6Applicableprinciple(2) Program overview(a) Preliminary learning/Gathering 1 (ice-breaking)[Iwate Prefectural Outdoor Activity Center]
Following greetings from the representatives of the four
participating organizations, the origins of the drinking water
distribution activity in the wake of the Great East Japan
Earthquake and Tsunami, and the history of exchanges wereoutlined. After that, as an icebreaking event, “Getting-toknow-you BINGO” was conducted to encourage interaction
among participants.

Restoration and Disaster Prevention Learning Program
Restoration and disaster prevention learning program operations teamJun Ishido, Kensuke Emura, Center for the Advancement of Higher Education
Kazuya Sugiyasu, Faculty of Policy Studies
Keiko Chiba, Sanae Kumamoto, Aki Yoshihara, Hamish Smith, Patrick Maher, Morioka Junior College Department

Principle 9: A commitment to promoting sustainability through education
Water Volunteer activity

1. The Beginning of the Bottled
Water Distribution Activity(MizuBora)

3. Evolution into a Restoration andDisaster Prevention Learning
Program

The bottled water distribution activity (commonly known as“MizuBora”) was initiated by a faculty member of the MoriokaJunior College Department of Iwate Prefectural University
when they, alongside colleagues and students, personallydelivered drinking water bottles that were donated to Iwate
Prefecture as relief supplies after the Great East Japan
Earthquake and Tsunami that occurred in March 2011.
The water was given to affected people living in temporary
housing. This faculty member also personally encountered thetsunami while on a business trip.
Even after lifelines were restored and the provision of relief
supplies ended, they continued the activity with support
such as donations from the Honjo International ScholarshipFoundation and the provision of drinking water from ITO
EN, Ltd. The purpose of continuing this activity is to use thedistribution of drinking water to as a “conversation starter”
with people who have been forced to move into temporary
housing. It is a way to open up an opportunity to talk withthem and let them know that people are looking out for them,as well as to be of some help in the creation of a new local
community.

In 2022, the direction of this activity evolved into a disasterprevention learning program. The program entitled the“Restoration and disaster prevention learning program”,
focuses on service learning. After a two-year hiatus due tothe spread of COVID-19, the activity was resumed for the firsttime in three years.
A total of 70 students and faculty members from the four
participating organizations joined in the program, which
was held at the Takata Matsubara Tsunami Reconstruction
Memorial Park, which was completed approximately 10 years
after the disaster, and the Iwate Prefectural Outdoor Activity
Center.

(d) Gathering 2 (campfire)[Iwate Prefectural Outdoor Activity Center]On the second night, a gathering around the campfire washeld. After the lighting ceremony by the “God of Fire,” songs
and dances from many places of the world, including theforeign students’ home countries, were performed, startingwith “Macarena” (Spain), and all the participants had a greattime. “Morioka Sansa Odori” was introduced from Iwate,
where the event was held.
Icebreaking scene(b) Visiting the remains of the Great East Japan Earthquakeand Tsunami[Takata Matsubara Tsunami Reconstruction Memorial Park]A group photo was taken with all participants at theTakata Matsubara Tsunami Reconstruction Memorial Park.
Afterwards, they were divided into three groups and toured
the Great East Japan Earthquake Tsunami Memorial Hall, theseawalls (Sea viewing spot), the Miracle Pine Tree, and KesenJunior High School, whose interior was newly opened to thepublic from 2021. Local guides provided explanations.
Gathering around the campfire(e) Experience building a shelter[Iwate Prefectural Outdoor Activity Center]On the third day, participants experienced setting up anevacuation shelter under the instruction of Outdoor Activity
Center staff. They had hands-on experience in assemblinga temporary cardboard bed and a toilet. After that,representatives from each group presented the results of theirreview as a finale of the yearʼs program.

2. Expansion to Student Exchange
Meanwhile, there was an offer from Ohio University (Athens,Ohio, United States) for joint volunteer activities immediately
after the 2011 earthquake. Every year, Ohio University students
studying at Chubu University (Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture),students and faculty from Chubu University, and students andfaculty from our university cooperate in activities in Miyako
City, Yamada Town, and other areas.
In 2013, by incorporating “Water Volunteering” into thisjoint volunteer activity, it became known as the “ExpandedWater Volunteer Program” which includes a larger range ofparticipants. Chubu University and Ohio University havealready had exchanges for about 50 years, and in 2016,a student exchange Program between Iwate Prefectural
University and Ohio University, was created. Also, from 2018,
in addition to these three universities, International graduate
students from all over the the nation who are given scholarships
from the Honjo International Scholarship Foundation began tojoin the activity, making the activity a collaboration of fourorganizations.

14Commemorative photo taken in front of Prefectural Tochigasawa Apartments(1) Breakdown of participants

Visiting the Miracle Pine Tree

Students

Facultyandstaff

Total

Ohio University

426Chubu University

437Honjo International Scholarship Foundation,
ITO EN, Ltd.

24832Organization

Iwate Prefectural University

16925Total

48

2270

(c) Exchange program with residents (Water Volunteer)[Iwate Prefectural Tochigasawa Apartments]
The participants were divided into 6 groups and visited a
total of 216 households, distributing bottles of drinking waterprovided by ITO EN, Ltd., and engaged in conversations withthe residents.

Experience of setting up a shelter

15