Through Aid Japan for Children, proceeds from the Plum Blossom Concert will be donated to a program helping children suffering PTSD caused by their experience of the Tsumani

Midoro no Tohuku Genki Programme has been holding retreat camps for the purpose of
treating children suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following the
multiple disasters in Japan in March 2011. Their aim is to give each child a sense of having succeeded in some way and to help children regain belief in their abilities.

Their approach is using a method of treatment known as tokeai gihou. The children are
helped to relax and learn to use this technique to help others in their families. Making
opportunities for the children to feel comfortable with one another are created through a
programme for building trust which involves experiencing nature through games and other
activities.

Children are encouraged to perform tasks such as building tree houses or cooking meals so
that they can enjoy a sense of achievement and pride through successfully gaining a skill.
With the assistance of clinical psychotherapists, parents/guardians receive treatment and are
taught how to treat children in their care.

All activities take place with staff fully qualified in managing these activities. Moreover, clinical psychologists qualified in the use of the Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) techniques are present throughout.

They have already carried out a couple of programmes with successful results. Many
children were encouraged and recognised their ability.



A Message from Masahi Ohkuma
A member of the programme

The earthquake and subsequent tsunami left its mark not only on the landscape of Japan, but has scarred the hearts and minds of many who live there. Many of these scars are not easily seen and there is a great need for professional treatment of these conditions.

“Staring death in the face” causes a variety of reactions with some losing their zest for life while others become violent. Following an event like this disaster, it is possible to treat the physical effects straightaway, however, in the case of injuries to the mind they show themselves sometimes only after three months, and in many cases only after a year. This is known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Without an understanding by surrounding people, the symptoms end up being dismissed as characteristic of individuals not being interested in getting on in life or as typical of a violent person with predictable results for their future lives. In fact, there are countless numbers of people affected in this way in our society today.

If the children affected with PTSD because of the disaster are not treated, it will have a profound effect on their future. Since we have gained a lot of knowledge and experience in the treatment of this condition, it is important tot make full use of it.

The activities we are engaged in will not only prove useful in attending the trauma people have sustained through this disaster, but in time will also be successfully applied to many other situations in which people are afflicted with PTSD.