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3.11—Since that fateful day, one year has passed. . .

I write these words just one year after the day of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on March 11, 2011. How many people have thought since that day, if only they could go back to even 5 minutes before the disaster. In that time, they remember: my husband was alive, my friend was there, my father was working out there, and there were houses, there were jobs, there were communities... But time does not stop, and we realize anew how steadily those who survived have kept themselves going, somehow, throughout this one year.

I gaze at those images from one year ago as if seeing them for the first time. Resident of Iwate prefecture though I am, I live inland, and I am reminded over and over what unprecedented destruction visited these shores one year ago. I think how frightened people must have been and how wretched they must have felt. I imagine how sad they must feel even to this day. Only those who actually lived through the earthquake and tsunami can really understand.

Still, we have endeavored, as fellow residents of this region, to share the fear, and the pain, and the suffering of the victims. Picture books are staunch companions for children grieving over loss of parents and grandparents, siblings, friends. We have been bringing books to our young friends who have experienced unimaginable sadness and loss, and will keep on doing so, convinced that it helps them, even a little. We believe that picture books give hope not only to children, but to adults. We believe that books will help to relieve the pain and grief, one page at a time.

Our fleet of mini bookmobiles called Ehon Cars has grown to six, and five of them are traveling along the coastal highways, taking books to the children there. In the communities striving to rebuild after the disaster of one year ago, people are starting up small-scale bunko libraries. We hope those will be places where children gather and where they will be able to find refuge and solace in their time with books. The Ehon Project in Iwate wants to support and help these bunko libraries when called upon.

Thanks to the generosity of so many people, there are plenty of picture books. They have been carefully sorted and categorized and they can be provided in response to any request. We now plan to create a kind of “satellite” in Morioka where people who can bring books to children will gather and from which we will provide information for outlying cities, towns, and villages. To create this center for the Ehon Project, we again need your assistance. We call on you once more to lend us your support for this ongoing project.

Soon this year, we are also planning to compile a record of the “3.11 Ehon Project in Iwate” in book form. We hope this record will allow us all to share the strength and commitment of the people who sent us picture books, who donated funds, who volunteered to help with the books, as well as those who received and now treasure the books, and everyone who has been part of this endeavor.

We look forward to your continued cooperation and goodwill,

Chieko Suemori