Eyes for Fukushima

Eyes for Fukushima is a non-profit organisation, the brain-child of some of the biggest-hearted ALTs Fukushima has ever seen. Their involvement throughout the community is continually growing and expanding in new ways.

About E4F
Eyes for Fukushima (E4F) aims to promote grass roots internationalization in Fukushima Prefecture with devotion to improving the lives of people affected by the March 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster through events and fundraising. Eyes for Fukushima seeks to foster ties between Japanese citizens and JET participants at the person-to-person level.

Where is the money going to?
The money collected from April until August 2011 went to the Fukushima Prefecture Disaster Countermeasures Office. The money will be distributed to the people who were affected by the tsunami and nuclear power plant incident. We've been informed that the money will not be used for infrastructure, but given to the residents in the heavily affected areas of the coase who have been displaced since March 2011.

The money donated from September 2011 until March 2012 was donated to 2 projects. The first project was our Christmas event at Iris Gakuen Orphanage. The second project is the Fukushima Children's Charity. The money will be distributed to the orphans that are homeless and without parental care since the March 11 disasters. The money will be used for their housing and education. Please see the Fukushima Children's Charity page for more information.

The money raised from now on will go to charity events hosted by Eyes for Fukushima, the E4F Microgrant Program, and also other charity organisations that are active and dedicated to promoting recovery and restorations efforts in Fukushima Prefecture after the March 11, 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake and resulting tsunami and nuclear disaster.

What does the T-shirt kanji say?
It says, "Fukushima." The first part of the kanji is fuku (福), and it means "good fortune" or "luck." The second kanji is shima (島), meaning "island." This is why Fukushima is sometimes referred to as the "lucky island" by JETs living in Fukushima Prefecture.

What is the red character?
The red character is a baby cow. Its name is Akabe (あかべ) and is from the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture. Akabe is the shortened form of the word Akabeko, and is often used to refer to the cuter baby character of the Akabeko. Its name is derived from two words joined together. The word, "aka" meaning "red" and "beko/bego" meaning cow in the local dialect of Aizu. The figurines and souvenir items in Fukushima are often referred to as Akabeko.

Dry-fit T-shirt Size Chart
Long Sleeve T-shirt Size Chart

Hoodie Size Chart