巓洋 TENYOH
  • Portfolio
    • TAKE ME TO YOUR MOON (2021 - present)
    • REFLECTIONS OF BEING (2019-2020)
    • REFLECTIONS OF BEING (2014-2018)
    • LITTLE BUDDHAS (2021-present)
    • LITTLE BUDDHAS (2017-2019)
    • SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE (2016-2017)
    • HEAR THE VOICE (2007-2014)
    • SIMPLE HAPPINESS (2006-2014)
    • SHADOWS & LIGHTS (1995-2007)
    • GLIMMER, WE SAW (1989-1992)
    • SUMI-E & DRAWING (1987-1989)
  • Art in Progress
  • My Thoughts
  • ABOUT
  • Etsy Store
  • 作品
    • 2006年 - 2014年
    • 1989年 - 2007年
  • Portfolio
    • TAKE ME TO YOUR MOON (2021 - present)
    • REFLECTIONS OF BEING (2019-2020)
    • REFLECTIONS OF BEING (2014-2018)
    • LITTLE BUDDHAS (2021-present)
    • LITTLE BUDDHAS (2017-2019)
    • SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE (2016-2017)
    • HEAR THE VOICE (2007-2014)
    • SIMPLE HAPPINESS (2006-2014)
    • SHADOWS & LIGHTS (1995-2007)
    • GLIMMER, WE SAW (1989-1992)
    • SUMI-E & DRAWING (1987-1989)
  • Art in Progress
  • My Thoughts
  • ABOUT
  • Etsy Store
  • 作品
    • 2006年 - 2014年
    • 1989年 - 2007年

Little BIG Bridge across the Pacific

12/17/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Display Table
Picture
Slideshow
Picture
Sakurako-chan
Those who supported the cause
No word could express how much I appreciated their contributions. Thank you.
"Smiles brightened the faces when they were told that their handmade straps and brooches would cross the Pacific," a clerk at Association to Rebuild Wonderful Utatsu wrote to me. Mr. Hane and my sister, whose collaboration made this project possible, mentioned to me the same thing. Many tsunami survivors in Japan took craft works as a way to be constructive. It helped them get out of their tiny temporary housing units and work together stitch by stitch for their future. Their handmade products are now giving smiles to Americans. Smiles truly bridged across Pacific Ocean.

Before the showing of Pray for Japan, I presented a slideshow of recovery efforts in East Japan. Sample items were displayed on two tables at the theater entrance before and after the film. Fifty six people came to see it. Out of that, only two, who were not my friends, placed the orders. However, thanks to my friends, the total sale price reached $935.

Many survivors are realizing that financial contributions are no longer necessary. They wish to get back on their feet. They also know that it would take 10 years or more to rebuild the local economy. Meanwhile, the sales of their disaster-area products give them a way to remain constructive. I learned from my project how difficult it was to explain to Americans the current needs of tsunami-devastated areas, and to make them open their wallets for the benefit of survivors.

When I gave a pink monkey to my friend's 4-year-old daughter, Sakurako, she was so happy that she handed a $10 note to me. She had saved the pocket money  in the Buddhist altar in order to use it for a special occasion. She told me, "Give it to a person who made the monkey." The sock monkey was originally made by an elementary-school girl out of her father's socks in Higashi-Matsushima City. I bought a little gift for her with the precious money. My sister is going to mail it to the school girl when she returns to Japan.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Follow This Blog

    RSS Feed


    ​
    ​Categories

    All
    Great East Japan Earthquake
    Japanese Culture
    My Family
    Others



    ​Archives

    November 2022
    September 2022
    September 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    October 2018
    June 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2016
    April 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011



    Links

    Yukie Matsushita
    My computer graphic teacher, who has been producing charming illustrations in Paris.

    Steven Rushefsky
    My mentor. His encouragement always boosts my energy.

    Jewish Pioneers of the Black Hills Gold Rush
    My writing in my portfolio was polished by Ann Haber Stanton, the author of the above book.

    Othmar F. Arnold
    A radical thinker, whose aspirations are similar to mine.

    My Past Photo Albums
Copyright © Yoko "Tenyoh" Sugawara          Email: tenyohcreations@gmail.com          Phone: (605) 787 - 1099