By Gentaro Tajima and Ron Choi

Figure 1. Michael Anop of Playground of Hope enjoys watching the children play on the completed play set.

Kamome Gakuen is a school for the disabled children in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, in Japan. The school served as a shelter during the 3.11 triple disasters back in 2011. NADIA has a long history with the school, having had many volunteer events for the school in the past. On December 13^th and 14^th, 2014, NADIA volunteers, in partnership with the members of Playground of Hope (PoH) and It’s Not Just Mud (INJM), built a beautiful playground for the children of this school. It was the 7^th playground build for NADIA.

It was by far the most emotional of all the builds. Watching the children and the parents left many of the volunteers heart-broken. Many of the children had mental disabilities, and some of them are very severe cases. It was plain to all they had tough lives ahead of them. We were so touched by the dedication of the school staff that always kept it positive and never forgetting to smile. These children require extraordinary patience to look after them. We were glad to see the staff was more than up for the task. Some of our volunteers shed tears upon watching the children with the most severe mental disabilities, rendering them unable to move. Watching the dignity and positive attitude of the parents of the children left them inspired.

Figure 2. One of the school children and his teachers.

O.G.A. for AID, another Tohoku volunteer group, sent a Santa and presents for the children. All the children were very excited to see Santa, but patiently waited for their turn to receive their gifts. It was one of the highlights of the weekend. Both the children and the parents really enjoyed activities and food that were provided for the opening ceremony.

Figure 3. One of the school students enjoy making bubbles.

Figure 4. The children enjoy one of the games that were set up during the opening festivities.

JPMorgan Chase Foundation, through its Tohoku Fund, provided funding for the build. J.P. Morgan’s impact in the region has been felt by many in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures through its numerous volunteer trips and philanthropic activities. NADIA continues to organize events in partnership with socially conscious corporate donors like J.P. Morgan. These events are by far the best evidence of how corporations and non-profits can work together to make social impact.

Figure 5.  Joji Hiratsuka, NADIA chairman, and Eriko Fukutani hard at work.

Figure 6. This is why we do it.

This was yet another well-executed event. We show our deepest appreciation to Playground Of Hope and It’s Not Just Mud staff for their hard work and a great execution. And to all the volunteers from NADIA who willingly gave their time and efforts on this project, we sincerely thank you.

Figure 7.  Some people actually cried watching this. One cannot think of a gentler, kinder father than this gentleman. The three year old has the most severe mental retardation in the school. The father was about as pleasant as one can ever be. He had smiles throughout the entire day he was there. He is a better man than I am. Everyone was touched.

Figure 8.  O.G.A. for AID, another Tohoku NPO, sent a Santa with presents for the disabled children.

Figure 9. Our volunteers hard at work.

Figure 10. Building a playground means lots of lifting assembling.

Figure 11.  This is why we do it.

Figure 12.   This is why we do it.

By Ron Choi

Figure 1. Our September volunteers in front of the completed playground in Kesennuma, Miyagi-ken.

On 27^th and 28^th of September, 2014, J.P. Morgan and NADIA volunteers, in partnership with the members of Playground of Hope (PoH) and It’s Not Just Mud (INJM), built a beautiful playground in Karakua area in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture in Japan. It was 33^rd build for Playground Of Hope project.

It was a departure from a typical PoH build. This was a national park surrounded by stunning scenery that reminds one of Big Sur in California, not a temporary housing or a kindergarten. A hike around the park left our volunteers in awe. The adjoining town, Kesennuma, was devastated by the tsunami of 2011. Hundreds of townspeople rolled up their sleeves and enthusiastically supported and participated in the event. They believed building a playground would bring back young family with children many of whom left the area after the disaster. They organized a festival to mark the opening of the playground. They spent weeks practicing the region’s traditional songs and dances. Nearly 600 people including many of the luminaries in the area came for what many of them considered the event of the year.

Figure 2. The national park was surrounded by stunning scenery.

When the townspeople showed up to help us with the build, it was pretty obvious the predominance of the aging population of the surrounding area. Places like these need to be attractive to young families. They indeed needed a playground for children to play to lure back the younger generations. All the more reasons they desperately wanted the playground to be built.

Figure 3. The entire town of Karakua spent weeks preparing for the opening ceremony where they performed the region’s traditional songs and dances.

Figure 4. The obligatory release of the balloons to mark the opening of the playground.

JPMorgan Chase Foundation, through its Tohoku Fund, provided funding for the build. This was 6^th playground or park to be built by J.P. Morgan. J.P. Morgan’s impact in the region has been felt by many in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures through its numerous volunteer trips and philanthropic activities. NADIA continues to organize events in partnership with socially conscious corporate donors like J.P. Morgan. These events are by far the best evidence of how corporations and non-profits can work together to make social impact.

Figure 5. J.P. Morgan volunteers participated in the traditional singing and dancing performances.

It was an incredible experience to meet the beautiful people of Karakua whose hospitality and enthusiasm was unparalleled. They have welcomed us into their town, embraced us, and showed us their heart-felt gratitude. It was merely a weekend volunteer trip for us, but for them it meant much more. They thanked us for not forgetting that they have a long road to recovery even after more than three years since the disaster. Each of our visit and volunteer activity means so much to the courageous survivors in the region.

Figure 6. This is why we do it.

This was yet another well-executed event. We show our deepest appreciation to Playground Of Hope and It’s Not Just Mud staff for their hard work and a great execution. And to all the volunteers from NADIA and J.P. Morgan who willingly gave their time and efforts on this project, we sincerely thank you.

Figure 7. It’s not all backbreaking work. Our volunteers enjoying the building process.

Figure 8. Building picnic bench for the park.

Figure 9. Michael Anop of Playground Of Hope showing the volunteers the surrounding area.

Figure 10. Building a playground means lots of lifting assembling.

Figure 11. This is why we do it.

Figure 12. This is why we do it.

By Khilan Shah and Ron Choi

Figure 1. The completed playground in Ishinomaki, Miyagi-ken.

On 24^th and 25^th of May, 2014, J.P. Morgan and NADIA volunteers, in partnership with the members of Playground of Hope (PoH) and It’s Not Just Mud (INJM), rebuilt a beautiful park in Matsunami area in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture in Japan. It was 29^th build for Playground Of Hope project. This area was devastated by the tsunami of March 2011. Some of the 450 residents who attended the opening ceremony stated that it was the first time they came back to the area since the disaster. They had avoided area because of the painful memory of what had occurred on March 11^th of 2011, not wishing to relive the experience. Many of those who came back for the first time were delighted what had happened to what was an abandoned park. Overgrown weeds were removed, bright green grass was laid and a large colorful play set for children was built for the eager kids from the surrounding area. The festive mood was palpable. A BBQ party to celebrate the re-opening of the park was held. Eric Jacobsen, a children’s TV program host, performed his popular tunes for those in attendance. After a short opening ceremony, hundreds of kids ran to the play set. The park was filled with laughter and joy.

Figure 2. Eric Jacobsen from NHK morning children’s TV program, Eigode Asobo, performed a concert for the children of Matsunami, Ishinomaki.

The funding for the event was provided by JPMorgan Chase Foundation, a Japanese-American performance group called Grateful Crane, and a remarkable ten-year-old from Ohio named Miya Moore who managed to raise $30,000 at her church with the help of her mom. She and her family joined the opening ceremony. It was a heart-warming occasion for everyone involved.

Figure 3. Miya and Emiko Moore from Ohio joined the opening ceremony.

Figure 4. J.P. Morgan volunteers who rebuilt the park.

Another team of J.P. Morgan volunteers who were also in Ishinomaki the same weekend to participate in a rice planting event for a social farm for the elderly graciously joined in on Saturday to check out the park. They all posed in front of the play set for the photo op. That was probably the largest group of J.P. Morgan volunteers in Tohoku area ever.

Figure 5. J.P. Morgan volunteers building the play set.

It was another touching experience to see the children playing on the playground we built. It validated our belief that we can still make a difference in the area and continue to touch lives. If our efforts can help the people of Tohoku area in their courageous road back to recovery in even a small way we are deeply grateful.

Figure 6. There was lots of weeding and laying down of fresh natural turf.

This was by far the largest build event out of the 29 Playground Of Hope projects to date and yet another well-planned and executed volunteer event in Tohoku. The Playground Of Hope team is perfecting their skills in putting on events and making good things happen in Tohoku region. We show our deepest appreciation to Playground Of Hope and It’s Not Just Mud staff for their hard work and a great execution. And to all the volunteers from J.P. Morgan who willingly gave their time and efforts on this project, we sincerely thank you.

Figure 7. Putting in the slide is always tricky.

Figure 8. Building the base of a slide.

Figure 9. Michael Anop of Playground Of Hope giving the volunteers the morning orientation.

Figure 10. Rebuilding a park means lots of digging and other back-breaking work.

Figure 11. This is why we do it.

Figure 12. This is why we do it.

By Ron Choi

Figure 1. Our volunteers posing in front of the completed playground in Fukushima-shi, Fukushima-ken.

On the 8^th of March, 2014, NADIA volunteers, in partnership with the members of Playground of Hope (PoH) and It’s Not Just Mud (INJM), built a beautiful playground in Fukushima city, Fukushima prefecture in Japan.  It was 24^th build of Playground Of Hope and the third year anniversary of the March 11 triple disaster, which made it even more special.  It is well-known Fukushima was devastated by the triple disaster of March 2011.   The effects of that disaster were clearly seen even three years since.  The Wakaba kindergarten, our job site, had a large electronic display showing the real-time reading of a Geiger counter.   It was showing 0.065 μSv, which is around where Tokyo is.  The school ground was clearly safe, but the previously installed play equipments had to be taken away from the school grounds in the aftermath of the nuclear incident due the rain that deposited the radiation from the Fukushima nuclear plant.   All wooden and metal play sets had to be removed due to contamination.  The students didn’t have a play set to play on for three years.

Figure 2. This is why we do it.

Early march in Fukushima is undoubted cold.   It snowed throughout Saturday when volunteers built the play set.    Some assemblies had to be done indoors in the school gymnasium to not to expose volunteers to inclement weather.  The volunteers however never lost the positive spirit despite the less than ideal working condition.   Nishiyama-san, a National Diet member representing Fukushima, stopped by to encourage the volunteers.   The school staff was unbelievable hosts.  They also participated in the build activities.

Figure 3.  This is why we do it.

There are about 150 schools in Fukushima with the same exact predicament.  The play sets were torn down and taken away due to contamination, but even though school grounds are perfectly safe they do not have funding to rebuild the playgrounds.   Here’s one area NPOs like NADIA can play a huge role in financing and building the much-needed playgrounds.

Figure 4.  Kids love binoculars.

It was a great experience seeing the children absolutely loving the play sets we built.   Yet another reason to strengthen our belief in humanity and our conviction that we can make a difference in the lives of the victims of the March 11^th disaster.

Figure 5. Our entertainer of the day, Guy Totaro, also known as Niko Niko Taishi, performed for 300 people from the neighborhood

This was a greatly planned and executed bus trip to Tohoku.  The Playground Of Hope team is continuously honing their skills in making good things happen in Tohoku region.   We show our gratitude to Playground Of Hope and It’s Not Just Mud staffs for their hard work and a great execution.  Also to all the volunteers who willingly gave their time and efforts on this project, we sincerely thank you.

Figure 6.  Made giant bubbles for the children before the opening ceremony.

Figure 7.  A student and a teacher enjoying the afternoon.

Figure 8.  Khilan Shah, one of the NADIA volunteers, making the base of a slide.

Figure 9. Members of the It’s Not Just Mud staff braving the cold to bring joy to the kids of Fukushima.

Figure 10.   We sincerely thank our volunteers for their hard work in building the playground.

Figure 11.   Nishiyama-san, a National Diet member, visited the job site to give us encouragements.