Third Relief 2.0 Mission to Miyagi with the support of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan

Our third mission to Ishinomaki and Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, from Friday June 24 to Sunday June 26 takes place in collaboration with the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan.

Mission Objectives

• To meet with key contacts in the Ishinomaki business community; find out what they need to enable the re-opening / recovery of their businesses.
• To update our current needs list (available here), detailing 25 businesses, based on our findings.
• To distribute and spend JPY350,000 donated from BCCJ Member companies, on items requested by local business owners, using local suppliers.
  • This includes JPY150,000 donated by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
• To deliver a Land Rover 4x4 multi-terrain vehicle, donated by Patrick of Tokyo International School, to the Ishinomaki business community.
• To conduct video interviews of female leaders from Ishinomaki and young female members of the community as an initial assessment for a female entrepreneurship capacity building program.
• To assess measurable and sustainable ways that British Chamber of Commerce in Japan member companies can support the recovery of Ishinomaki's business community.
• To identify products and services from the community which can be offered to consumers in Japan and around the world on our Relief 2.0 marketplace.
• To assess and reflect on the continuity of the shotengai businesses and how to enable them to transition into the 21st century without abandoning their traditions and values.
• To discuss a date for an art exhibit at the Ishinomaki manga museum with artwork of artists from Japan, USA, Switzerland and Latin America.

The  Core Team Members

• Ms. Lori Henderson, Executive Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan is joining us to personally deliver the resources and make a field assessment as well.
• Kyoko Tanaka, a seasoned volunteer who has done several trips and a number of interviews in Iwate will be documenting the trip.
• Masaharu Otsubo, Relief 2.0 local coordinator in Japan is coordinating the mission.
• Gabriel Nieto, volunteer.
• Damian Penston, Propel Consulting.
• Dylan Scudder, volunteer.

The Agenda

Friday 24 June

06:30    Leave Tokyo (Tamachi / Mita) for Ishinomaki

15:00    Arrive in Ishinomaki

Meet Abe-san - female leader of the local community
Meet (25) local business owners as listed here.
Meet Kato-san - head of Sendai YMCA

Saturday 25 June

08:00    Join daily meeting of local business owners

10:00    Meet Ito-san - head of Ishinomaki's Junior Chamber of Commerce

13:30    Drive to Sendai

15:00    Meet Kakizaki-san - head of TRUNK (creative agency)

16:30    Buy items from local suppliers, to take back to business owners in Ishinomaki

17:00    Drive back to Ishinomaki and deliver items

Sunday 26 June

10:00    Meet local business owners, and contacts introduced by personal networks:

• Cycle shop owner - Nakamura-san
• Travel agent
• Jane (JET)
• Shotengai shop owners
• Manga museum - Manager
• Board of Education - Cameron Peak
• Head of fisheries? - Sunou-san
• Central Kitchen - Peaceboat

15:00    Bus or car to Sendai > Shinkansen back to Tokyo

Additional Information

Donate now to support the mission through our on-line contribution page or sending a deposit to our bank account in Japan.

Click here for more information on our Business Recovery as a Disaster Recovery Strategy Pilot in Japan.