Disaster Preparedness Education and Music Gathering

2017–18 Rotary year
Youth Service Committee Vice Chair 黒田康之

Our ongoing project, the “Disaster Prevention Education and Music Gathering,” was held on Thursday, June 21, at Shinjuku City Hanazono Elementary School. From our club, a total of seven people took part: five members — organizer Member 南, President 髙橋, Secretary 青木, Member 半場 and myself (黒田) — plus two office staff. In the first half, as disaster prevention education, the students were divided into three groups by grade and gained valuable experience not available in daily life: “emergency call training,” “initial firefighting training” and “first aid training.” Disasters such as earthquakes have been occurring one after another recently, and I am sure this experience will prove useful in the future. In the second half, everyone gathered in the gymnasium to hear a wonderful performance by the Tokyo Fire Department Band. The program ranged from classical music to “Yuki 100%,” the theme song of the NHK anime “Nintama Rantaro,” “Sanpo” from the music of “My Neighbor Totoro,” and the Hanazono Elementary School song, which the students sang along to with great enthusiasm.

Next, on behalf of our club, President 髙橋 presented commemorative gifts (emergency lights and ballpoint pens with whistles) and gave a greeting, and a student representative presented a bouquet to the band. Finally, in response to an encore from the children, the band played one more piece, and then yet another that was not on the program. I believe the band was responding to the children's lively expressions and enthusiasm. Seeing the children's eager and earnest participation in the training, and their enjoyment and excitement over the music, I felt it was truly worthwhile. This project relies greatly on Member 南's network, but I hope it will continue next year and beyond.