The Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction Support
On March 11th, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. Fortunately we were able to confirm safety of our members living in the affected region.
Fuel shortage was serious problem after the disaster. Under such circumstances, an Osaka-based company PITSUPPORT Co., Ltd. was preparing to deliver motorcycles for the use of relief activity, because he learnt usefulness of small motorcycles in disaster sites from his experience of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995, and thought this is the time to fully utilize value of motorcycles. WIMA Japan worked with the company and 1 GYRO CANOPY (Honda) was sent by WIMA Japan together with 3 GYRO CANOPYs, 1 GEAR (Yamaha), 1 JOG (Yamaha) by PITSUPPORT.
This activity appeared in the newspaper. Following is the translation of the article.
東日本大震災 復興支援活動
2011年3月11日、東日本大震災発生後、幸いにも宮城県と岩手県のWIMA日本支部の仲間が無事であることを確認できました。
バイクを贈ろう！
地震発生直後の燃料不足が深刻な状況の中、大阪を拠点とする株式会社ピットサポートさんが、阪神大震災の経験から二輪車の有用性を今こそ活用すべきだと、バイクを被災地に贈られる準備をされていたことから、WIMA日本支部はこれに協力させていただきました。ジャイロキャノピー4台、ヤマハギア1台、JOG 1台の計6台のうち、ジャイロキャノピー1台が「WIMA号」として有効に活用されています。
この活動が二輪車新聞に掲載されました→
The Nirinsha Shinbun (used with permission)
●English Translation
More than two months has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred and many people in the motorcycle industry providing various assistances for the affected area. Among them, a Kansai-based motorcycle-related company and a non-business riders’ community cooperated together to send business-use motorcycles as emergency vehicles for relief activity shortly after the disaster. The motorcycles along with other machines sent from different routes are widely utilized in the quake-hit area to facilitate support activities.
This was achieved by the collaboration of 2 organizations; The PITSUPPORT Co., Ltd who provides maintenance and management service of business-use motorcycles in Osaka and Japan division of Women’s International Motorcycle Association which consist of female who loves motorcycles.
On the day of the earthquake hit, president of PITSUPPORT Takayuki Matsumoto encountered a jolt of the huge earthquake in Tokyo while he was working there. After he returned to Osaka, he found the serious damages on news and remembered how useful motorcycles were at the time of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, then decided to transport business-use motorcycles to the disaster-stricken region. He also heard about supporting and encouraging messages sent from overseas members of WIMA to WIMA Japan from Keiko Osawa of WIMA Japan (resident of Kansai) and this gave him a push to move ahead with the plan.
Coordination was not easy due to communication system failure but Osawa and a WIMA member living in Tohoku area who already engaged in volunteer activity on-site worked together and the plan came true by transporting 6 business-use motorcycles and other relief supplies on March 19th. Member of WIMA Japan accompanied PITSUPPORT in transit and delivered “WIMA Canopy”.
Motorcycles delivered to Sendai City Disaster Volunteer Center (Sendai City Council of Social Welfare) are being utilized as valuable means of mobility among dotted shelters and volunteer centers. The bikes were effectively used as a communication tool especially when communication system disrupted just after the earthquake and tsunami. Four out of the six motorcycles equipped with huge container and were actually trikes, and these vehicles can be used to transport some relief supplies. Thus, they are now conveniently used by the local people.
WIMA号と輸送中のバイク
物資の支援
関東では、東北メンバーの上京時に、あらかじめ必要な支援物資を集め、必要とされる場所に直接届けることができました。
We also collected relief supplies when our Tohoku member came to Tokyo and she delivered the goods directly to those who need it.
また、日本支部のみならず、海外の支部でも被災地の復興を願って募金活動が行われ、6月3日現在の義援金総額577,869円を、宮城県災害対策本部および岩手県災害義援金募集委員会に送りました。
被災地の一刻も早い復興をお祈りいたします。
In addition to this, in Europe as well as in Japan, fundraising campaigns for the recovery of Tohoku region were carried out and the total amount of donations JPY 577,869 was sent to Miyagi and Iwate prefectures on June 3rd.
We wish for their earliest possible recovery.