Though six years has passed since the tsunami caused the nuclear meltdown in Fukushima, many living near the site are still in the midst of rebuilding their lives. Arguably, those most affected are the children – tender in years, they must try and make sense of the mental and physical trauma around them. In an effort to help them, Japanese non-profit organisations Today Is The Day and Children Are Our Future collaborated with LASALLE College of the Arts and New York University to run the Miracle Kutchie Experience.
This year marks the third run of the art retreat exchange programme. With a focus on using art as a form of therapy, activities like music, painting, dance, photography, and ceramic-making aim to equip the children with communication skills. Led by Ronald Lay, Art Therapist and Programme Leader of LASALLE’s MA Art Therapy programme, the art retreat has witnessed success. Mr Noritoshi Hirakawa, founder of Today Is The Day, said, “The parents said the children have improved a lot after they started on art therapy. When parents see the improvement in behaviour, they are also more willing to seek help for themselves.”
