Niigata-Chuetsu Earthquake: Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps Lends a Hand

Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps was dispatched to Niigata Prefecture to help residents recover from the Niigata-Chuetsu Earthquake, which struck the prefecture in late October. On November 15, the corps set up its relief activity headquarters in Kawaguchi Town, one of the most damaged towns. To meet the needs of the victims in the area, the Hinokishin Corps members engaged in a variety of activities such as pulling down houses that had been irreparably damaged and removing debris from other houses. They also tried to help the residents in this snow-prone area prepare for the snow season–which is just around the corner. These activities were conducted until the corps was disbanded on December 6. A total of 1,126 corps members from 13 dioceses took part in the disaster relief activities during the 22 days.