Tohoku Disaster Relief
Supporting Tohoku
Supporting Where the Community Plays the Leading Role
Shortly after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, JNPOC established the Japan Earthquake Local NPO Support Fund to engage in reconstruction assistance activities through supporting NPOs.
To provide better assistance in disaster-affected areas, we believe that it is important not only to support the NPOs’ projects but also to develop and strengthen their organizational capacity. These activities are supported by donations from our members, individual donors, NPOs, and businesses. We have established multiple disaster relief funds in partnership with various corporations and NGOs.
Here we show some major programs and highlights.
Japan Earthquake Local NPO Support Fund
Shortly after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, JNPOC established the Japan Earthquake Local NPO Support Fund in collaboration with the Civic Society Initiative Funds. It focused on strengthening organizational capacity through the first three grant periods. Since the beginning of the fourth grant period in April 2022, we have been supporting efforts to strengthen the organizational capacities by utilizing outside human resources with great expertise, to ensure the continued operation of organizations.
Donations to the fund were collected from individuals and corporations including the following major corporate donors, which developed as corporate endowed programs:
The funds have been used for local nonprofits in affected Tohoku areas that need relief and recovery aid.
You can make a donation through our PayPal account.
Takeda Life and Livelihood Reconstruction Program
For ongoing post-earthquake disaster aid, JNPOC set up the Takeda Life and Livelihood Reconstruction Program through donation-based funding from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. For the mission to facilitate humanitarian support and the maintenance of livelihood, based on a generous donation from Takeda, ¥125,610,000 subsidies were granted to 21 nonprofits working for those affected by the disaster in East Japan in FY2014. Takeda and JNPOC launched a new project which will support the Government and revise the public assistance system for those who are living in the disaster area, as well as for caretakers working in the area who may be in need of mental health care. The duration of the program was extended from 5 years to 10 years.
Takeda Life and Livelihood Reconstruction Program (Japanese)
- Community Revitalization: Foundations for a New Life (English)
- Supporting Emotional Recovery in Tohoku (including video in English)
Nissan Smile Support Fund
With a wish for children affected by the East Japan Disaster to smile again, this fund originally based on an individual donation from Nissan president Carlos Ghosn. Partnering with the Foundation for Promoting Sound Growth of Children and nonprofits rooted in the local communities of disaster-affected areas, JNPOC facilitated a program(Asobi-Plus-One program) to offer children various playing opportunities. Under another program (Odekake Program), children can travel to other prefectures to engage in play during the school break. After the 4 year anniversary of the disaster, this personal fund was transferred to be part of the CSR activities of Nissan Motor Company.
Nissan Smile Support Fund (Japanese)
Johnson & Johnson Community Empowerment Program (Ended)
Partnering selected local NPOs in the earthquake-affected area through funding from Johnson and Johnson, JNPOC implements a program for temporary housing residents as well as neighboring citizens. The program aims to provide program activities attuned to local needs where people can discover “a place they belong” (ibasho), regain their sense of well-being, support each other, and find and assert their social roles (deban), which will enhance the community and empower the residents.
NPO Capacity Development Project (Ended)
With the financial support of World Vision Japan, JNPOC organized “NPO Capacity Development Project”, which had been implemented from May 2012 to July 2013, following a preparation period. The project is aimed at building capacity of nonprofit organizations in Tohoku through leadership development.
JCN (Japan Civic Network of Disaster Relief in East Japan)
JCN (Japan Civic Network of Disaster Relief in East Japan) is a nationwide coalition of NPOs/NGOs, private corporations, and voJapan Civic Network of Disaster Relief in East Japan (JCN)lunteer groups providing support for the victims/evacuees of the Great East Japan Disaster. JNPOC’s Executive Director is one of the founding members of this Network and has served as a representative. JCN first served as an information-sharing hub and has gradually shifted to broader disaster relief activities, which includes, but is not limited to, the coordination of the three disaster-stricken prefecture meetings and nation-wide evacuee support meetings. JCN, representing the support organizations, also serves as a liaison to government offices.
