2018年3月15日 星期四

Until the day the temporary housing vanished Kizuna newspaper would tie to victims of the accident: Ishinomaki of Miyagi


Recently the Mainichi News On-line reported the following
仮設住宅消える日まで きずな新聞、被災者に寄り添う 宮城・石巻
毎日新聞201835日 東京朝刊
 東日本大震災の被災者に向けた宮城県石巻市の「石巻復興きずな新聞」は一度は終刊しながら復活した無料情報紙だ。編集長の岩元暁子さん(35)は資金難から震災5年を区切りに発行をやめたが、以前に読者の「おっちゃん」から言われた「仮設に残る俺たちを見捨てるんか」という言葉がよぎった。「被災者にとって5年はなんの節目でもない」。最後の1人が仮設を出るまで続けると決め、被災者に寄り添う。

 情報紙は毎月10日発行。A4判4ページで、市内の仮設住宅約1000戸と市街地の災害公営住宅(復興住宅)の住民に計約6000部配布する。1月発行の1面トップは「どんと祭裸参り参加記」。無病息災を祈り、さらし姿で町を歩く裸参りに記者が挑戦した体験記だ。「石巻でも裸参りをやっているんだ」「今月も待っていたよ」。喜びの声が届く。

 横浜に住んでいた岩元さんは震災後すぐにボランティアとして石巻に入り、避難所などで活動、2012年から東京のボランティア団体が発行を始めた「仮設きずな新聞」の編集長に就任。しかし、時がたつにつれ助成金も人材も減った。

 16年3月で終刊を決断したが、以前に休刊した際に言われた「見捨てる」の言葉の裏にある救いの手が減っていく心細さを、岩元さん自身も理解できた。

 メンバーたちも「『ありがとう』の言葉がやりがいになる」と続行を望んだ。読者アンケートでは8割以上が「続けてほしい」と回答。14年に結婚し別居が続いた東京の夫も編集作業を手伝うと背中を押してくれた。

 ボランティア団体を退職後、資金集めに奔走した。クラウドファンディングで全国に協力を仰ぎ16年4月、同市に「石巻復興きずな新聞舎」を設立。6月に創刊にこぎつけた。現在は2人の職員と約30人のボランティアと活動する。岩元さんは「泣いてばかりいた人も元気を取り戻していく。そんな日々に寄り添えた時が一番うれしい」とほほ笑んだ。【森口沙織】

My   translation

The "Ishinomaki Reconstuction Kizuna Newspaper" of Ishinomaki-shi in Miyagi was a free information paper that aimed at victims of the Eastern Japan great earthquake accident, it re-appeared after ceasing publication for some time. Akiko Iwamoto, the chief editor (35) stopped publishing it after five year due to financial difficulties, marking the 5th year of the earthquake disaster. A former reader known as "The Uncle" passed along the words saying that “are you leaving me behind who is living in the temporary structure” “for victims of the accident there was not even one milestone in five years". Now the paper had decided to continue until the last person moved out from the temporary structure, aiming at staying close to victims of the accident.

The information paper was issued on the 10th of each month. With 4 pages of A4 size, a total of about 6000 copies were distributed to people in the accident temporary public housing that had about 1000 residents, and also to those in the disaster municipal housing (reconstruction housing) in urban areas. At the top page of the January issue was "A participation account of the nude parade in the Daito Festival ". It was an experience which was challenging to the reporter:  wishes for good health and no disaster; and walking the town in nude form. "Nude parade will be also take place at Ishinomaki," “Also waiting for this month". The voice of joy had arrived.

Mr. Iwamoto who lived in Yokohama came to Ishinomaki jumped into action among shelters etc. as a volunteer immediately after the earthquake disaster. Taking up the post of chief editor of the "Temporary Kizuna Newspaper", a volunteer group in Tokyo, he began to publish issues from 2012. But as time passed, grants and human resources decreased.

A cessation of publication was decided in March, 2016. But when the publication was suspended, it called back of the word “abandon",  which one could understand the loneliness inside: the helping hand was fading. The same was also felt by Mr. Iwamoto.

Members too also felt the words  " ‘Thank you very much’ it will be worth doing" , and wished for a continuation. By a reader questionnaire, more than 80 percent answered "want" it to be continued.  A husband in Tokyo who married in 2014 and living apart would help with editing work to give backing.

After the retreating of the volunteer group, fund raising was busy. By a crowd funding the whole country was looked to for cooperation and the "Ishinomaki Reconstruction Kizuna Newspaper House" was established in the said city in April 2016. The first issue was published in June. At present it was operating with 2 staff and about 30 volunteers. Mr. Iwamoto with a smile said "The people who kept crying are back to vigor. It is most pleasing when I got close to such days.”

    It is nice to know that this local newspaper has returned through the kind efforts of the volunteers.

沒有留言:

張貼留言