Voices from the Field: RSY vol.4 - More on “TA-BE-SA-IN!” project

On May 16, we delivered handmade pickled vegetables to the evacuees in Kokusaimura Hall, which provides a shelter for about 200 people. Those pickled vegetables were made from fresh vegetables donated by the volunteer group “Enoki”, based in Anjo city, Aichi Prefecture. As the “Enoki” has decided to continue providing fresh produce once a week, women from the local volunteer group are very excited about cooking those vegetables for others.

Japanese pickles of cucumbers and daikon radishes were delivered by local volunteers. They visited every room to hand over small bags of the Japanese pickles prepared with care saying, “It’s not much, but Tabesain (Enjoy).”

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Local Volunteers deliver Japanese pickles to evacuees

“Wow, I’ve just been waiting for these!” “I love pickles. I don’t want any other dishes if I have these. Thank you very much.” The pickles delivery brightened up the atmosphere in the shelter. Furthermore, the local volunteers shared and exchanged information with the evacuees, as they had some acquaintances in each room.

While the local volunteers distributed the pickles, they conversed with evacuees in their local dialect. A friendly and comfortable relationship, “let’s share something with our neighbors”, has been built up between the local volunteers and the evacuees.

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Evacuees enjoy a meal

A local volunteer working on this project said with a big smile, “ Their smiles make me feel so happy. That’s what keeps me doing this.” This is the power of community which supports people’s long and severe lives in the shelter.

Reported by Ai Urano, Rescue Stock Yard (RSY, based in Nagoya) from Shichigahama, Miyagi, Northeastern Japan.

(Edited by Tomoko Izumikawa - original submission Sunday, 4 September 2011, 03:38 PM)

I find this very touching how everyone is trying to help each other with the little that they have. Especially this statement: “let’s share something with our neighbors” is very moving.

I find it though quite sad that after the initial disaster none of this is mentioned in the news any more where I live. It is a shame to see how the media concentrate on the disaster part but do not tell the rest of the world about the positive actions being taken afterwards.

And I say BRAVO to all the volenteers and keep it up! Imagine how much food is taken for granted in other parts of the world and in Japan a few pickled vegetables are putting smiles on people's faces! this is truely amazing.

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	Re: RSY vol.4 - More on “TA-BE-SA-IN!” project by Yoko Matsuda - Monday, 29 August 2011, 08:40 PM
	Dear Urvashi san, Thank you for your comments and support. We also try hard to let people know what's going on there. It takes so many years to revitalize the community again. It just began. I hope you also continue keeping eyes on it. Yoko --- Rescue Stock Yard Show parent

Daer Yoko san,

I shall definately make sure to keep track of what is going on. I have also shared the voices from field facebook page with some of my friends so that more and more people can get interested in what is going on and how the community is taking steps to re-build

as other countries and cultures can also learn a lot out of this event that took place in Japan, because I think it could happen anywhere.

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I was glad to see this second posting on the Tabesain Project. It's the kind of article that engages the reader. I suggest a descriptive tour of Kokusaimura Hall. I wonder how the space is divided to give family units some privacy. How are communal spaces shared? I wonder how one typical family or couple are settling in there. How are jobs shared? How are people spending their time?.... playing cards?.... watching TV?..... involved in arts or crafts?

The pictures are so engaging.

Vermonters (people in my state) have just experienced a big storm that knocked out electricity, washed out roads and bridges, even caused houses to collapse. We are really unaccustomed to that kind of disaster. I'm proud to say that neighbors and even strangers quickly stepped in to help those who lost so much. It made me think of how the Japanese people do the same when disaster strikes. It's the right thing to do.

Can I provide the Tabesain story to our Asian Studies group at the University of Vermont through our electronic newsletter?

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Dear Sharon,

My apologies for failing to follow up your very important inquiry.

>>>1. Can I provide the Tabesain story to our Asian Studies group at the University of Vermont through our electronic newsletter?

⇒Since this report is accessible through interent by anone in the world, you may feel free to quote it or introduce it

as it is. Only one request from us is that please mention the source of this information by referring to our website.

If you have any feeback from the audience of your electric newesletter.

<<<2. I suggest a descriptive tour of Kokusaimura Hall. I wonder how the space is divided to give family units some privacy. How are communal spaces shared? I wonder how one typical family or couple are settling in there. How are jobs shared? How are people spending their time?.... playing cards?.... watching TV?..... involved in arts or crafts? ⇒These questions I find very refreshing and significant need to be addressed and illustrated. However persons who may answer best (and as only one) are unfortunately extremely tied up with disasters in the eastern part now also in the western part of Japan.

Hopefully someone of us can get back to you with more illustrative information in the near future.

Thank you for your continued interest and encouragement.

Norio Okada

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As I read through the article I could understand a little bit about the feelings of the people living in shelters and those who are eager to give them comfort in some way. It is a very clever idea to bring not just food but something so traditional Japanese, homemade and delicious as pickled vegetables, I enjoy them myself very much.

I noticed by the reactions of the people, that homemade food provides some extra comfort that a plain factory packed meal cannot give. Maybe in other parts of the world this kind of "food good for the soul therapy" could also be useful.

I am cheering for those who are working hard to find ways to comfort those in need and also for the VfF group who have made these stories known to a wider range of readers.

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