Japan
In the wake of World War II, a program called Licensed Agencies for Relief in Asia provided millions of dollars of food and relief items to the people of Japan. CWS was one of 11 agencies that participated in LARA.
Decades later, another crisis led us to re-establish our presence in Japan. In March 2011, the world watched in horror the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and the resulting Fukushima nuclear disaster, struck. CWS Japan was soon formed, with a focus on making sure that what happened in Japan would not happen elsewhere.
Our team focuses on global advocacy for preventing and responding to disasters. We press governments and leaders to find ways to reduce disaster risks for their most vulnerable residents. We also serve as a resource hub for other programs, mobilizing funds to support work elsewhere in Asia and providing technical expertise.
The spirit of collaboration has defined our work in Japan for more than seven decades. We expect this same spirit will continue for many years to come.
Gifts from LARA
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Latest Updates
Surviving the Kunar Earthquake: An Afghan Father’s Story of Loss and Hope
A young father from Afghanistan’s Kunar Province reflects on a life once shaped by peace and nature and how a single night of disaster changed everything. His story reveals both devastating loss and the fragile hope made possible through timely humanitarian support. Ahmad Wali*, 27, lives in the Masood Ghazi Abad village of Mazar Dara in the Nurgal District of …
Safe Spaces and Shared Stories: Honoring Pride and World Refugee Day in Japan
Igarashi Nozomi, CWS Japan Project Officer, shared about recent events hosted at the Community Cafe @ Okubo in celebration of World Refugee Day and Pride Month, where LGBTQ+ individuals and refugee community members could share stories, build understanding, and celebrate diversity through dialogue and collaborative art. CWS Japan operates the Community Cafe @ Okubo with ecumenical partners to aid the …
Measuring Impact: How Disaster Prevention Projects Are Changing Afghan Communities
Murakami Kotomi, a CWS Japan intern, recently interviewed participants in the “Enhancing Resilience of Afghanistan through Integrated Risk Reduction” project. This blog features her interviews with local community members about the impacts that the project has had in supporting disaster risk reduction efforts in Afghanistan. Impacts of Disaster Risk Reduction Projects Disasters can upend lives in an instant, but proactive …