No.125 Ukraine Humanitarian Aid Fundraising

On February 24, contrary to expectations, the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Knowing that many people, especially women and children, started to evacuate to other countries, I felt the need to provide support and decided to start fundraising from March 1.

Initially, the deadline was set for March 31 to transfer funds to the embassy-designated account, but there were suggestions to also collect donations at the Cherry Blossom and Pear Blossom Festival venue, so it has been extended to April 3.

After that, the young people of the Inagi Junior Chamber of Commerce conducted fundraising at the station, and various civic groups, including the Inagi Peace Concert Executive Committee, the Inagi City Ikebana Association, and the Hirao Neighborhood Association, also carried out their own fundraising activities and joined the city's fundraising efforts.

And, we decided to temporarily close the amount collected so far and remit it, and since it is a valuable opportunity, we considered visiting the Ukrainian embassy to deliver it directly. However, we were unable to reach the embassy by phone and were contemplating connections to get in touch.

By the way, Inagi City has been holding rice planting events since the year before last with the intention of passing on the traditional Japanese culture of rice cultivation to future generations. Last year, many staff members from the Ukrainian Embassy helped during the rice planting and harvesting. In particular, during the autumn harvest, His Excellency Sergiy Korsunsky, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, came to Inagi and I had the precious experience of harvesting rice together with him.

In fact, it was due to such coincidental connections that we started fundraising immediately after the invasion of Ukraine. We consulted with the executive committee of the "Minna no FUJISAN Earth Festa WA" that is organizing this rice planting event, and they helped us secure an appointment to visit the Ukrainian embassy.

On April 19, I visited the Ukrainian Embassy in Nishiazabu, met with His Excellency Sergiy Korsunsky, and presented a list of funds raised through humanitarian aid donations conducted in Inagi City.

Although Japan is very safe, I was hesitant about what kind of expression I should have when meeting the ambassador since my home country is currently in conflict. However, despite wearing a mask, he recognized my face and welcomed me with a smile as soon as I entered the room.

I conveyed that the recent invasion by Russia is an unforgivable act that should be condemned internationally, and that even if Russia had some claims in the long historical relationship between the two countries, in the modern society of the 21st century, it is absolutely unacceptable for a sovereign independent nation to engage in military aggression, especially the massacre of non-combatants is categorically intolerable.

The ambassador replied that they hope for a quick ceasefire and that the day will come when they can go to Inagi City for rice planting again.

We feel the same way. While there are limits to what the city can do, we will continue our fundraising activities and hope for a ceasefire as soon as possible.