Kumi ImamuraRepresentative, NPO KATARIBA
Rather than just giving “support” to “those poor children”, I want to be a friend
who can help children get through life with strength and kindness so that they can grow into adulthood. It was with those thoughts that we created this fund.
In this now where there is nothing and values and common sense are being reworked, we all need work together to start again from scratch. Let’s aim to help even just one more child from East Japan become a happy twenty-year-old adult.
Ikuo SekineSchool Principal, Urawa High School, Saitama Prefecture
You are the hope of those around you.
You are the hope of those who have gone before you.
You are the hope of those who go after you.
Everyone is someone’s hope for the future.
So let’s all join hands and walk forward together.
Akiko MatsunobuChief Representative, Office Perspective
Children are Japan’s treasure. But if those treasures have lost their parents in the disaster, or are facing psychological or economical troubles, we should all work together to support them. So that these children don’t lose the chance to study, so that they don’t feel sad, so that they grow into strong adults who can drag Japan into the future, we hope that this fund will be the tow truck that links the generations together.
I was born just after the war and was fortunate enough to live during Japan ‘s long period of post-war growth. I hope that people of my generation endorse this fund and take initiative to support it.
Hiroyuki OginoProfessor, Sophia University
What is safety? What are the words that will create leadership?
What is the really important information? (What is unnecessary information?)
We had to consider a number of questions following the disaster.
The ones being questioned are us, the present-day Japan.
Besides the urgent support to the affected areas, we hope that by taking the long view and reflecting on our own lives we can raise new young talent, who in turn can give rise to new ideas and new sensitivities by considering the role of technology in society and the connections between people.
Jun NakaharaAssociate Professor, The University of Tokyo
http://www.nakahara-lab.net/
I offer my deepest condolences to those affected by the recent disaster.
In particular, when I think of those children who have lost their parents, bear psychological wounds and may be forced away from education, as a parent and as an educator my heart feels for them.
I’d like to take this opportunity to endorse this Hatachi fund that will support children affected by the disaster until they turn twenty (hatachi, the age of maturity), and become one of the fund’s standard-bearers.
I believe that those that live today, for the sake of those children who will live after us, have a responsibility to light the way in this post-3/11 world.
The journey that will define the post-3/11 world will be a long one.
I hope that you will come with us as the children affected by the disaster make the journey towards hatachi and adulthood.
If you can follow my argument, I humbly ask that you grant your warm support to these children.
Osamu Hirakawa
I have a nine-year-old daughter.
I can’t help but imagine what it would be like for her if there was a disaster that left her alone in this world. You can’t survive by yourself. But I believe that if you have the support to keep you going, you will definitely open the road to the future.
Helping as an outside party, I would like to travel towards tomorrow with the children affected by the disaster.
At this point, making connections are sure to be the driving force towards having happy children.
Our company’s vision is “provide education to make the future exciting, for everyone”.
It’s what I can do. It’d like to do what I can with everyone’s support. I endorse this fund.
Joe SakaiCEO,BOLBOP Inc.
http://nedwlt.exblog.jp/
This disaster has affected people to different degrees.
There are those who have lose nothing, and those who have lost everything.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t something that you could choose.
However, the degree of commitment towards rebuilding following the disaster is something that each of us gets to decide. Even if you can’t directly go to the disaster area and directly provide support, there are many ways to get involved. I would highly appreciate it if you would consider participation in this fund as one type of support.
Jun UmemuraDirector of Career Guidance, Hachinohe High School, Aomori Prefecture
Even in Hachinohe, to the north of the main disaster areas, there are people who are affected by the disaster and there are people who are making an effort to support the recovery.
Even now along the coastline there are traces of the disaster with mid-size squid-fishing vessels still blocking roads. But when you see the large number of young volunteers, you can’t help feeling conscious of the future.
We need to do what we can for the future.
Kumi FujisawaVice President, Thinktank SophiaBank
http://kumifujisawa.jp
Giving support is not a donation, but helping the person you support to become self-sufficient. I want to endeavour to give support that will allow the person we assist to in turn become someone who will support others. And I hope that through my support we can all learn and grow together.