Simple yet Powerful Drawings

"kizunaworld.org" was launched by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Tomoyasu Hirano. Under the concept of "doing everything we can with individual effort," the project widely collects and offers works from artists who support it, both domestically and internationally, to solicit donations. The initiative has now passed its first year, and continues to provide ongoing support into its second year and beyond, connecting individual sentiments.

The 19th work is a film titled "a very serious group of drawings." It features music composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto for paintings created by London-based painter Paul Davis. The simple yet powerful illustrations and the quiet yet resolute music are a perfect match. Paul Davis commented on the work as follows:

“This was made after a brief conversation with Ryuichi about the very sad earthquake and tsunami that Japan experienced. I wanted to make it as positive as possible, not superficial. Which is very difficult… Ryuichi edited the images and wrote a beautiful, memorable piece of music. I was moved to the bone. This work makes people cry, but it is strangely positive—”




The system allows users to download the work by making a donation of their choice, ranging from ¥1,000 to ¥20,000, payable via PayPal. The entire amount of donations collected (excluding payment processing fees) is equally distributed to five organizations representing the fields of "medical care," "children," "food," "housing," and "energy" as "support needed now" in the disaster-stricken areas, with donations made quarterly.

Starting from April 2012, in its fifth phase, the recipient for "food" donations was changed to the "Sunrise Genki Village Project," led by "OPEN JAPAN," a volunteer organization that has been conducting support activities mainly in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, since immediately after the earthquake.

This support organization delivers rice and messages from supporters nationwide to the elderly living in unfamiliar temporary housing each month. By directly visiting the area and delivering rice, they aim to alleviate the anxieties and problems faced by each individual as much as possible, and to prevent the isolation and death of the elderly, which became an issue after the Great Hanshin Earthquake, as well as to improve their health.

〈Donation Recipients〉
“Doctors Without Borders Japan” | Medical activities and procurement of pharmaceuticals centered on mental healthcare in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture
“Children's Music Revival Fund” | Instrument repair and provision, and music activity support in educational institutions
“Sunrise Genki Village Project” | Support for the elderly living in temporary housing by delivering rice
“Volarhitects Shigeru Ban / East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Support Project” | Support through the installation of simple partition systems for evacuation shelters
“Institute for Energy Economics and Policy, Connection & Warmth Project” | Support for disaster-stricken areas through solar, solar thermal, biomass, etc.