PHOTO of the DAY(JAPAN)

[AsahinaKimi]

First graders in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, enjoy their first swim of the year at the school's swimming pool. While swimming classes at municipal elementary and junior high schools usually begin in early June, they were postponed this year while pool water samples were tested for radioactive materials. The Sendai City Board of Education determined on June 13 that the pools are safe to use, based on negative results for radioactive iodine and cesium at five schools, but officials at Shinden Elementary School say that some parents are keeping their children out of swimming classes out of concerns for radiation exposure. Tests will be conducted every month through early September. (Mainichi)　

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Temporary housing in Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, for evacuees in the aftermath of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami comes with booths for pets such as this one pictured here. Drawing a lesson from residents of temporary housing units in the wake of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake and the 2004 Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake who could not live with their dogs and cats, the Fukushima town polled evacuees who expressed an eagerness to live with their pets. The town set up booths for pets at two of seven temporary housing complexes. A woman in her 70s who moved into a temporary house in the town's Komagamine district was reunited with her two pet dogs for the first time in about three months and expressed her happiness by saying, "I am really glad to live with my dogs." (Mainichi)

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A traditional ceremony celebrating the completion of the framework of a row house designated as a tangible cultural property by the Tachikawa city government in Tokyo was held at Showa Kinen Park in Akishima, Tokyo, on June 20, with around 100 construction workers and park visitors in attendance. The row house was originally built by a family in the late Edo period in what is now Komae, Tokyo, and was used as a granary, and since 2009 has been undergoing restoration work on the park grounds. Roof thatching is set to begin soon. (Mainichi)

[ensho]

1. kick

nt

[JNelson6563]

2. The kids look wonderful!

Love those smiles.

[sonias]

3. Thank you for these pics

I hope all these children in Sendai have a great summer. My best thoughts and hopes for all the people in Japan.

:grouphug:

[AsahinaKimi]

4. You are welcome..

happy to do it.. ureshii! うれしい!

[CatWoman]

5. I love how they accommodated the pets

:loveya:

[geardaddy]

7. Yes.

I just love the look of happiness on that beagle's face!

[AsahinaKimi]

8. The pets bring so much

happiness to their owners, especially during stressful times.

[geardaddy]

11. Agreed.

That is some great planning on the part of the community planners.

[Chorophyll]

6. Thank you for posting.

It's so good to see these pictures. The situation is fairly grim, but humanity's will to survive and even to thrive goes on. Very encouraging!

[AsahinaKimi]

10. You are most welcome...

Life goes on in Japan...
日本では、人生は続きます..

[Scottybeamer70]

9. cool pics!

Thanks!

[AsahinaKimi]

12. Have tried to do this everyday since

3/11 or so. The rebuilding is slow, some of the heroism has been incredible, scenes of giant cranes lifting boats and putting them back out at Sea..photos of fisherman, and farmers trying their best to get back into some kind of routine..the volunteers, but mostly the faces of the kids.. its all enough to make you sit and cry. I hope to continue.. till things are better there again.

頑張れ日本 !!