“It should be the hardest time now… I hear that the stress that children are feeling is reaching the unbearable level… We’d like you to go to Kumamoto to encourage the children there.”

Soon after the Kumamoto Quake which occurred this year, we started to hear such requests from the victims of Tohoku.

They are recovering from the earthquake there themselves, but yet, they sent us these requests. Because they know the pain that Kumamoto people are feeling, they had to speak out on their behalf.

We, therefore, went to Kumamoto right away.

 

The damage from the quake was incredible, and it was hard for us to face it. But yet, we started Happy Doll project in the corner of the evacuation center. Then, children, their parents, etc., started to gather around us and talked about their wishes and hopes while making Happy Dolls. Before long, there were many smiles. They talked about Tohoku, and we listened to the message from them.

 

A number of “Students’ Clubs” heard about this project, and the children there made their Happy Dolls and brought them to their teachers asking them to send them to the children in hospitals. This surprised and moved the teachers.

 

This circle of Happy Dolls united children inside and outside of hospitals and linked Tohoku and Kumamoto as well, lightly going over various barriers in between. This Happy Doll might have a miraculous power, I thought. It was the eleventh year of this project.

 

There was a man who couldn’t stop crying over the Happy Doll that he could make on his own for the first time, even though he has a physical handicap.

 

There was a girl who was full of joy over her Doll, which she managed to finish after taking breaks due to her poor physical condition.

 

A mother and daughter, who couldn’t find anything to attract them till that day, were devoted to making a Happy Doll.

 

To make is to produce something out of nothing, and to produce something is to take one step forward.

 

Each step that people take by making things must develop into hope for the future! I felt so by looking at each person’s step.

 

All of them are making something each day, living and fighting.

To Make is to Live.