Helping Children in Need through Art: Toyota’s Program for Bringing Artists and Children Together

On March 11, 2011, Miyako, a small town of only 60,000 on the northeastern coast of Japan, was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and resulting tsunami. Nearly 4,000 homes were destroyed.

At the Miyako Community Center—rebuilt just last year—Toyota is helping to bring children touched by this disaster together with mentoring artists, so that they may experience the soul-lifting freedom of expression that the arts can offer.

Under the tutelage of former acting troupe member Izumi Hatakeyama, 13 Miyako elementary school students rehearsed for two months before performing for the local community. The musical, Donguri to Yamaneko (Judge Wildcat and the Acorns), is based on the Japanese children’s picture book by Kenji Miyazawa.

“I wanted everyone to see that I am chasing my dream,” said a participating fifth-grader.

Pictures from the production Donguri to Yamaneko, performed in Miyako City

This program is but a part of the nationwide Children Meet Artists program run in collaboration with the NPO Children Meet Artists and AIS Planning. Workshops are held around the country so that children can reap the experience of mentorship by artists. Toyota has sponsored this program since 2004, but since the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, the program has expanded to nurture children with artistic souls in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima, where resources for the arts are lacking.

Toyota will continue to nurture the artful spirits of children across Japan, giving special focus to those most in need.

For more information about this special program, visit http://artists-children.net/ (Japanese only).