On Friday, March 11th, 2011, at 14:46(JST), the greatest earthquake ever observed in Japan had struck northeastern and eastern Japan with a magnitude of 9.0 (the world’s 4th biggest earthquake since 1900). The quake originated about 450km northeast from Tokyo (about 130km from northeastern coast of Japan) in the Pacific Ocean which shook half of Japan and triggered massive Tsunami that swept away almost 550km along the northeastern coast. Tsunami reached on average 10 meters high, with 38.9 meters at the highest. The damage was just devastating, as cities and towns that long prospered in fishery and agriculture were swallowed by the Tsunami in matter of minutes, leaving the area with nothing but tons of debris. The death toll has reached over 14,700 with more than 11,000 people still missing, and these numbers are yet to rise.

In addition to this natural disaster, the quake had considerably damaged the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant residing on the coast of Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan (located about 225km NNE from Tokyo). Residents of 20km radius from the nuclear plant were forced to evacuate for safety measures to prevent possible radiation exposure.
The evacuees reached over 400,000 people after the disaster, and 130,000 people are still forced to live in evacuation sites after 2 months from the quake.

Nations all over the world soon reached over to Japan with generous rescue aids and supply aids to help us combat this unprecedented natural disaster. People in Japan, both in public and private sectors, has also risen soon after and started moving forward for recovery.

Now, Japan’s heart and soul is united as ONE. It may be a long journey for full recovery, but with the resilience of Japan and every one of us uniting, we feel that the day can come sooner.

As the coast of northeastern Japan is a rias coast that contributes good winds and good sailing conditions, many universities and high schools based their sailing activities around this area, as well as attracting many off-shore and in-shore sailors to the marinas and harbors along the beautiful coastline. However, they were all wiped out by the Tsunami, with cruisers swept away in to the Pacific Ocean and some crashing onto lands. Almost 10 marinas and harbors were destroyed and the after sight was a complete nightmare leaving people speechless.
There were some students practicing at the sea at the time of the quake, but with fast and accurate actions by the coaches, all students were safe and there were no student sailor casualties fortunately. Yet, most of the sailboats used by the students were washed away, and any boats collected from the Tsunami debris were no way could be repaired. Boat sheds at harbors were also entirely swiped away with all riggings and spare parts, leaving absolutely nothing behind.
As a hometown for some Olympic sailors, this area is known for having sailors with high skills and talents. Many young sailors were mortified with the vastness of the destruction, but the passion and love for sailing had soon revived in their hearts and they were in no time to stand again for recovery.

Tsunami swallowing university boat sheds
Cruisers crashed onto quay
Demolished boat sheds
Self-Defense Force removing cruisers crashed into town

Sailors all over Japan have also risen without a delay to help the sailors affected by the disaster for recovery. They first started sending their dinghy boats, sails, and rigging parts to northeastern Japan. Simultaneously, Japan Sailing Federation (JSAF), the organization that governs all sailing associations in Japan, has set up a provisional fund to support the sailors who were affected by the quake. All sailors in Japan soon showed their empathy and the fund has already reached over US$150,000 sent from juniors to senior sailors who are all connected with the love of sailing.

And today, as the next stage of the relief activity, “Charity Flag & Sticker Campaign” launched by JSAF is fast growing around the nation. This campaign is to show unity and support for the quake-affected sailors by hoisting originally designed charity flag and/or putting sticker onto the sailboats. All money raised is to be part of the JSAF East Japan relief fund.

As warm spring season has arrived in Japan, many Japanese sailors are embracing the coming of the beautiful sailing season. The charity flags are already starting to be used as official race flags for offshore cruiser races in Japan, and stickers are seen on sails and booms on many dinghy boats. Flags are hoisted not only when going out on the sea, but also when the boats are up in the harbors to show their supporting spirits.

The heart and souls of all sailors are united as ONE.
GANBARE! East Japan (Lets’ go East Japan)

The Olympic Training Committee (Chairman: Toshio Yamada) that manages strengthening of JSAF National Team greatly supports this relief campaign. Team Japan’s sailors competing in international regatta will be showing their support by putting campaign stickers onto their hulls and sails, and coach boats will be hoisting the charity flag to show unity. It is our wish that Team Japan’s activity will bring hopes and joy to the sailors affected by this devastating disaster, and that the day that we could all sail together once again will come very soon.

< Venues >
Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta 2011 (Weymouth, UK): June 5th ~11th
http://www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk/

ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship (Zadar, CRO): July 7th ~16th
http://www.isafyouthworlds.com/home.php

Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships (Perth, AUS): Dec 3rd ~18th
http://www.perth2011.com/
(& some more to be scheduled)

< Price >
Flag & Stickers Set – 50 Euros
Stickers Only – 20 Euros

All raise will be sent to sailors affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

We wholeheartedly thank you very much for your generosity and your continuous concern and kind support.

For more information, please contact:
Japan Sailing Federation / Olympic Training Committee
Dr. Kish Memorial Hall 1-1-1 Jinnan
Shibuya-ku Tokyo 150-8050 Japan
T: +81-3-3481-2357
F: +81-3-3481-0414
E: mam-olytoku@jsaf.or.jp
HP: http://jsaf-osc.jp

About the JSAF Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Fund and Charity Flag & Sticker Campaign:

Soon after the great earthquake hit northeastern Japan on 3.11, JSAF has set up a relief fund solely designated to support the quake-affected sailors and sailing federations. This movement has brought momentum to sailors all over Japan especially the off shore racing committee to further expand the support by showing their care and sense of unity with the quake-affected sailors in the form of flags and stickers on their sailboats. Having these charity flags and stickers on the sailboats, both on and off water, the care and support will linger on and show that we all care and are connected as one, just as all waters are connected. This campaign was first launched by the JSAF off shore committee and was inherited throughout JSAF, in which Olympic Training Committee was also one of the many supporting committees. It is now spreading the word in the international sailing committee by appealing at international regatta venues, for the one purpose of bringing back the sails onto water at the quake-affected area as soon as possible.

< Campaign Coverage >
●http://www.deltalloydregatta.org/news/regatta-news/gambare/
●http://www.sailing.org/news/35982.php

Olympic Training Committee and the National Team carried out the “Charity Flag & Sticker Campaign” that Japan Sailing Federation (JSAF) leads for 3.11 East Japan Tsunami Relief at Skandia Sail for Gold 2011 in Weymouth and Portland, Great Britain held in June 6th ~11th,2011.

This was JSAF’s first tsunami relief campaign to be done outside of Japan to appeal to the world’s sailing community. As connected with one ocean, the campaign received great amount of support and concerns among the sailors all over the world.

During the regatta, many international sailors visited our charity booth and expressed their heartwarming wishes for the very soon recovery and condolences for their sailor friends in Japan. Many also expressed their respects toward Japanese sailors for still coming back to the ocean after the catastrophe caused by the tsunami, since many have thought one would fear the ocean after such a traumatic experience.

This campaign was a great success, but could not have happened without the tremendous support by Skandia Sail for Gold Organizing Committee. They helped us appeal the campaign throughout the regatta by mentioning us at the coach meetings. They have also presented our charity flag in place of flowers to the winners at the Paralympic prize giving ceremony, and offered us very generous donations.

Skandia Sail for Gold 2011 was the first official start of this relief campaign abroad, but the recognition and the support was already there in the international sailing community when we arrived. Delta Lloyd Regatta 2011, regatta right before this event held in Medemblik, Netherlands, had spotlighted our campaign and appealed to the world through their media, and also made reservations of purchasing our charity stickers at Weymouth. Furthermore, ISAF had done a story on our campaign for their website and the Fédération Française de Voile had announced to refund the Japanese sailors’ entry fee for the 43rd French Sailing Olympic Week held late April in Hyères, France for the JSAF 3.11 East Japan Tsunami Relief.

Tsunami is indeed a natural disaster that is most close to sailors at sea. Through this campaign, the quake-affected sailors who are combating the fear of its mass destructiveness and still striving to continue sailing, and the Japanese sailing community that supports them, certainly were able to feel that we are not fighting this alone but are supported by all people around the world who love the sport of sailing.

The raise at Skandia Sail for Gold amounted to €300 and ￡773, which will all go to the JSAF 3.11 East Japan Tsunami Relief to help quake-affected sailors and the rebuilding of quake-affected marinas and harbors.

This campaign is scheduled to be carried out in ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Zadar, Croatia and ISAF Sailing World Championships in Perth, Australia as well.

Japan Sailing Federation on behalf of all sailors in Japan expresses its deepest appreciation to all those who have given us a helping hand and for their generosity.

JSAF 3.11 East Japan Tsunami Relief charity booth set up in the cafeteria at Skandia Sail for Gold.
Charity booth outside of the race office: Sailors signing the Japanese flag for recovery wishes
International concern for the disaster in Japan
Charity Flag presented at Skandia Sail for Gold Paralympic prize giving ceremony
“Ganbare! East Japan” Flag presented to the Gold medalists of Skud-18

Olympic Training Committee and the Youth National Team carried out the Japan Sailing Federation (JSAF) ‘s “Charity Flag & Sticker Campaign” for 3.11 East Japan Tsunami Relief at ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships 2011 in Zadar, Croatia from July 7th ~16th..

This was the JSAF’’s second campaign abroad, following the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta in June, and was a great success but with a very different experience.

ISAF Youth was greatly supportive of the JSAF’s charity campaign, and gave us many opportunities to reach out to the youth sailors around the world, as they saw the very importance of these youngsters hearing and learning about the Japanese tragedy as members of international sailing community.

ISAF Youth Worlds Organizing Committee granted JSAF representative few moments at the All Sailors and Coach Meeting held on the 8th to speak about the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Tsunami disaster, and about JSAF’s relief activity. All youth sailors and team leaders around the world present at the meeting listened carefully to what happened on March 11th, and all showed expressions of deep sympathy and condolences to Japan. Not only they expressed their condolences, but it was very touching to see many young sailors and coaches around the world acted upon their sympathetic feeling by visiting JSAF’s charity booth to learn more about the disaster, by making kind donations, and by purchasing charity flags and stickers.

It was also very heartwarming to see the proud faces of young sailors putting their money, probably their allowances, into the charity box as their courageous act upon their feelings displayed their care in action.

This certainly was a special experience for Japan Sailing Federation to be able to reach out to the younger generations and to see that the care and connection are there regardless of age, regardless of nationality.

The raise at ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship amounted to €402.60 and $100, which will all go to the JSAF 3.11 East Japan Tsunami Relief to help quake-affected sailors and the rebuilding of quake-affected marinas and harbors.

This campaign is scheduled to be carried out in ISAF Sailing World Championships in Perth, Australia as well.

Japan Sailing Federation on behalf of all sailors in Japan expresses its deepest appreciation to all those who have sent us their hearts.
JSAF representative spoke about the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tusnami disaster occurred on March 11th at the All Sailors and Coach Meeting
Many sailors and team leaders around the world visited JSAF charity booth to pay respects
ISAF Youth Chairman Ms. Fiona Kidd (right) who had greatly supported our relief activity at ISAF Youth Worlds and Laser Radial Manami Doi (left) with the “Ganbare!” charity flag.