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Japan thanks the world for its help, but more still needs to be done to rebuild
The Japan Football Association is grateful to the worldwide support it has received in the wake of the tsunami, but Kimura reveals there's still a ways to go.
Jun 17, 2011 10:54:00 PM
By Stephanie Gardner
Getty Images
It's been over three months since the March 11 tsunami hit mainland Japan, leaving its devastating mark in history. The disaster left 5 million without electricity, and a million without water. Homes were destroyed, and lives were lost. The images Americans witnessed on the news left even the most eloquent writer speechless.
Help streamed in from around the world, including the soccer community. As such, the Japan Football Association released a statement through FIFA on Friday thanking the "global football family" for its support.
Ahead of the U17 World Cup, Japan teams will carry a banner onto the field that reads: "To our friends around the world. Thank you for your support." Additionally, a message will be broadcast on the loudspeaker stating Japan's appreciation of the "kind cooperation it received with reconstruction in the country."
The lone Japanese representative in MLS, Colorado Rapids fullback Kosuke Kimura, was in Vancouver, getting ready for a preseason match, when he saw on the news that an earthquake followed by a tsunami had hit his homeland three months ago. He was able to contact his family and remains thankful they are safe, but heartbroken for his country.
The images are no longer on local news, but Kimura shares that they still need help.
"When it comes to gas and food, it’s still short," Kimura said. "People don’t have places to stay. They do have a shelter, but there are so many people living there in one spot. They try to provide individual shelters, right outside, but they don’t have time to do it. They still need to clean that mess first.
"I don’t say they have it under control, but it’s getting there. We still need help. We had money being sent there, but we still need. Kids don’t have clothes to wear. They don’t have a way to wash their clothes because the water is really important right now over there. It’s tough."
With millions of people needing to rebuild their lives, the goal seems unattainable.
"When those things happen," the Kobe native continued, "disaster takes out so much and makes a mess.
"Maybe for some people, for them it happened far away. It didn’t really impact their lives. They don’t realize it could happen to anybody, you never know. Even a little can help. We have so many people on earth, 7 billion, if you can do a little bit, that’s huge for everybody.”
Go to the Red Cross to make a donation and help rebuild Japan.
Keep updated with Major League Soccer by visiting Goal.com's MLS page and joining Goal.com's
page.
Help streamed in from around the world, including the soccer community. As such, the Japan Football Association released a statement through FIFA on Friday thanking the "global football family" for its support.
Ahead of the U17 World Cup, Japan teams will carry a banner onto the field that reads: "To our friends around the world. Thank you for your support." Additionally, a message will be broadcast on the loudspeaker stating Japan's appreciation of the "kind cooperation it received with reconstruction in the country."
The lone Japanese representative in MLS, Colorado Rapids fullback Kosuke Kimura, was in Vancouver, getting ready for a preseason match, when he saw on the news that an earthquake followed by a tsunami had hit his homeland three months ago. He was able to contact his family and remains thankful they are safe, but heartbroken for his country.
The images are no longer on local news, but Kimura shares that they still need help.
"When it comes to gas and food, it’s still short," Kimura said. "People don’t have places to stay. They do have a shelter, but there are so many people living there in one spot. They try to provide individual shelters, right outside, but they don’t have time to do it. They still need to clean that mess first.
"I don’t say they have it under control, but it’s getting there. We still need help. We had money being sent there, but we still need. Kids don’t have clothes to wear. They don’t have a way to wash their clothes because the water is really important right now over there. It’s tough."
With millions of people needing to rebuild their lives, the goal seems unattainable.
"When those things happen," the Kobe native continued, "disaster takes out so much and makes a mess.
"Maybe for some people, for them it happened far away. It didn’t really impact their lives. They don’t realize it could happen to anybody, you never know. Even a little can help. We have so many people on earth, 7 billion, if you can do a little bit, that’s huge for everybody.”
Go to the Red Cross to make a donation and help rebuild Japan.
Keep updated with Major League Soccer by visiting Goal.com's MLS page and joining Goal.com's
page.
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