Students of devastated school reunite with classmates, teachers (by Mainichi Shimbun)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110408p2a00m0na021000c.html

Female students at quake- and tsunami-ravaged Takata Senior High School in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, embrace each other as they reunite for the first time since the March 11 disaster at a local junior high school on April 8. (Mainichi)

Hot coffee served at an evacuation center and everybody smiles (photo by Mainichi Shimbun)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/photojournal/graph/photojournal/1.html

Evacuees staying at a refugee shelter in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, following the March 11 quake and tsunami drink coffee served by members of the nonprofit organization Aalass Network, consisting of restaurant and catering business operators, on the morning of April 7, 2011. (Mainichi)

My house was safe, but I am staying at the shelter to help others

(by Mr. Hironori Muto (17), Senior at Yamada Senior High School, Yamada-cho, Iwate Prefecture at Yamada Minami Elementary School, Yamada-cho, Iwate Prefecture)
My house did not suffer any damage, but my grandfather at a nursing home died. I know that they are short of help, so I am staying at this evacuation center from the very next day of the earthquake and help the cleaning and the delivery of the relief goods. My hometown was utterly destroyed, but the children at the evacuation center are very cheerful and encouraging to the people around; I am receiving the courage and power from them. I’d like to get a job to help reconstruct this town in the future.

Article by Asahi Shimbun, April8, 2011
Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano

I wish I could play basketball again soon

(by Mr. Mizuki Kondo (8) 3rd Grade at Yamada Minami Elementary School, Yamada-cho, Iwate Prefecture, at Yamada Minami Elementary School,Yamada-cho, Iwate Prefecture)
My house was washed away, but all my family was able to evacuate safe. I enjoy playing Japanese chess with my friends at the evacuation center. I am in a basketball team, but we cannot use the gym or the school grounds where so many cars are parked. I wish we could play and exercise as much as we’d like. I’m looking forward to the day when we can play again.

Article in Asahi Shimbun, April 8, 2011
Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano

Helping hands to the rival team

Members of Ishinomaki Senior High School baseball team are helping reconstruction-Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.



Ishinomaki Senior High School baseball team members are helping the reconstruction work as volunteer at the rival school, Ishinomaki Technical High School. – Ishinomaki City,Miyagi Pref. (Picture taken by Shihou Tsutabayashi)

Daily Sports Newspaper, "Photo Gallery," April 7, 2011
http://photos.nikkansports.com/general/genki/archives/20110407_14504.html
Translated by Maikiko Tajima Asano



Captain Hino of Ishinomaki Senior High School (left) whose team members are helping the reconstruction of rival school, Ishinomaki Technical High School and Captain Kurokawa of Ishinomaki Technical High School – Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Pref.

Daily Sports Newspaper, "Photo Gallery," April 7, 2011
http://photos.nikkansports.com/general/genki/archives/20110407_14500.html
Translated by Maikiko Tajima Asano

Crown prince, princess visit Fukushima plant evacuees (by Asahi Shimbun)

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201104070141.html


Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako talk with an evacuee on Thursday at the Ajinomoto Stadium gym in Chofu, Tokyo. (Shiro Nishihata)

Townspeople facing 'starvation' as aid fails to reach disaster area households( by Mainichi Shimbun)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110408p2a00m0na022000c.html

A disaster survivor living at home in Shichigahama, Miyagi Prefecture, displays the contents of a municipal aid package on April 6. The package must feed a family of five for three days. (Mainichi)

Satoshi Onodera stands next to stacks of undistributed relief supplies at a Shichigahama municipal sports center on April 6. (Mainichi)