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Spring 2011 Newsletter

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Spring 2011 Newsletter Spring 2011 Newsletter USJLP Delegates Join Disaster A special message from Relief Efforts in Iwate Prefecture George Packard I want to send deepest condolences to all who have been affected by the events of March 11 and afterwards. It has been a time of terrible tragedy for our Japanese friends and deep concern on the part of millions of Americans who have been touched by these events. Our US-Japan Leadership network of Fellows, delegates and friends has generated a torrent of messages of concern and an extraordinary outpouring of sympathy and offers to help. If there is any silver lining to be found in all this, it is the reaffirmation of the value of our program, where Japanese and Americans have learned to communicate and share their deepest feelings with each other. We are determined to go forward, and we Laura Winthrop (11,12) surveys the devastation in Ofunato, Iwate. believe this summer's conference in Kyoto, She and Spencer Abbot (10,11) share their experiences working with the U.S. government and with volunteer NGOs to assist Japan Hiroshima and elsewhere will be more in this unprecedented time of need. (Story on page 2) important and meaningful than ever before. You will meet in this newsletter the delegates An Outpouring of Support from the for 2011 - arguably one of the strongest classes ever - and I am pleased to note that fully one USJLP Community half of the new faces on each side are women! Within an hour after news of the Tohoku earthquake hit the On behalf of our foundation's board, I send world, USJLPers were online sending messages of concern, warmest congratulations to all the Fellows support, and information over who have blazed the trail to this point. You "In this time of crisis, the the USJLP mailing list. The first have created something special. Keep it USJLP network has one came in from Doug going and gambatte kudasai! proven to be a true Raymond (08,09), sending symbol of friendship information about a “person finder” site specifically created by Google to aid in between both countries." searching for those affected by the earthquake. - Yuka Uchida (05,06) Soon after, dozens upon dozens of messages flooded the list, many with prayers that our friends in Japan were all safe, all expressing the desire to help in any way Continued on page 2 1 Engaged Delegates Now Also towns in Iwate Prefecture. Spencer moved from his fellowship posting at the Japan Institute of International Engaged in Relief Efforts Affairs to the U.S. Embassy to contribute to the relief By Laura Winthrop (USJLP 11,12) and effort. Spencer Abbot (USJLP 10,11) On her first trip to Iwate, Laura helped All Hands Laura Winthrop and Volunteers conduct a Spencer Abbot were needs assessment and met engaged in late December with the local government 2010. In January 2011, they to establish a system for left their homes and jobs in assisting the local Washington, DC to move to communities. The mayor Tokyo. Spencer began a of Ofunato, who had Council on Foreign spent a year at Harvard, Relations International Laura's alma mater, was Affairs Fellowship in Japan very welcoming of in February, and in early international assistance to March Laura was selected the relief effort, and since for the CFR-Hitachi then All Hands has been Fellowship as well. helping with clearing Laura and Spencer were The engaged couple met up in Ofunato in March while debris, sanitizing houses in Tokyo on March 11th Laura was there with All Hands, and Spencer was in and distributing food to 2011 when the 9.0 the region on behalf of the U.S. Embassy. survivors in the region. magnitude earthquake On Laura's most struck Japan. Following the quake, Laura began recent trip to Ofunato, she helped rehabilitate a dry working with an American NGO called All Hands cleaning business, spending two days mucking out Volunteers (www.hands.org) to aid tsunami victims in shoulder-high debris from the tsunami with the owner Ofunato and Rikusentakata, two of the hardest hit Continued on page 6 Outpouring Taka also reported to the message list that U.S. "USJLP is truly possible. “If there is anything Department of State-issued travel alerts had been one of the most that the USJLP community negatively affecting tourism in the Kansai area. In amazing can do,” came a call from response, both Joe Hurd (09,10) and Mark Vlasic organizations. Our David Motzenbecker (09,10) alerted their professional contacts at the State collective efforts (10,11) on the 11th, “please Department about the situation, suggesting that the bring big changes take the initiative to help.” previously issued travel alert should be revised. to the world." - The next day Rodney No gesture was overlooked by the community, Taka Kawakami Lewis (10,11) reported that including opening homes to those who may need a (08,09) the U.S. Air Force’s 4th Airlift place to stay. Ananda Martin (06,07) offered up the Squadron, which he guest room in her and Doug Raymond’s home in commands, had launched their first C-17 to fly in some Shanghai, as well as full access to their home on of the first responders to help with search Whidbey Island. Nelson Hernandez and rescue in the devastated prefectures. "I feel honored to be (00,01) in Ventura, CA, Terry Giles Taka Kawakami (08,09) offered his a part of this USJLP (00,01) in Los Angeles, and Tom services as a volunteer interpreter for the community that is Robertson (06,09) in Seattle all opened their respective spare bedrooms to U.S. military working for search and doing so much to either someone from Japan in need, or rescue. This offer was quickly relayed to help so many." - to a Fellow who needs a place to stay the Civil Affairs Advisor at the U.S. Naval Sarah White (10,11) Forces Japan by Steve Brock (06,07). Continued on page 7 2 Shaken But Safe By Takeo Takuma, Vice President, US-Japan Foundation, Tokyo Office We have been very touched by so many caring friends from the U.S. as well as Japan extending their concern and support to us after the 3/11 earthquake in Japan. Thank you very much. Please know that all of us at the US-Japan Foundation's Tokyo Office and our family members are safe. Each staff member The USJF Tokyo Office staff, from left: Yuko Mochizuki, happened to experience the quake at different places: Takeo Takuma and Aya Mizushima Takeo Takuma was participating in a symposium but evacuated the place quickly and tried several times evacuees from the same building) a police officer to call the Tokyo Office. All phone lines were busy, advised them to evacuate to the parking lot of the Hotel however, and he finally managed to leave a message Okura, which was unusually crowded with other on the office answering machine, instructing staff to evacuees from the neighborhood. Eventually, Aya and evacuate and take necessary precautions. Yuko got back to the Office, and found out on TV the Aya Mizushima was at a nearby travel agency to extent of the quake and that train services had been purchase train tickets for an upcoming business trip halted. when the quake struck, and soon made her way safely Takeo instructed Aya and Yuko to leave for home back to the office. as soon as possible by taxi. They tried to hail a taxi at Yuko Mochizuki was working at her computer in a street corner but to no avail, and then waited in line the Tokyo Office, and suddenly, a powerful temblor at a nearby hotel, but no taxis came. Eventually, Yuko swung open a number of file cabinets and knocked was able to get in touch with her husband, Yosuke, down vases and other objects. She safely escaped who kindly offered to pick Yuko and Aya up. After the building immediately. riding many hours in the ever-so-jammed traffic, Aya returned to meet Yuko at the Office, and then, thankfully they made their way safely back to their as they were standing outside the building (with other homes. TK Nakagaki (02,03) Leads Multi-faith Services for Japan After attending countless memorial services in the days and weeks after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, TK Nakagaki (02,03) was a firsthand witness to the important roles religious leaders play in offering solace during chaos. Drawing upon this lesson, TK moved swiftly in the days after the March 11 Tohoku earthquake to organize ceremonies which would give New Yorkers a time and place to memorialize those lost in the disaster and pray for hope and recovery for Japan. The first was a multi-faith service held on March 18, the one-week anniversary of the tragedy, with a candlelight vigil near the United Nations. "In spite of the time factor, it looked like a well-planned ceremony," TK stated to the press [1]. TK then coordinated with Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu and Christian leaders to organize a service titled "Interfaith Time TK Nakagaki leads New Yorkers in a candlelight vigil for Japan of Reflection for Japan" at the Riverside outside of the UN Church Center on Friday, March 18, 2011 Church on March 27. Close to 200 people 3 representing the ethnic and religious diversity of the city attended. The two-hour ceremony included a haiku reading, shakuhachi performance, silent meditation, and reflections by three representatives of the prefectures most acutely affected by the natural disasters. "As the lead organizer of the events,Nakagaki emphasized the importance of conveying to the Japanese just how much New Yorkers stood by them during their On March 27, Tk Nakagaiki (far right) led an Interfaith Time of darkest hours," Kyodo News reported [1].
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