The Koike Naganuma Nishi Emergency Temporary Housing in Minami-Soma City, Fukushima, is a temporary housing project that allows evacuees to come with their pets. The Kotonoha Team focuses its activity on the pets, which are a precious member of the family of the evacuees. We visited 29 homes in July and were able to collect priceless stories and statements full of love for their pets. We are now in the process of creating a booklet filled with their loving words. It is our hope that not only would it be a collection of photographs of cute animals, but that it would serve as a conversation starter for the residents of the temporary housing.
On Nov. 28, we visited the temporary housing again to show and have the residents check the contents of the booklet. We were glad that everyone welcomed the booklet and said that they were looking forward to seeing the finished product. After some revisions based on their remarks, we hope that it will turn out to be an even better booklet. (Chiharu Koike, 3rd year at Comparative Culture Studies)