruits of Light Project: Building Bridges of Smiles

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:

• Ishinomaki Senshu University exchange at Higashihama ES
• First Taylor bunko at Mangokuura ES ten years later