fukushima organic cotton

Last weekend, I went on a volunteer day-trip to Iwaki, Fukushima! It was actually the day right before the JLPT, but my friend Laura invited me to go along and I figured it was better not to spend the day just cramming - which it definitely was! We went on a JTB tour to participate in the Fukushima Organic Cotton project, and it was really fun. :D

Beautiful green rice paddies (picture doesn't do it justice)

The three of us got up bright and early to meet at Tokyo Station by 6:45 and then get on our bus. I'm pretty sure that as soon as the volunteers were on the bus, all anybody planned or wanted to do was just pass out for a few hours, but instead we (or most of us at least) listened to our guide (who was super young and peppy) explain what we'd be doing and watched a (really loud) video about the history of the project. To put it briefly, Fukushima's agricultural industry took a big blow after March 11 because of fears of radioactivity, so the founders of the Fukushima Organic Cotton project thought of growing organic cotton instead of food, which would keep fields from being abandoned. I think it's a brilliant idea, really, and definitely worth supporting.

Where we worked!

Planting~

Our tasks for the day were to plant new baby cotton plants and to weed the area, so after a brief explanation we got to work! I was originally concerned about the heat, but there was a nice sea breeze blowing the whole time, so even in jeans and gloves it wasn't too bad. Digging little holes and planting the cotton seedlings was somehow really satisfying, and I had a good time chatting with my friends and other volunteers as we worked.

After a few hours of work, we headed to a nearby hotel, Iwaki Shinmaiko Heights, for a lunch break. As we ate, we heard an explanation of Iwaki City and how it was affected by the earthquake and tsunami two years ago (though to be honest I didn't understand a fair part of it so I can't really say much about it here -.-'), after which we headed back to the field for some weeding. Weeding is probably not anybody's favorite job (or maybe it is, I don't know), but again I had a good time chatting while working, and in the end I think we all managed to clear a fair amount. Laura and i each also ordered a t-shirt with their logo the Organic Cotton Babe (which always makes me giggle a little), who despite what its name sounds like is a cute little fluffy character. The T-shirts are apparently made with the cotton that was planted last year, which is pretty cool.

Didn't even notice the encouraging message until now

And then after another hour or two, we were done for the day! We went back to the hotel for a soak in the onsen there to freshen up, which was lovely (even in summer), before piling back onto the bus for a tour of the areas that were affected by the tsunami. Even after hearing about the disaster during lunch, it was pretty sobering to actually see things like places where only the foundations of houses were left and a school where the tsunami hit so hard the gymnasium was actually caved in (but school had already been let out by then so luckily no children were affected). That said, we also saw new houses that had been rebuilt, which was encouraging.

 

Then, after a quick stop in a nearby town to buy souvenirs and dinner, we were back off to Tokyo. The ride back home consisted mostly of sleeping but also a taste of natto (fermented soy bean) ice cream at a rest stop, which was surprisingly okay but still not something I would eat again. 

It was a long but fun and fulfilling day! It felt good to be back in Tohoku volunteering and feeling like I was able to help even a tiny bit with the recovery, which even two years later is still a work in progress. The staff kept encouraging us to come back and volunteer again at different stages of the cotton's growth, so who knows, maybe I'll go back! All in all, a very worthwhile day trip (even if it was the day before a big exam, haha). :)