Provide education tour for children in Kumamoto

Dear supporters,

Thank you for your continous support.  Impact of COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting our center not able to receive children.  Number of infected have increased in January.  Local governments aroud Tokyo and Osaka metropolitan areas have announced lockdown asking residents to restrict their movements and stay home.  We are still planning when we will be able to invite children from Kumamoto.  We will let you know once the invitation tour is set.

In October, we were able to organized photo workshop with celebrated photographer.  Children were challenged to find beauty in nature through camera in black and white.  In forest, around MORIUMIUS, by the ocean, children were shooting with instinct.  With a help of sun light, children captured light in their pictures.  Many commented that they saw shining moment in nature, felt cute or beautiful.  I felt that children have learned to find beauty in nature, even when it does not look beauty at time.

Hoping the people who have infected will recover, and pandemic will be contained soon this year.  We need your support to keep MORIUMIUS survive this pandemic, so that we will be able to keep providing sustainable learning for children and to revitalize community from disaster.  

Warm regards,

Gentaro Yui

Dear supporters,

Thank you very much for your support.  We were able to invite elven children from Kumamoto through three day holiday on Februay 22 to 24.  Because of the typhoon in October, original tour date was postphoned, but this time it was a great success.

We have been inviting children who were affected from the mega earthquake in Kumamoto in 2016 every year.  There are children who are still living in tenporary houses and not able to go back to their hometown.  This winter has been very warm even in northern region of Japan.  Children who are coming from sourthern region with warm climate were expecting cold weather and snow.  Surprisingly we had snow storm on the second day, children were running outside trying to catch or eat snow.

 In Japan, traditionally we make fermented soy bean paste called Miso.  Miso is one of the most important Japanese seasoning, used mainly for soup.  We have invited specialist to make miso with children.  Using organic soybeans, fermented rice, and salt, children seemed excited to mash cooked soybean into paste.  Mixing the paste with salt and fermented rice, keeping in plastic container for six month until fermentation is complete.

Through their time here at MORIUMIUS, children seemed to be relaxed in nature and released their stress, but also learned  other areas in Japan affected by natural disaster.  Meeting with local people and listening to storyteller, children were able to see the future of their region and gave strength to move forward.  

Thank you again for your support to create this tour.  We were not able to invite children without your kindness.  We are going to organize another invitation tour in 2020 or in 2021.  

Warm regards,

Dear Supporters,

Thank you for your continuous support.  Unfortunatley,  the invitational tour planned for October 12 to 14 was postponed because of mega typhoon Hagibis.  One of the largest typhoon in recent history passes over Japan on October 12 causing severe rain.  Miyagi prefecture where we are was one of the prefecture to have record breaking rain, close to 600mm of rain in 24 hours.  Some roads in Ogatsu was flooded and trees have fallen causing blackout for a day.

Although we were ready to receive eleven children from Kumamoto, flight was cancelled the day before and we could not organize the tour planned.  Many children were looking very forward to it and we felt bad.  We are going to give another try to organize the tour in Spring 2020.  

We will keep you posted for the tour in we will organize next yeat.  Thank you again for your support.

Warm regards,

Gentaro Yui