It has been five years since the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami and the associated nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. As a Japanese, looking at recent news and pictures of the disaster sites now and then, I felt so many emotions from within me.
On this day, I especially think about a group of special women in my heart. The ladies in Nozomi Project.
Nozomi Project = Hope
Last holiday season, I mentioned about Nozomi Project (you can read my post here). Nozomi Project is a group of women in Ishinomaki, Japan – the town which was most seriously affected by tsunami.
They make beautiful jewelry with broken pieces of pottery leftover after the horrible disaster.
The Nozomi ladies were not jewelry makers prior to the disaster. Most of them lost their homes or/and loved ones and they needed hope (“Nozomi” in Japanese) and a place to start a new life.
To turn around their life, Nozomi ladies take the broken pieces of pottery and create beautiful jewelry out of them.
Nozomi Project = A New Life
Nozomi Project provides a safe community for these women and brings sustainable income for them. A community like this help rebuild their lives in Ishinomaki.
Each of their product lines has been named by a Nozomi woman in honor of a loved one in her life.
3 Things We Can Do To Help:
Nozomi Project brings “hope” to these women in Ishinomaki. And we can give hope to them by following simple actions:
- Talk About It: Talk to one (or more) friend about Nozomi Project today!
- Wear It: Wear a piece of Nozomi jewelry and talk about it if someone notices your jewelry.
- Get a Gift: Mother’s Day, Father’s Day (cufflinks!), and friend’s birthday!
My heart is with them as they rebuild their lives and community.
Find Nozomi Project on their Website | Facebook | Instagram. “Share” their posts with your friends!
I just received my first pair of cuff links from the Nozomi project. They’re absolutely beautiful. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to these unique women. I’m planning on purchasing a pair monthly to support this endeavor!
Hi John! I’m so happy to hear that you liked the cufflinks and wanted to help them even more! Thank you so much for your generosity!
Thank you for featuring the Nozomi Project! I met them while in Japan a few years ago doing charity concerts up north with a group from Juilliard. I am so glad to see that they are continuing such a positive difference with their beautiful and powerful message of hope amidst tragedy and loss.
Hi Luka! Thank you so much for writing! I’ve checked your website. How wonderful that you had charity concerts in Japan! There are so many people making differences to help others and it’s very admirable. I learned that many of my readers have already known Nozomi Project. They’re doing such an amazing job!
Hi Nami – This is such a powerful tribute to the project that aims to rebuild and restore. Mark & I happened to watched NHK on the anniversary of tsunami and we were touched by the stories of many inspiring individuals/ groups that dedicate their lives to help rebuilding their community after the massive disaster. Nozomi Project is the prime example of that. Not only they turn a tragic catastrophe into something so incredibly beautiful, the project reminds us that there is power in creating goodness and hope. Thanks for sharing their works and stories! xoxo
Hi Reese! Thank you for reading this post! xoxo
Thank you, Nami, for your post. I just placed my order for a bookmark and a set of earrings. So many beautiful pieces to choose from… and all for such an amazing cause. Truly inspiring!
Thank you so much for joining me to help them! You’ll love their earrings! I know it’s hard to pick. I’ve been trying to choose a spring piece for myself, but haven’t made a decision yet. 🙂 Thank you once again!
Thank you for letting us know about this. It’s a small but important thing for the people to do. I bought one of the necklaces from them. I hope everyone supports them in anyway they can.
Hi Joseph! I really appreciate your kind words and thanks so much for joining me to help them! Even if everyone can make a small contribution, I know we as a whole can make a change. 🙂 Thank you again!
Beautiful! I love the heart and soul of these women: so inspiring!
Do you know if there’s another way to reach them? Every time I try to get on to their website, I get an error message 🙁
Hi Jess! Thank you so much for reading this post. I’m so sorry you were having some issue. Do you still this same issue? You could contact Nozomi’s director Sue at nozomitohoku @ gmail.com (no space).
Or I’ll be happy to contact them. But I’ll need to know more details and screen shot of your error message to explain. Email me if you need my help. 🙂
I love the necklace that I bought from the Nozomi Project. Absolutely gorgeous and so affordable. What a wonderful way to help a community rebuild their lives.
Hi Laura! Thank you so much for your kind support! So happy to hear you are enjoying your necklace. 🙂
Thank you for sharing Nami, I just bought a pair of cuff links.
Thank you John, so much, for your purchase from Nozomi Project. The cuffs are some of my favorite products. I hope you love them!
Sue, Director, Nozomi Project
Thank you so much John!
Such a great idea and the jewelry is stunningly beautiful. I love your green Mio earrings but sadly they are sold out I think, because I didn´t find them on their website. Have to look for another ones. 🙂
Hi Tao! Keep checking their site, as each product is unique on their own because of the pottery piece is only one of kind. Hope you will find something you like on their site. 🙂 Thank you so much for joining me to support them!
Dear Nami-
Today’s blog made me cry. Thank you for loving our Nozomi ladies in such a wonderful way. This post, your words, and your photo are beautiful. Thank you for helping to share about this project of beauty from brokenness. You are very dear to us!
Hi Sue! I thought of you and Nozomi ladies prior to writing this post. Sorry I didn’t have enough time to write you about this post before I publish (even after…). I’m still looking for a spring piece. I’ll have to decide soon before my favorite colors become sold out. 🙂 Keep up the great work you do. You inspire many, many people in this world and help people with sincere heart. You’re an amazing person!
Hello Nami. Just finished watching a sad and beautiful program on Japanese T.V. program about the earthquake and tsunami. It brought tears to my eyes. Whenever I wear my necklace from the Nozomi project I think of the many people who are still struggling to put there lives together.
Thank you for sharing your blog.
Hi Chiyo! Thank you for reading this post! I’m so happy you treasure your Nozomi necklace! We can spread the word out for Nozomi Project, by wearing it. So many people noticed the beautiful necklace that I’m wearing, and it’s easy for me to bring up about their work. 🙂
Wow, these jewelries are beautiful. And it is just so awesome to make something so beautiful out of broken pieces. Truly inspirational! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Gee, 5 years? Seems both like just last year, and years ago! Really inspiring post — thanks.
This is such a gorgeous idea, I absolutely love it!! From tragedy can come beauty and healing if people can come together like these ladies 🙂
These ladies are so inspiring! Their jewelry is very lovely. I love how they turn something that was very tragic into something so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Tiphanie! Yes, their jewelry is so beautiful… Thank you for reading this post. xoxo