September 11, 2011

Peace Boat has completed cleaning of over 1,200 locations in Ishinomaki, including homes, shops, schools, drains and cemeteries. These photos show scenes before and after volunteer efforts.

At 2:46pm on September 11, six months since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, all volunteers and staff together held a moment of silence to pray for the souls of those who lost their lives.

September 9, 2011

Peace Boat first met Mr Nakazato on July 2 at the Ogatsu Recovery Market. He is a fisherman in Funakoshi, a small village of 320 people before the disaster where the tsunami destroyed most homes.

September 7, 2011

Recently volunteers have become busy with cleaning graves and the surrounding areas, as local residents have requested help to have the graves cleaned by the time of the coming equinox.

September 6, 2011

A new style of meal preparation– BBQs, where ingredients and equipment (rather than ready-made meals) are brought and volunteers and residents cook together in an environment of regained independence.

September 2, 2011

The "Dani-buster" team been working since June, and is in charge of cleaning bedding, pest control and in particular removing bed bugs in the more than 60 evacuation centers in Ishinomaki area.

August 26, 2011

Two new public baths were opened on August 22. Constructed by the Ishinomaki Disaster Recovery Assistance Council, Peace Boat is now in charge of operating the baths.

August 25, 2011

Flies and mosquitoes are increasing in the disaster affected areas, and Peace Boat is now working to install fly screens in evacuation centres throughout the Ishinomaki region.