KAGAYAKU-NAKAMA Challenged

We are a NPO located in Yoshino township (Ishinomaki city). Our organization aims to support people with disabilities and encourages them achieve social participation and independent living. We run a supporting center named Kokoro Sawori whose main activity is weaving.
When the earthquake occurred, the six-storied building, all equipments, and vehicles were badly damaged. Fortunately, all members were safe but the 40 residents had to help each other to survive during their one-week wait for rescue.
The earthquake has caused the ground of Yoshino town to sink and the entire area flooded during high tides. As such, we have no option but to suspend our support activities and move to another location.
Our socially vulnerable residents need this community center which provides them with not just a place to live, but also a source of social participation through weaving and other activities. The realization of the importance of the center’s existence has prompted us to continue working hard to resume our operations. We have been working very hard to resume our operations because we realize the importance of the center’s existence.
With the recommencement of our operations drawing very near, your support for Kagayaku-Nakama Challenge would be greatly appreciated.


2012.1.11　In an effort to get a new facility

The SAWORI (the woven) exhibition was closed with a great success last December. You can now purchase their SAWORI made by users through the internet!
http://www.miyagi-hukko.jp/ (Japanese only)

We are using a division in the temporary housing but the area takes up a lot of space. Since some people use a wheelchair, it is getting very inconvenient.


【At the division in the support center.】

We have to move out of the support center next year and have been looking for a new place. We are researching real estate but we still need more support including grants and donations for the facility’s construction.


2011.11.30　SAWORI (The Woven) Exhibition

Kagayaku-Nakama-Challenged continues their activities with their users and residents at the temporary support center in ISHINOMAKI city. They hold many kinds of events like weaving trial lessons, gymnastics, dining and tea party and so on.
You can see details of those events on their blog (in Japanese only).


【Today, users of KAGAYAKU-NAKAMA-Challenged and local residents are weaving SAWORI.】
The SAWORI exhibition will be held from Dec 17th to Dec 19th at NARISAWA gallery near ISHINOMAKI station.


【※The temporary building is under going heat insulation work.】

Click here to the blog of Kagayaku-Nakama-Challenged. (in Japanese only)


2011.08.23 Reopening at temporary dwelling center

We were operating at the staff's house after the disaster but we have started again our activities at temporary dwelling support center in HEBITA central area, ISHINOMAKI from August 17th.
At the beginning, we expected to manage the support centre but it turned out that we only rent a place and another group runs the support centre.
The temporary dwelling support center is a barrier-free environment and there are a modular bath and toilet so it is convenient for people in wheelchairs.


*Outside of the support center. The slope people in wheelchairs can use



*The modular bath and toilet available for nursing.

44 families are living at temporary dwelling houses in HEBITA central area.
We are planning to hold a trail weaving workshop, a lunch/dinner party or social events so that the users and local residents have chance to communicate with each other.
However, since it has not been decided which group manages the support center yet, it is difficult to communicate with local residents.
UTSUMI, the manager of facility said, "Activity space has become extended and now other weaving groups and local people can come join us”.
It is very important to have such a place where people can gather after getting separated by the disaster.


*having meals together

However, we are allowed to use the support center only for 2 years.
We will have to decide whether to rent a place or build again after that.
5 months have passed since the earthquake, we just made the first step.


2011.07.15 Reopening at temporary dwelling

KAGAYAKU-NAKAMA-Challenged had lost its facility because of the effects of the Tsunami.
Since then we have organized a trial class of SAWORI at a shelter and accepted users at our staff’s home as a temporary facility.

*Using three weaving machines at staff’s home

We can use a temporary support center at Hebita area, ISHINOMAKI-city from August on. The center is in a barrier-free environment, and we are looking forward to using it. However, we are allowed to use the dwelling for only two years and then we will have to find another place.

Ms. Sachiko Utsumi, the chief of the center, said “However we were supposed to help our users, we realized through the disaster that we were actually supported by them a lot. From now on, we will support each other step by step.”
People at KAGAYAKU-NAKAMA-Challenged are steadily making progress with the restoration.


2011.07.06　Weaving at a shelter

“SAWORI” is the great way of weaving for creators because they can express their individualities and sensitivities to the maximum. You can make only one thing in the world. That’s most attraction.
A lot of the staff from “Local Activity Support Center KOKORO SAWORI” was also earthquake and Tsunami victims and they were exhausted so it was very hard to reopen. However, the disabled never changed their will. They wanted to be independent by making SAWORI and selling their story through work. Now, we have a trial SAWORI class at the shelter where the users live.
We are planning to borrow a part of the clubhouses at temporary dwellings and operate a trail class.
“We want to create the same environment like before the earthquake.”
The whole staff is working hard!