March 11, 2011

It was all of sudden. Japan earthquake and tsunami occurred.
Then the disaster of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants followed.
Iitate, a beautiful village in Fukushima surrounded by fertile nature, where about 40km NW of the nuclear power plants has been baffled by a series of problems that still remain unsettled.
Called "hot spot", remarkably high dosage of radiation has been measured in areas of the village. That made all the villagers evacuate and break up from their home where their heart is.
Including children.
They all had to say good-bye to their friends, play grounds and schools.
Their life has been completely different.
On Christmas day, December 25 2011, there will be an off-season graduation ceremony for students, their friends and families from this village. It is an event that all 6000 of the Iitate villagers who are now widely dispersed have a chance to participate. To meet again. And to promise to each other someday getting together to return to their home.
Takamasa Kameishi, our esteemed friend who is the deputy representative of Rebirth Project, states that it is important not to postpone dealing with a problem but is important to show children our efforts to improve the situation changing for the better.
"That's one of positive steps to make better future."
We sympathize with his statement that it is only us, adults living in the present, can create a society that would exist in the future formed by more population that can accept problems in a life as own responsibility, not just bewailing misfortune but that can look for solutions.
Leif.designpark, as a Japanese design studio and a member of Rebirth Project, we support the graduation ceremony on Christmas day by creating a time capsule that will safekeep letters of the Iitate children finishing kindergarten and elementary school until they will turn 20 years-old, coming of age in Japan.
2 more days till Christmas!