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Toy library activities in Japan to support victims of the big disaster in March 2011.
The Japanese National Council of Toy Libraries – JNCTL: Noriko Minejima;
Akiko Matsuyama ; Michi Matsubara; Junko Yamada
The first toy library run by volunteers in Japan was started by Ms. Ruth
Kobayashi in 1981 in Mitaka City, Tokyo. The Japanese National Council
of Toy Libraries (JNCTL) was established in 1983. As of April 2011 the
number of JNCTL membership is four hundred and fifty-one. On March
11th, 2011 a big earthquake and tsunami hit the east Japan. A lot of
JNCTL members were also seriously affected by the disaster. Soon after
the disaster JNCTL started the project to support them. On March 16th,
JNCTL sent a letter to toy libraries all over Japan asking for donation to
support toy libraries in the stricken area. As of the 4th July, 2,788,441
yen(approximately 35,000 U.S. dollars(has been donated. Two million
yen (25,000 U.S. dollars) from the Japan Toy Library Foundation and
ten thousand pounds from the British Toy Manufacture Association
were also donated. Gradually we found out the reality. One toy library
had been washed away completely by tsunami. Not only the building
where the toy library had opened but also its director’s house had gone.
His parents are still missing. Other toy libraries were also damaged. The
user’s family member was killed or the buildings used as toy libraries had
been broken. They don’t know when they can start them again because
of the safety of the buildings. A lot of people relating toy libraries had
to live in the shelters due to their broken houses and damaged lifelines.
The accident of The Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant worsened the situation.
People in the area had to evacuate. It’s very difficult for disabled
children and their family to live in the shelter with others. JNCTL’s Project
to support the victims is consisted of two parts. First, we support
our members so that they can start their new lives and we also support
them so that they can start their toy libraries again. Second, we visit
children in the disaster area with toys and play with them to give joy of
play. We already held “Mobile Toy Library” about ten times by visiting
the shelters and places where children were gathering. Furthermore we
are planning to hold “Toy Caravan”, a big mobile toy library, in the end of
July. We will visit the most devastated area by a big bus with a lot of toys
and volunteers. Play is important for children who experienced trauma
as a result of very big tragic natural disaster. Children need not only the
necessities of life but also joy of play-laugh from bottom of their heart
and communication with volunteers
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