Tokai Shinpo newspaper story about recording for Shine On! Songs東海新報でシャイン・オン！ソングスが記事に

“Ame Ni Mo Makezu”  Children of Sakari Elementary participate in chorus musical recording in English An English translation of Kenji Miyazawa’s classic “Ame Ni Mo Makezu,” was recorded at Sakari Elementary School in Ofunato City (principal: Isao Sato, students: 153) on the 23rd. This was part of a musical project put together by the Tyler Foundation, 大船渡市立盛小学校で「雨ニモマケズ」英語化した楽曲の録音作業 […]

Bringing Summer Smiles to Tohoku東北に夏のスマイルを運んで

School kids in Tohoku got a summer break so in August, we visited daycare centers, kindergartens and special events. The Smile Ambassador performed twice during the Ofunato Tanabata Festival. Banks and shops on the local shopping street were all destroyed. Now this small shopping center became the center of Ofunato community and commerce. Some even […]

It’s HOT up north!北に暑いです！

It’s been HOT up in Tohoku! This drawing was made by a 5 year old girl in Ofunato. She was a little off on my waist line, but she was spot on with how much I was sweating!東北ではとても暑い日が続いています！この絵は大船渡の５歳の女の子が描いたものです。ニコニコ大使のウエストのラインは少し正確さを欠いたようですが、どれだけ汗をかいていたかは、ばっちりと捉えています！

THANK YOU Maeda family!前田さんご一家に「ありがとう」

Much thanks to the Maeda family for lending us this GREAT tent! The tent is pitched in front of a former elementary school near the mountain town of Sumita in South Central Iwate Prefecture – about 40 minutes from the coastal town of Ofunato. From Ofunato we reach up and down the coast to a broader Iwate population.この素敵なテントを貸してくださった前田さんのご家族にとても感謝しています！ 私たちは岩手県中南部の山あいの町、住田町近郊の、以前は小学校だった場所の前に、このテントを張っています。沿岸部の大船渡市まではおよそ40分のところです。大船渡からは沿岸部を行き来して、岩手のほかのエリアの人々のところへ行くことができます。

The Kids Were Yelling, “Guy-san!”子どもたちは「ガイさーん！」と大はしゃぎ

Welcome Back signs like this one are common and illustrate the positive effect of the Smile Ambassador Program.

Iwate Nippo Features the Shine On! Smile Ambassador Program岩手日報でニコニコ大使の掲載

Juggling Brings Smiles Tokyo NPO Mori Elementary (Ofunato) Visit and Exchange The Tyler Foundation, an NPO in Tokyo helping children suffering from childhood cancer and their parents (President Kimberly Forsythe), as part of the activities supporting children in areas affected by the great earthquake visited Mori elementary school in Ofunato city, and interacted with children […]

Black Nikka Whisky TV Commerical ブラック ニッカウイスキー CM

Elementary School Workshop

Workshops are a big part of the Shine On! Tohoku Childrens Support – Smile Ambassador Program. Not only do they introduce new skills which are building blocks for confidence and self respect, they give kids permission to be kids again – to play and to have fun. This a 6th grade class in Iwate. Their […]

Iwate Elementary School

“ZatAmazingGuy” David Claypatch joined the Smile Ambassador for two AWESOME shows up north. Here he is making over 200 people happy at an Elementary School in Iwate Prefecture.

Tagajo

Tagajo Shelter’s volunteer Oba-chan.

TISJ’s Cherry Blossom Festival MC

Shine On! Tohoku Children’s Support Smile Ambassador Gaetano Totaro was Master of Ceremonies at the 2011 Tokyo International School Cherry Blossom Festival.

Schichigahama-cho Kokusai Centa七ヶ浜町中央公民館

Shine On! Smile Ambasador & Roon-Roon entertained both old and young at Miyagi Prefecture’s Schichigahama-cho Kokusai Centa. Shine On! Smile Ambasador & Roon-Roon entertained both old and young at Miyagi Prefecture’s Schichigahama-cho Kokusai Centa.

Tagajo Jr High School多賀城 中学校

Shine On! Smile Ambassador visited the Children’s Day Relief Event sponsored by Plan-Japan at Tagajo Jr High School in Miyagi Prefecture. Special guest Hula Hooper “Roon-Roon” joined the fun and after their shows they lead games and circus workshops. Coy Nobori Hand Painted by children who were affected by the March 11th disaster…  多賀城 中学校宮城県のこどもの日の救済イベント. 手作りの鯉幟

“Smile Ambassador”“ニコニコ大使”

Thank You to everyone who has supported my Tohoku Clown relief efforts! I am exceptionally proud to announce my new collaboration with the Tyler Foundation. Together we created the Shine On! Tohoku Children’s Support Program. “Smile Ambassador” http://www.tylershineon.org/?p=6069 東北クラウン支援をサポート頂きありがとうございます。 今日は素晴らしお知らせをお伝えする事ができます。 私はタイラー基金のシャイン・オン！東北の子ども達サポートプログラムのニコニコ大使に就任しました！ これからも皆様の継続的なサポートを宜しくお願いします。 http://www.tylershineon.org/ja/?p=6069

Itcheefeet Blog Interview

        Here’s a recent interview about my trip on my mates awesome travel blog for kids; http://www.itcheefeet.com/blog/guest-blogs/making-kids-smile-in-quake-devastated-japan       Here’s a recent interview about my trip on my mates travel for kids blog; http://www.itcheefeet.com/blog/guest-blogs/making-kids-smile-in-quake-devastated-japan

In Tohoku with the Rotary Club’s Dr Andy ロータリージャパンのDr.アンディーと東北にて

Miyako shogako Shelter Iwate Prefecture       岩手県宮古小学校避難所

Forget Shibuya and Harajuku Japanese youth culture…

Forget the Shibuya chinpira, the Harajuku bimbos, the Akiba ottaku and cosplay maids; these are the faces of Japan’s future… They are smart, motivated, energetic and committed young adults.

First Tohoku Show

My first shows today つつにゅうようじほいくえん 吉里吉里(きりきり) was a big success!

New Departure Date Set!新しい出発日！

I am now partnered with 3 established groups and my first trip is finally locked in for next week – departing on April 21st. I will be joining a Professor of Social Work and a group of her students from Meijigakuin University who are already on site providing aid and assistance in Iwate prefecture. Three days later I will be joining a […]

Trip delayed…救援旅行は延期

There was a problem with my transportation and my trip to Northeastern Japan has been temporarily delayed. I am still accepting donations and supplies and will hopefully leave at the beginning of this week. I really want to help bring back some smiles and to let people know that the world is thinking about them! […]

Supplies and support needed…支援物資とサポートを必要としています。

Dear friends, on Friday 4/8 I will be joining a group of doctors who are going to provide relief assistance in the areas that were effected by the recent disasters in northern Japan. As they treat people, I’ll do what I can to cheer up the kids in the shelters. I may perform (music, clowning […]