Bringing Smiles to Children in Tohoku

Sunday, March 9th.Great East Japan EarthquakeIt had been nearly three years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. The weather was clear. As if the snow that fell a few days prior was a lie, a blue sky spread overhead. It was perfect weather for a run. This was the day of the charity run, “Run for Children Tohoku in adidas RUNBASE 2014.” Participants began to gather at the reception area, the running facility “adidas RUNBASE,” from before noon.

This charity run, held annually since 2012 with the cooperation of “adidas,” was initiated by DJ Toshio Matsuura. At its core is the sentiment, “We want to bring smiles to children in Tohoku.” This has not changed, even for the third event.

The event collected donations through participation fees, and all proceeds were contributed to a support fund that continues to aid children affected by the disaster.
This is the Hatachi Fund, established with the wish that “babies who were 0 years old at the time of the earthquake will reach their 20th birthday safely.” The fund supports the mental care of children affected by the disaster, as well as their opportunities to play and learn. The Hatachi Fund continues its support activities so that children can regain such ordinary daily lives as soon as possible.

On this day, the total amount of donations collected through participation fees was 117,000 yen. Along with the sentiments for the children accompanying the donations, the entire amount was delivered to the Hatachi Fund by Mr. Matsuura.

Now, as memories of the earthquake gradually recede into the past, what can we do to bridge the distance with the affected regions? We may not be able to do grand things. It may be difficult to think of the affected areas every day amidst our busy lives. But perhaps once a year, to reflect on the affected regions and send cheers to the children there—this too can be a form of “charity.”

To the Imperial Palace, Carrying the Blue Bird of Peace

12:30 PM. “This is not a timed event. Let’s enjoy it together, unite our hearts, and send our cheers to the children in Tohoku,” declared Mr. Matsuura. After his announcement, the participants set off towards the Imperial Palace.

On their backs were the words “Run Run Run for Your Life” and an illustration of a bird holding a running shoe in its beak. This was a special T-shirt designed for the occasion by “NIKKO DESIGN,” active in architecture and design, with the concept of “Making Japan the Most Beautiful Country in the World.” The illustration of a blue bird taking flight, a symbol of peace, embodies their wish, along with Mr. Matsuura’s, “May the environment surrounding children be natural, expansive, healthy, and beautiful.”

The participants ran through the Imperial Palace grounds with the blue birds on their backs. After the run, they headed to “Madures Nagatacho,” a restaurant adjacent to adidas RUNBASE. There, Mr. Matsuura expressed his gratitude and spoke about his thoughts for the affected regions. “I have friends who continue their activities on the ground. They all share a strong plea: please don’t forget about the affected areas. They also urge us to make March 11th a day to raise disaster preparedness awareness. Please share this with those around you.”

Reconstruction Has Just Begun

Afterward, two video messages from NPO organizations working with the Hatachi Fund were shown on screen. The first was from “Fukushima Indoor Park” in Koriyama City, Fukushima. In Fukushima, where the long-term issue of radiation has made it difficult to find safe places to play, this indoor park was established with the aim of providing children with a safe space to play to their hearts' content.

“Since the earthquake, children in Fukushima have been playing outside less. As a result, various negative effects such as lack of exercise and obesity have emerged. Although three years have passed since the earthquake, the number of indoor parks is still insufficient. We kindly ask for your continued support.”

The next video featured Tomoko Shirai, representative of Toy Box, which operates the “Minamisoma Learning Center” in Minamisoma City, Fukushima. This facility provides educational support and psychological care for children facing difficult circumstances due to reasons such as developmental disabilities.

“It has been two years since we established this facility. Thanks to your support, we have been able to provide a safe space for the children, for which we are truly grateful. On the other hand, the impact of the earthquake remains deeply felt in Fukushima, and support is still insufficient. In such circumstances, your running with thoughts of the affected regions is a great encouragement to us.”

Both video messages conveyed the harsh reality: “Support is still insufficient.” In truth, reconstruction has only just begun. Just as running with someone is more encouraging than running alone, the path to reconstruction, with its uncertain future, must surely be more encouraging when undertaken together. Will the sentiments of the participants who ran through the Imperial Palace on this day reach the children in the affected areas as a resounding call of “We are here with you”?

adidas RUNBASE
1F Hirakawacho Mori Tower, 2-16-1 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Opening Hours: Weekdays 7:00 AM - 10:30 PM / Weekends and Holidays 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Fees: Visitor: 700 yen
Ticket Book: 5,000 yen (10 tickets / 6 months)
Shoe Rental: 100 yen
Wear Rental: Full set 500 yen / Individual item 300 yen
Towel Rental: Small 100 yen / Large 200 yen

adidas RUNBASE
Tel. 03-3261-9980
http://adidas.jp/running/runbase/