Two years ago I wandered into the NGO Village looking for a connection to volunteer in Tohoku after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster. I found Tonomagokoro Net, a volunteer organization permanently headquartered in Tonoo City, a bus ride from the most devastated regions along the coast.

I spent a week there, riding into temporary housing blocks to have tea with cute little old ladies, hosting festivals for the locals, showing patronage and supporting new shops sprouted up from the debris, and basically trying to help people stay positive and carry on some semblance of a normal life in a village that was entirely washed away.

This year strolling up the NGO Village I was welcomed by a nice fellow from Nagasaki here volunteering with the Otsuchi Town Sashiko Project, a clever idea brewed up by some crafty ladies with nothing else to do.

The basic idea started by a handful of residents who lost nearly everything, houses, families, livelihoods, was to keep busy and do as much as they can with what they had. And what they had was serious knitting skills, needles and thread.

I don’t know what they made first, cute coasters, placemats, aprons, T-shirts, handkerchiefs, towels, etc. but they make them all now. And they sell them at a reasonable profit for it to be a sustainable endeavor, one that brings some financial resources, and more importantly a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment back to the people of Otsuchi Town.

People rush to help out and volunteer after the disaster, just like Red Cross’ and so many other wonderful organization’s quick response, however the continued support is just as ever today.

If you want to support, you can check out their website, though it is only in Japanese http://tomotsuna.jp/ and you can email direct in English at info.otsuchi.sashiko@gmail.com to order stuff or ask questions and possibly volunteer.

The Japanese spirit is strong and full of resilience. These ladies prove it, and their story is one worth sharing, if you are willing and able to show your support I am positive they will deeply appreciate it.