Links


東日本大震災 生活・産業基盤復興再生募金 ヤマト福祉財団

Yamato Welfare Foundation




About the donation for
restoration of the areas
affected by the Great East
Japan Earthquake


Message and report from
   the Yamato Group

Every package we deliver also carries hope.

March Report Thank you for your support over the past year. Our efforts continue. This month marks the completion of Yamato's yearlong program launched in April 2011 to donate ten yen for every parcel we deliver to help rebuild the fishing and agriculture industries and restore infrastructure in the areas affected by the March 11, 2011 tsunami. The parcels handled during that period totaled 1,423,608,136 (as of March 31, with 114,838,872 delivered in March alone). The total amount donated reached ¥14,236,081,360 (US$17.45 million*). The funds were raised over the period of one year thanks to customers throughout the country who supported our efforts. Again, we would like to thank each and every customer who used our delivery service.

The program to donate ten yen for every parcel officially concluded on March 31. However, Yamato Welfare Foundation—an independent, incorporated public interest foundation—will continue to distribute the funds that were raised until the very last yen has been used to support the affected areas in a tangible and visible manner. We also intend to continue to explore ways to offer our support in whatever ways we can through our volunteer work and through Yamato operations. Here are the latest updates on recovery projects supported by our program.

A project in Miyagi Prefecture to restore machinery and equipment used in aquaculture was one of the first to receive relief funds. A total of ¥420 million was awarded to 26 fishery cooperatives and operator groups in the prefecture. With all aqua farming facilities, equipment, and cultured produce operations damaged by the tsunami, many of those in the industry—including seaweed and scallop farmers—were devastated, having lost their sole source of income. Aquaculture equipment includes a seaweed-drying machine, which automatically dries and produces up to 10,000 sheets of dried seaweed per hour, and a boiling pot that blanches seaweed and kelp for preservation or salt curing. Both are essential in this type of aqua farming. However, in some cases government support doesn't extend to the purchase of equipment for aquaculture, which is why it was decided to support this project. We hope this relief effort will accelerate the recovery and that the aquaculture industry will be restored along with the employment of the people in the industry.

A project to help purchase sea bottom cleaning equipment for Miyagi Prefecture was also among the first group of fund recipients. New underwater trawl nets designed specifically to collect debris were developed and completed through an investment of ¥100 million from the relief fund. This special abrasion-resistant, trawl net can recover up to 20 cubic meters of debris with a 60-ton boat. By March, four of the new trawl nets were donated to Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative; eight to Watanoha Fisheries Cooperative; 13 to Small Trawlers Fisheries Cooperative and; 13 to Miyagi Offshore Trawler Fisheries Cooperative. The four cooperatives will conduct debris collection operations along the coast of Sendai Bay and off Kinka-zan, depending on the size of the fishing boats. They began removing debris from the sea bottom of Sendai Bay on March 12, 2012. On March 18, a large-scale sea bottom debris removal operation began off shore. The removal of debris is expected to impact the full-scale recovery and restoration of the fishing industry in the affected areas by reestablishing Sendai Bay as a major fishing port for Miyagi Prefecture and the Sanriku area.

A project to help restore agricultural production in Miyagi Prefecture was among the second group of fund recipients. ¥1.32 billion was awarded to 89 agricultural cooperatives, corporations and organizations to help support farmers who suffered extensive damage and are motivated to take the lead in restarting agriculture.There will be some government assistance available (less than 50% of total subsidies), but it still leaves a tremendous burden on the farmers who must rebuild their livelihood from the ground up. Thus there are high hopes for the relief funds. In some parts, new facilities and machinery have already been installed and the production of strawberries, flowers and other plants has resumed, but the efforts to reduce the burden on the farmers and to bring about further recovery will continue.

The seeds of hope delivered with each parcel are finally taking root and beginning to grow in the affected areas. Recovery is barely starting but is clearly progressing. We will continue to report on the recovery/restoration projects that receive our relief funds. April 5, 2012 *Based on conversion rate of ¥1=0.0123 US$

YAMATO GROUP