Construction starts!

We have just received good news from Japan that we were waiting for a LONG TIME! Building permit for the Japan Ibasho cafe was finally approved! Thanks to all our talented team members who have been generously supporting this initiative. We still have a lot to figure out before the opening, but I am certain that we can make this project truly a community project for the local people in a disaster area. This is one big milestone to reach that we should simply cerebrate! We will keep working hard to reach the next milestone… Journey continues.

Brick walls: give us a chance to show how badly we want something

Ibasho cafe in the disaster area is supposed to be a straightforward project, yet there are many issues and challenges arise, especially when we feel that it is making progress. Yes, I am frustrated by the layers of bureaucracy that have to give us reasons to slow down and discourage us. I am sure that this situation happens to many projects for disaster relief globally. When I visit the disaster area and see how people live, I feel so frustrated by how things are in Japan. There are so many “talking” but so little “doing” from both central and local governments in the current situation. When we try to take […]

Happy New Year from Ibasho

Dear Friends, Happy New Year! We in the Ibasho family wish you all the best for a healthy and happy 2013, and look forward to an exciting year ahead! As we look back at 2012, we have much to be grateful for, especially the support and encouragement we have received from supporters like you.  And it has paid off! We started Ibasho in 2010 with just a few people but great passion and a belief that we can make a difference.  And we have already made meaningful progress and captured the attention of communities around the world that are grappling with the universal question of how we can all age with dignity and […]

I lost everything by the Tsunami, but we still have each other

“We should create the place where our grandmothers will not feel being served all the time, otherwise they will not come back to the gatherings. Then, they will stay inside the temporary house without socializing with others…” “We should build the cafe where our elders are the ones to serve tea, rather than being served. They like to do be useful to others ” The Tsunami victims who live in the temporary housing communities, repeatedly, made these comments. Although the contexts are different, it reminded me of the elders in long term care facilities in other parts of the world. I have been pondering about “what does it mean by […]

Ibasho cafe at Tsunami disaster area in Japan

I am going to Tsunami disaster area from today, and work on a project: creating an “Ibasho cafe,” partnering with OperationUSA. We will visit disaster area and meet with people who live in temporary housing community, and work together to create an “ibasho”. This cafe is NOT going to be a “senior center” where elders have scheduled visits to socialize with others and receive care, but the place where elders are involved in design, construction, and operation by providing their wisdom, experience, and compassion to the community. We envision this cafe to be a social hub where people of all ages will come and spend their time as they wish. […]

Beauty of multi-generational interactions

We have visited Bernard’s brother’s home to see his family where his mother was visiting at that time. When we walked into the small courtyard in front of the house, his nieces, nephews, and neighbor’s kids welcomed us first. Then, we sat at the veranda with his brothers, cousins, and neighbors, and just chatted about everything.  While we were talking, his mother was busy cooking for us and the children were playing in the courtyard. It always amazes me that mothers’ behavior is quite universal; they always want to “feed their children.” My mother in Japan would do the same any time I go back home. When the meal was […]