Tora-Mai of Kamaishi, Dancing for Hope

When the earthquake and tsunami struck northern Japan, the material and human disaster was obvious and immediate. However, the traditions of this culturally rich region are also in jeopardy of being lost. Unique festivals and local customs filled every corner of the Tohoku region. Now, not only has the physical culture - masks, costumes, floats, instruments- been carried away, but among the human toll of the disaster were those whose knowledge of time-honored practices cannot now be passed on to the next generation.

In order to preserve these local customs, the Nippon Foundation started the Traditional Arts Relief Fund to support the recovery of traditional practices in the affected area. The first of many festivals the Fund is helping to recover is the Tora-Mai, or Tiger Dance of Kamaishi, seen in the clip below.

CARE FOR JAPAN is working to rebuild Japan with the Nippon Foundation.

Or by checks payable to
Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA
1819 L Street, NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
Please note on your checks that they are designated to “Care for Japan”