Shows Held by Sompo Japan’s Volunteer Organization in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture

Tokyo, Japan, October 18, 2013 --(PR.com)-- On Friday, August 30, and Saturday, August 31, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. (President: Kengo Sakurada; hereinafter, “Sompo Japan”) hosted theater shows with the NPO Aichi Puppetry Center in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture. The events drew an audience of approximately 170 people, mainly children with their parents and guardians.

The show performed was “John and Grandma Marple” and “Moai Kun.” During the events, handmade gifts and message cards from employee volunteers all over Japan were also distributed to audiences.

Dates: Friday, August 30, and Saturday, August 31, 2013

Venues: Osanai Hall (Unosumai-cho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture) Kasshi Childcare Support Center (Kasshi-cho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)
Kamaishi First Kindergarten (Tenjin-cho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture) Kosano Community Hall (Kosano-cho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)

Background
Sompo Japan owns Himawari Hall, a theater devoted exclusively to puppet shows in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. The company has been conducting community outreach activities jointly with the Aichi Puppetry Center, the organization that operates this theater.

In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Sompo Japan and the Aichi Puppetry Center formed the “Sompo Japan’s Smiles Delivering Troupe!” which performed puppet shows three times from March 2012 in Kamaishi City for those living in temporary housing complexes.

In March of this year as well, shows were performed in Kamaishi City in partnership with the Aichi Puppetry Center and the Tonkachi Puppet Theater Troupe,* which is based out of Himawari Hall. These shows were put on in the hope that puppet and stage shows would bring together members of the Kamaishi City community and fill the venue with children’s laughter.

* Tonkachi Puppet Theater Troupe: Specializes in monologue puppet theater for kindergartens and day cares in Nishimikawa, Aichi Prefecture.

Description of Activities
The plays performed by the Tonkachi Puppet Theater Troupe drew an audience of around 170 people, consisting mainly of children and their parents, and everyone in the audience greatly enjoyed the performance.

Some of the parents and officials in the audience told us they were really impressed that the children were so drawn in and captivated by the performance. They also said everyone had a really good time because it was such a rare opportunity to watch puppet theater and there are not many places for children to play in and around Unosumai.

In addition, handmade gifts (felt balls that children can play with even indoors) and message cards made by Sompo Japan employees from all over the country were distributed at each show. Employees of Nipponkoa Insurance Co., Ltd., a member company of the NKSJ Group, also participated in the event as volunteers.

Future plans
Sompo Japan is committed to supporting the earthquake recovery efforts in ways that are closely in tune with local needs.