Volunteering in Japan

The following information was originally compiled by David H Slater of Sophia University.

This page will be updated with new groups/contacts as we become aware of them.

Contents: 1. First stops, 2, General info, 3. Foreign groups, 4. Faith-based groups, 5. Other NPO, 6. Facebook groups, 7. Aggregator sites, 8. Social welfare offices, 9. List of city offices.

1. FIRST STOPS

Good sites that give you guidelines on how, and how not, to volunteer.

Please read these first; English and Japanese

Foreign Volunteers Japan http://www.foreignvolunteersjapan.org/

FVJ’s facebook page is here:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_189243007780487&ap=1

Japan Volunteers

https://japanvolunteers.wordpress.com/
Put up by Sarajean Rossitto, who is all over the NPO scene in Japan!

Similar instructions in Japanese for those wishing to volunteer in Tohoku

http://www.pippikochi.or.jp/2011/03/post-32.shtml

2. GENERAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING VOLUNTEERING

Japan Guide Consortium Volunteer Interpreters – Earthquake Relief.

Particularly for those with Japanese and English ability.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Japan-Guide-Consortium-Volunteer-Interpreters-Earthquake-Relief/149712655091836

3. KEY SITES FOR FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS

These three are established organizations in Japan set up for foreign volunteers, little or no Japanese is necessary. (For the vast majority of sites listed here, even if part of the homepage is in English, it would be desirable and maybe necessary for you to speak some Japanese.)

http://www.2hj.org/index.php/

Second Harvest is Japan’s largest foodbank, and they are in full-swing, although now they are stressing donations as the most urgent need. Bilingual

http://www.peaceboat.org/index_j.html

http://www.peaceboat.org/info/news/2011/110321.html

Peace Boat is now coordinating teams of volunteers to travel to Ishinomaki City as soon as possible to assist in rebuilding the lives of those affected, and particularly to prepare hot meals. Bilingual

http://hands.org/2011/03/29/japan-project-tohoku-announcement/
All Hands is a US-based volunteer non-profit already set up on Fukushima: English

4. FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES

Church groups appear to have gotten to the scene very quickly and have organized volunteer groups. Most accept volunteers of all faiths and affiliations.

https://sites.google.com/a/sendai-ymca.org/volunteer_support/home

仙台ＹＭＣＡボランティア支援センター; 東日本大震災支援のため全国YMCAを通して活動するボランティアのコーディネートを行ないます。

YMCA Volunteer Center in Sendai

http://www.crashjapan.com/

Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope (CRASH) is a network supporting Christians to do relief work in Japan and around the world, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/crashjapan: English

http://www.caritas.jp/
カリタスジャパンとは、日本カトリック司教協議会の社会司教委員会を構成する一委員会です

Caritas Japan is a committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan which cooperates with the activities of the worldwide Catholic Church in the field of relief, welfare and development.

http://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/

Lutheran Church Charities; English

http://ja-jp.facebook.com/FBNERJ#!/FBNERJ?sk=wall&filter=2

宗教者災害救援ネットワーク; Faith-based network for Earthquake Relief in Japan: Japanese

http://www.tohokuhelp.com/list_relief.asp
A list of other faith-based groups; not clear how many of them are accepting volunteers: English

5. NPO SITES SPECIFIC TO A PARTICULAR GROUP OR TYPE OF VOLUNTEERING

http://blog.ap.teacup.com/bi-vo/
Volunteers to bring supplies by motorcycle
全国からバイクボランティアの有志が各被災地入りして、小さな声を拾い、きちんとした声にして支援体制を再構成したいと考えています.

http://resemom.jp/article/2011/03/29/1753.html
Homestay for children, Osaka

Japanese; looking for host families for children made homeless

東北地方太平洋沖地震等による被災児童のホームステイ受入れボランティアの募集

http://www.seikatubunka.metro.tokyo.jp/volunteer2/volunteer2.html
Tokyo Volunteers; looking for interpreter for those who can’t speak Japanese.

日本語がわからなくて困っている外国人を助けるための語学ボランティアを募集しています。

http://sites.google.com/site/jgcvolunteers/for_supporters

Japan Guide Consortium, looking for interpreters

http://nikkeiyouth.com/2011/03/26/day-0-and-day-1-in-ishinomaki/

Nikkei Youth: a group of youth volunteers already up and running, doing good work; English

http://www.earthdaymoney.org/topics_dt.php?id=391

Earth Day Money: Calling for Host families for Earthquake Evacuees: English

6. FACEBOOK GROUPS
Facebook has been a important source of updated information, but are sometimes hard to find information in their format. Many of the references on this list were culled from different Facebook pages—many thanks to them! Reading them should give you an idea of the range, tenor and needs of different organization as they evolve. The experiences of different volunteers are often shared on these pages.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/home.php?sk=group_178425178871091&ap=1

Tokyo Quake Cleanup, a Facebook group devoted to gathering and circulating information about volunteer work in the Tokyo area.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_160310604024009
About the need and opportunities for English translators: English

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youthfor311/156551637736665?ref=ts
東北地方太平洋沖地震、被災地復興のためのボランティア支援
Japanese FB page for youth volunteers

http://www.facebook.com/OGAFORAID

東日本大震災救援

Set up by OGA International School in Aomori

http://ja-jp.facebook.com/FBNERJ#!/FBNERJ?sk=wall&filter=2

宗教者災害救援ネットワーク; Faith-based network for Earthquake Relief in Japan: Japanese

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_189243007780487&ap=1

Foreign Volunteers Japan

7. AGGREGATOR SITES WITH USEFUL LINKS; mostly Japanese

http://www.sinsai.info/ushahidi/

このサイトは震災情報をみんなで集め公開しているサイトです。被災地復興を願うボランティアスタッフが運用しています

A general site that brings earthquake, relief and volunteer information; Japanese

http://311.chofu-cw.com/

東日本大震災被災者支援のための調布ボランティア情報を掲載しています。

Useful site of up to date volunteer opportunities

http://volunteerjapan.jp/
東日本大震災におけるボランティア支援プロジェクト-

Volunteer Support Project for Earthquake Disaster in Eastern Japan

http://www.jpn-civil.net/

「東日本大震災　災害ボランティア活動に初めて参加される方へ」基礎事項フォーマットを掲載; Japan Civil Network for Disaster Relief in East Japan: Japanese

http://www.jifh.org/

日本国際飢餓対策機構（Japan International Food for the Hungry: 略してJIFH）は、非営利の民間国際協力団体（NGO）です。

http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkvnet/spots/_volunteer.html

NHK’s portal; points out the importance of volunteers being insured; in Japanese

8. SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICES

This appears to be the biggest single volume of volunteers? Due to the huge destruction, in many cases they were not up early, organized or ready to accept volunteers. They seem to be ready now, although not all are accepting volunteers when this list was compiled. But be sure to call first—do not just show up! All in Japanese unless otherwise noted.

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/vc00000

全社協　被災地支援・災害ボランティア情報

National Volunteer Information Network

http://www.tvac.or.jp/tuna/21011.html

東京都では、このたびの東北地方太平洋沖地震による被災地の方々へ送る救援物資を都民から集めております

Tokyo Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health: Bilingual in parts

http://www.fukushimakenshakyo.or.jp/frame/saigaibokin.htm

社会福祉法人福島県社会福祉協議会では、災害ボランティア活動のための支援資金を募集しております。皆様の温かい善意をお待ちしております。

Fukushima Disaster Volunteer Center

Their blog: http://ameblo.jp/pref-f-svc/

http://www.city.iwaki.fukushima.jp/topics/010548.html
いわき市災害救援ボランティアセンターでボランティア募集。いわき市内在住の方、避難所での支援物資の受け入れ作業です

Iwaki City volunteer center: A volunteer helping out the procedures of receiving supplies.

http://minamisouma.hida-ch.com/
Minami-souma volunteer center
① 引越手伝い　－　ひまわりデイサービスセンターを避難所として開設します。その準備のため、引越しの手伝いをお願いします。
<volunteer to help out moving out>
② 在宅者確認手伝い　－　鹿島区在住で在宅の高齢者等の安否確認をしております。地域の民生委員さんとペアで安否確認で訪問していただきます。
<finding alive elderly – working in pair with the area’s welfare commissioner>

http://msv3151.c-bosai.jp/

宮城県災害ボランティアセンターは、市区町村災害ボランティアセンターの運営支援と情報提供を行う協働型の組織です

Miyagi Disaster Volunteer Center

http://www.miyagi-sfk.net/

宮城県災害ボランティアセンター
宮城県災害ボランティアセンターを設置し、情報を収集しております。なお、一部の市区町村でも災害ボランティアセンターが設置されています。

Miyagi Social Welfare

http://www.shakyo-sendai.or.jp/

地域で活動する地区社協、民生委員児童委員、NPO、ボランティア団体等と連携・協働して、「だれもが安心して暮らすことができる福祉のまちづくり」を推進しています。

Sendai Social Welfare Counsel

http://www.hachinohe-shakyo.or.jp/

Hachinohe Social Welfare

http://www.iwate-shakyo.or.jp/