福島ダイアログ　Fukushima Dialogue

NPO法人福島ダイアログは、2019年に法人化された福島県内の原発事故被災地で活動する団体です。

2011年の事故後、国際放射線防護委員会（ICRP）が継続開催してきた対話集会を引き継ぎ、現在までに24回の対話集会を開催してきました。
これまでの成果は、国外へも広く伝えられ、国際的にも高く評価されています。
NPO Fukushima Dialogue is an organisation working in the nuclear-affected areas in Fukushima.

The 27th Fukushima Dialogue, titled “Thoughts on Hometowns – Where Have We Come From, and Where Are We Going? Voices from Fukushima,” will take place over two days on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7, 2025, in Ōkuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture. Since 2011, dialogue meetings have been held regularly with Fukushima residents and stakeholders. We are asking for your support this year to ensure the sustainability of this initiative.

Weaving the Voices of Fukushima – Support the 27th Dialogue this Year

Support for Dialogue Operations (Interpretation, Babysitting & Other Services)

事務局担当の門馬です。ご不明な点があればお気軽にご質問ください。

In the coastal area of Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, lies a pottery tradition known as Ōbori Sōma-yaki — a craft with a history spanning more than 300 years. Originating in the Genroku era of the Edo period, it is distinguished by its “ao-hibi” (fine crackles in the celadon glaze), the unique double-layered structure that helps retain heat, and the “left-facing horse” (hidari-uma, also called running horse) design, a traditional symbol of good fortune. Because it was made using local clay and developed to fit everyday life in the region, this pottery is often said to have techniques found nowhere else in Japan.After the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident in 2011, the entire town of Namie — the birthplace of Ōbori Sōma-yaki — was placed under an evacuation order. Many kilns were forced to close, and it was feared that this centuries-old craft might disappear forever. Over time, as radiation levels declined and infrastructure improved, some areas were reopened, but much of the town remains designated as a “difficult-to-return” zone even today.In spite of these hardships, the artisans did not give up. Many moved their workshops to nearby cities such as Nihonmatsu and Kōriyama, continuing to create, teach, and develop new ideas for the future. They are not only restoring the past but also shaping the future — training young artisans, developing new designs suited for modern life, and striving to build a brand chosen for its beauty and practicality, not merely as a symbol of recovery. Please also visit<a href="https://translation2.j-server.com/LUCNAMIE/ns/tl.cgi/https://www.town.namie.fukushima.jp/site/understand-namie/314.html?SLANG=ja&amp;TLANG=en&amp;XMODE=0&amp;XCHARSET=utf-8&amp;XJSID=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> the Namie Town website</a> for more information.At my own home, I have a small grater dish made from Ōbori Sōma-yaki. It features the lucky left horse design and looks like an ordinary small plate at first glance, but it’s perfect for grating a little ginger, garlic, wasabi, or yuzu peel — and it’s something I use every day at the table.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/f472942a-04d6-4806-86d3-1fcecd791efa.jpg">The lucky “left horse” design — isn’t it charming? The first one, given to me by my mother-in-law, served me well for over ten years before it finally broke; the one in the photo is its successor. As you can see, its charm lies not only in its functionality but also in its beauty — the gentle colors, glossy glaze, fine crackles, and delightful hand-painted motif. For me, it’s an irreplaceable companion in daily life — a quiet reminder of how tradition endures, even in the smallest things.

The Flame That Was Never Extinguished  Ōbori Sōma-yaki: 300 Years of Tradition, Recovery, and Future Hope

We are pleased to share that the endorsement from Ōkuma Town has been confirmed, and eight participants for the second-day Dialogue have now been finalized. With these important developments, preparations for the 27th Fukushima Dialogue are moving forward step by step.We deeply appreciate your continued encouragement and warm support. Please stay with us as we move toward welcoming everyone to the Dialogue in December.The English version of the program is now available — please take a look to see the details of the event.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/878633e5-7d77-45e5-ac76-d4ac0e9ce405.jpg"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/e3fba047-7f2a-4628-886c-77457c9bedb5.jpg"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/e04240da-20df-4a82-b415-413c9f8a8a6a.jpg">

Preparations Are Steadily Progressing

<h3>What is a Daruma? </h3>The Daruma is one of Japan’s most iconic symbols of perseverance and good fortune. Its origins go back to Bodhidharma, the Buddhist monk who founded Zen. Legend says he meditated for nine years until his arms and legs withered away—hence the doll’s round, limbless shape. Daruma dolls first spread in Japan during the Edo period. Because they always return to an upright position when tipped over, they came to embody the saying “fall down seven times, get up eight.” Today, people paint in one eye when making a wish, and fill in the other when it comes true. Found in many regions with unique local styles, Daruma remain a powerful symbol of resilience and hope across Japan. <h3>Futaba Daruma: Reviving a Town’s Tradition </h3>Like many other regions of Japan, Futaba Town in Fukushima Prefecture has long held a New Year’s Daruma market, with roots dating back to the Edo period. However, unlike other towns, Futaba once had no local Daruma of its own. About 30 years ago, the Women’s Division of JA Fukushima Sakura in Futaba established a Daruma group, designing and creating the original Futaba Daruma. Today, the Futaba Daruma Market is a lively New Year’s tradition widely known throughout Fukushima Prefecture, and these handmade Daruma dolls have become indispensable to the local community. In 2012, the year following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Futaba Daruma Market—normally held on the second Saturday and Sunday of January—could not take place due to the town’s full evacuation. Yet, encouraged by the voices of people who still wished for Daruma, local women and other residents gradually came together. By 2013, they had resumed making Daruma and, though held outside the town, managed to organize the Futaba Daruma Market again. In 2022, part of Futaba Town was designated as a Special Reconstruction and Revitalization Zone and the evacuation order was lifted. In January 2023, twelve years after the disaster, the Daruma Market finally returned to its original home in Futaba. Looking ahead to the next Futaba Daruma Market, scheduled for January 10–11, 2026, the workshop at JA Fukushima Sakura’s Izumi branch in Iwaki has already begun production in early September. We recently visited the workshop to see the process firsthand. <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/df4029af-31c1-43c8-aa9b-935e60575840.jpg"> Daruma dolls before their faces and patterns are painted. Can you see how each one already has a slightly different expression? <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/198c8899-b4de-4db5-8b34-f18e08fec6d0.jpg">The painting begins with positioning the eyes, drawn first in red pigment. Since each Daruma has slightly different features, deciding exactly where to place the eyes is said to be the most challenging part. <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/eec35e01-f012-4fa0-9fb6-de203a42f016.jpg">The members of the Women’s Division divide roles among themselves—some outlining the eyes, others painting the patterns or facial features. With their practiced hands, the faces of the Daruma dolls take shape at an astonishing speed!<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/11693edc-7fe4-4a4d-bd55-87a7cec6466d.jpg"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/6e3e9e36-692c-4f53-ae13-24e44c562979.jpg">Almost every day, about 1,000 Daruma dolls are produced in time for the Daruma Market. They come in seven different colors and range in size from charming, round 8 cm dolls to large ones standing 65 cm tall—each with its own unique character. Did you find a favorite among them? Traditionally, one paints the left eye of a Daruma to make a wish, and only when that wish is fulfilled does one paint in the right eye, as an expression of gratitude. In this way, Daruma symbolize both the bond between maker and owner, and the connection between wishes and thankfulness. With hopes for the New Year and for recovery, the women of the JA Fukushima Sakura Futaba branch continue to carefully handcraft Futaba Daruma, day by day.

With Wishes and Gratitude: The Tradition of Futaba Daruma

We’re pleased to share the program that has been confirmed so far.We’re also in the process of arranging co-hosting and support from our partner organizations.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/2063588a-7d37-4508-a0c0-340e8dbfede2.jpg"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/02a2d2d4-c460-4959-a5bc-3f9f433d98cf.jpg"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/fa0d4d2b-c032-457e-a440-43034c826db7.jpg">

Weaving the Voices of Fukushima – Support the 27th Dialogue this Year

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