As part of the FC Tokyo Players Association activities, we visited Tomioka Elementary and Junior High School in Tomioka Town, Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture on December 13, 2024, continuing from last year.
Visits to Tomioka Elementary and Junior High School have been conducted since 2019, and this will be the sixth time (in 2020 and 2021, only online exchanges and letters of encouragement were exchanged).
In order to interact with the children, the participating players planned activities such as games and relays the day before, and on the day of the event, they were able to enjoyably interact with about 60 children.
In the afternoon of the same day, we visited the Tomioka Archive Museum to learn about the situation of the earthquake through videos and exhibits. After that, we inspected the actual locations in Tomioka Town that were affected by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident, and gained a renewed understanding of the current state of recovery.
Additionally, we empathize with the players' association's desire to continue such reconstruction support and to ensure that the memories of the disaster do not fade. Kiichi YAJIMA, a player from Fukushima United FC who visited the school during the reconstruction support activities in 2019, also participated this time.
FC Tokyo Players Association will continue such activities in the future.
□Participating Players
Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA, Ryunosuke SATO, Leon NOZAWA, Renta HIGASHI
Total: 4 players
* Kiichi YAJIMA (Fukushima United FC) also participated
□Participant Comments (Excerpt)
・Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA
Interacting with the children of Tomioka Elementary School gave us a lot of energy, and I think we were able to prepare in advance and provide the children with various experiences, which was really great.
At the Tomioka Archive Museum, I learned that this town is loved by many people and that they are working hard for recovery, and I thought it would be nice if we could cooperate with that.
We also think of Tokyo as our city, so this has become a reason for us to cherish it.
・Leon NOZAWA
During the elementary school visit, I had a great time and was able to play games and engage in activities with many children, which also energized me.
As an adult and as a soccer player, I hope to be active in various places in the future.
In the afternoon, I learned about the earthquake and the damage caused by it through observation and listening. What impressed me was how much this town is loved and how many people are working hard for its recovery, as well as the realization that the life I am currently living is not something to take for granted. Through our activities this time, I hope we can convey what we experienced at the forefront.
・Renta HIGASHI was able to interact with the very energetic children of Tomioka Elementary School, and it became a fun and fulfilling time for myself.
I was very happy that the elementary school students enjoyed the games and recreational activities we planned and implemented the day before, and it has become a source of motivation for me moving forward. I truly felt the greatness of this activity, and I would like to continue it myself.
What was particularly impressive at the Tomioka Archive Museum was the memoirs that described what the evacuees did and what they ate at that time.
I was able to understand the feelings of those who were evacuated at that time, and I realized how fortunate we are to be living our lives playing soccer as if it were normal. I want to live from now on with gratitude every day.
・Ryunosuke SATO
I visited Tomioka Elementary School and was able to have a fun time exercising together with the energetic children.
In the afternoon, I visited the Tomioka Archive Museum to learn about the current situation in the disaster-stricken areas and to touch upon the difficult circumstances that were recreated at that time. I felt that we must not forget this. I want to play while being grateful for the fact that we can play soccer as if it were a matter of course now.
