[Event Report] Giving Back to Japan: The Road Towards Reconstruction
Giving Back to Japan: The Road Towards Reconstruction
Four years ago, Japan's northeastern coast was devastated by a magnitude 9 earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent nuclear accidents. Lives were lost, cities destroyed, and local industries and businesses were crippled. Indeed, 3/11 is a date that has been etched into the minds of people in Japan and around the world. Despite the tragedy, and damage, Tohoku, and Japan is on the road to reconstruction.
On March, 11th 2015, the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan came together at the Tokyo American Club to celebrate efforts for reconstruction, and giving back to Japan with a special event showcasing a variety of projects in the affected region.
As reported by the Dutch chamber on their website, "NCCJ Chairman Hans van der Tang started things off with an introduction and background of the event, which is now in its fourth year. Dutch Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Radinck Jan van Vollenhoven, started the evening's program with welcome remarks. Dutch Ambassador Radinck van Vollenhoven gave a special welcome and spoke about the Netherlands’ long history with Japan, as well as its efforts to help the Tohoku region recover from the disaster. Martin van der Linden, founder of van der Architects K.K. and a board member of the Oranda Jima Foundation, gave a presentation on Orandajima House, the beautiful after-school facility and community center he designed for Yamada-machi, a town in Iwate Prefecture that was devastated by the tsunami. The town has a long relationship with the Netherlands, with ties dating back to 1643, when villagers rescued crew members from a Dutch ship that had foundered offshore."
Canada Wood's Shawn Lawlor represented the CCCJ, and presented on the Canada Tohoku Reconstruction Project, a $4.5 million joint government and industry reconstruction project in Tohoku, which is an initiative spearheaded by the Canada Wood Group in an effort to help Japanese communities recover from the 2011 tsunami. To date, the 4 buildings have been completed as part of the project.
- The Donguri Anne Public Library in Natori – A replacement for Natori’s original public library, which sustained irreparable structural damage as a result of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake.
- Yuriage Public Market – A revitalization of an important commercial hub in Natori.
- Oranda Jima – A community centre built with donated B.C. wood that has playrooms, a soundproof music room, a tatami room for quiet time and counselling, a kitchen and a playground. The Orandajima House was initiated and built by the Orandajima Foundation as an after school facility-community centre for the children and people of Yamada-machi. This town in the Northern province of Iwate has a long relationship with the Netherlands going back to 1643 when a Dutch ship stranded there. This after school facility for the children of Yamada-machi was designed pro-bono by architect Martin van der Linden with wood donated by Canada Wood. This is a great example of countries coming together to support Tohoku, in this case with Dutch companies spearheading the project and Canada supplying the lumber.
- Jericho Support Centre – The most recent of the four projects, the centre provides rehabilitation and training services for over 1,000 disabled people who were displaced by the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake.
The event was a success - drawing a crowd of just over 60 people from Tokyo's Canadian and Dutch business communities.
