(2011.09.15 / First Edit)
In March 11th, 2011, Northeast Japan experienced two of the worst natural disasters in human history, earthquakes and Tsunamis. As of today, September 15, 2011, almost a half-year has passed and many of us have started normal life as we had before.
However, there are still people who are suffering from unemployment, missing family, and losing the life they used to have. We remember the earthquake and never stop supporting the disaster-stricken areas, and people who have been living there.
This is a project to provide not only the material and financial support to them, but also practical support by creating jobs and industry there. Five volunteers started this project and picked Sashiko as the tool to create an industry. “Sashiko.” This is what we do for living and what we are professional for. I couldn’t stop myself from contacting them to offer any kinds of support.
And here we are.
The name of this project is “Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project” taking place in Otsuschi in Iwate Prefecture managed by NGO named Terra Renaissance Tomotsuna Fund.
Our mission is very simple but powerful. We provide materials such as quilts and threads then citizen in Otsuchi do Sashiko embroidery. We buy the end products from citizens and they can use the money for their goods and needs.
We believe that not only do they need material support such as food and shelter, but also mental support for their daily lives. Many of them lost their job and seeking what they do everyday. We now are trying to create an industry where they can work and enjoy spending time with the entitlements they earned.
Here are four products people in Otsuchi make everyday. It is little expensive because we donate to the TOMOTSUNA Fund, which support Recovery in Iwate Pref.
The Prices are global prices on this website. "Shipping Free !!"
"A Global Price" means that they include money transaction fee (papal), Shipping Risk Hedge, and other translation fee etc. If you are interested to purchase their crafts in Japanese price, please contact us to "info@hidasashiko.com." We will get back to you with all fees including Japanese price. Also, if you can help us to whole sale, please do you best to use this global price. We cannot do too much wholesale, but we are very interested in expanding this project to all over the world.
☆Otsuchi Sampler _ Blue
: 2,500 JPY
☆Otsuchi Sampler _ Pink
: 2,500 JPY
Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project Website
(Japanese Only)
☆English Explanation of this Project
☆Otsuchi Coaster _ Green
: 1,500 JPY
☆Otsuchi Coaster _ beige
: 1,500 JPY
Tomotsuna Fund and NPO Terra Renaissance
(Japanese Only)
☆English Explanation of TOMOTSUNA Fund
Notes:
Shipping method will be regular USPS (JPS) Air. If you are willing to receive earlier with tracking number, we may apply EMS (Express Mail) service from Japan. We may have to ask you additional fee for this. Please refer to Fee table for EMS.
EMS Shipping Fee Table.
CONTACT
Name |
Otsuchi Recovery Sampler (Fukin) Blue
|
|---|---|
Size |
34cm x 34 cm
|
Material |
Cotton (Bleached) 100%
|
Handing Direction |
Wash with a neutral detergent and lukewarm water. Color might fade off if you use hot water to wash.
When you iron, use press cloth and avoid high temprature mode. Color might fade off.
Using Bath towel when you iron can vivid the Sashiko Stitches.
|
Price ： 2,500 JPY (Shipping Free)
Size ： 34cm×34cm
Material ： Cotton（100%）
Name |
Otsuchi Recovery Sampler (Fukin) Pink
|
|---|---|
Size |
34cm x 34 cm
|
Material |
Cotton (Bleached) 100%
|
Handing Direction |
Wash with a neutral detergent and lukewarm water. Color might fade off if you use hot water to wash.
When you iron, use press cloth and avoid high temprature mode. Color might fade off.
Using Bath towel when you iron can vivid the Sashiko Stitches.
|
Price ： 2,500 JPY (Shipping Free)
Size ： 34cm×34cm
Material ： Cotton（100%）
Name |
Otsuchi Recovery Coaster Green
|
|---|---|
Size |
11cm x 11 cm
|
Material |
Front : Cotton 100 % / Back : Cotton 100 %
|
Handing Direction |
Wash with a neutral detergent and lukewarm water. Color might fade off if you use hot water to wash.
When you iron, use press cloth and avoid high temprature mode. Color might fade off.
|
Price ： 1,500 JPY (Shipping Free)
Size ： 11cm×11cm
Material ： Cotton（100%）
Name |
Otsuchi Recovery Coaster Beige
|
|---|---|
Size |
11cm x 11 cm
|
Material |
Front : Cotton 100 % / Back : Cotton 100 %
|
Handing Direction |
Wash with a neutral detergent and lukewarm water. Color might fade off if you use hot water to wash.
When you iron, use press cloth and avoid high temprature mode. Color might fade off.
|
Price ： 1,500 JPY (Shipping Free)
Size ： 11cm×11cm
Material ： Cotton（100%）
☆Message from Five Original Volunteers. (2011.06.11)
It has been three months since the unprecedented earthquake in Eastern Japan.
Otsuchi-cho in Iwate Prefecture had experienced massive damage from the earthquake and Tsunami. They lost most of the function in the city by city hall got wiped away by Tsunami and more than 770 citizens including city mayer had been killed by this disaster.
And even now, more than 1,000 of citizens are still missing.
While many of survivors in the city face to live in shelters, men are occupied a lot of works to do such as repairing houses and cleaning the messes. On the other hand, women lost their houses as well as their daily house works. Women who had worked for fishermen as part-timer lost their jobs, and it is incredibly difficult to go part-time job because of the situation without any cars and workplaces.
Women in Otsuchi, who are known as hard-workers, lost their life-style and it changed everything. In order to recover from this chaos, women in Otsuchi start this projects with great helps.
They lost their house. They lost their family members and friends.
Only a will they have in this chaotic reality, which nobody can refuse and live in daily life.
It is a strong will of "Live for today."
This strong will bring them to Sashiko embroidery which only need small spaces and few equipments, and more their house-work skill.
Sashiko embroidery is a hand craft in which people have been enjoying for long time all over Japan.
Grandmothers who were laying all day long...
Mothers who lost their jobs...
Young girls who have lots of potentials and abilities...
All kinds of women, and sometimes men, stitch Sashiko with a strong hope to the recovery. This is the project of women who start stepping forward.
2011.06.11
Committee of Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project
The Purpose of TOMOTSUNA Fund by Terra Renaissance
We have been working on International cooperate activities in Uganda and Cambodia.
(Working on translating now. For Official information, please visit Official Website)
Pray for J...
