ASSISTING RECOVERY IN COOPERATION WITH NGOs

For the past three years, UNIQLO has used 300,000,000 yen from the proceeds from sales at its stores, as well as an additional 10,928,565 yen donated by its customers, to fund organizations that promote financial independence, job creation and economic recovery in the Tohoku region. These efforts have already started producing results. They have led to the creation of new businesses and have enabled high school students in the devastated areas to pursue their dreams. UNIQLO employees also personally participated in recovery assistance initiatives by volunteering their time and by helping out at work experience programs, career training seminars and other educational programs that were held for the benefit of high school students in Fukushima prefecture.

Participating NGOs

International NGO JEN promotes self-reliance and provides daily assistance and mental-health care in the city of Ishinomaki. It is particularly focused on providing help in hard-to-reach areas such as inner-city residential neighborhoods, the Oshika Peninsula and the former city of Kitakami-machi.

Activity Report

PlaNet Finance Japan used its microfinance expertise to set up a fund to support small businesses and contribute to the ongoing economic recovery in areas affected by the disaster.

Activity Report

ADRA Japan is based in Yamamoto, Miyagi Prefecture, on the border of Fukushima Prefecture, It is one of the few NGOs operating in Fukushima. It provides support to victims of the disaster, including individuals who were forced to evacuate from their homes to other parts of Fukushima Prefecture due to the nuclear accident.

Activity Report

As an NGO, IVY embraced the challenge of creating jobs for victims of the disaster by starting a cash-for-work program in April 2011, under which IVY employed disaster victims for reconstruction activities.

Activity Report

Tohoku Relationship Capital is a unique fund that was set up to support new initiatives to create ties between communities, rather than solely assisting with the recovery of local industries. This creates a ripple effect in the regional economy, under which companies and individuals work together while balancing commercial and social objectives.

Activity Report

TEMPORARY STORE OPENINGS

The Kesennuma Store in Miyagi Prefecture and the Sea Plaza Kamaishi Store, which UNIQLO opened to assist the recovery effort, are now permanent stores due to the support of their communities. Anniversary events were held at both stores a year after they opened.

The temporary UNIQLO Aeon Town Kamaishi Store reopened as a regular retail location.

The UNIQLO Sea Plaza Kamaishi Store opened as a temporary store as part of the UNIQLO Recovery Assistance Project, on March 9, 2012, roughly a year after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
On March 14, 2014, we opened the UNIQLO Aeon Town Kamaishi Store as a regular retail location for people who asked for a wider range of products in a more spacious environment.

The temporary UNIQLO Sea Plaza Kamaishi Store

Click here for store information.

The temporary UNIQLO Kesennuma Store reopened as a regular retail location.

Under the UNIQLO Recovery Assistance Project, the UNIQLO Kesennuma Store opened as a temporary retail location in a prefabricated building on March 9, 2012, roughly a year after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
On November 29, 2013, we opened the UNIQLO Kesennuma Store as a regular retail location, for people who asked for a wider range of products in a more spacious environment.

The temporary UNIQLO Kesennuma Store

Click here for store information.

SUPPORT ACTIVITIES IN 2011

Great East Japan Earthquake
(Emergency Assistance）

In close to a year, UNIQLO donated about 1.2 million articles of clothing as emergency aid. These contributions have been valued at 3.29 billion yen, including clothing and monetary donations from customers.

Customer Donations: 260 million yen

FR gave donations from its customers throughout the world to the Red Cross Society in Japan and other nations. FR would like to express its sincere gratitude to everyone who donated.

FR donated the proceeds from sales of SAVE JAPAN! T-shirts to the Japanese Red Cross Society: 130 million yen

The SAVE JAPAN! website was launched immediately following the Great East Japan Earthquake to provide area-specific relief and aid information. In response to appeals by Vogue Japan and GQ Japan (published by the Condé Nast Group, a corporate sponsor of the website), UNIQLO started selling a line of T-shirts featuring inspirational messages from artists throughout the world. It donated 130 million yen of the proceeds from the T-shirt sales to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

Momokaki Orphans Fund (Support for Orphaned Children): 230 million yen

The Momokaki Great East Japan Earthquake Orphan Scholarship Fund was established to provide support to children who were orphaned by the earthquake. In support of the fund’s goals, Fast Retailing Chairman, President and CEO Tadashi Yanai signed on as one of the founding members of this association. UNIQLO has given it 230 million yen in aid, generated from donations of 100 yen for each item sold at UNIQLO stores throughout Japan.

Clothing Assistance: 1.06 billion yen (1.2 million items)

Immediately after the earthquake, FR employee volunteers directly handed out clothing to people who were affected by the disaster, focusing on essentials such as undergarments. In all, 1.2 million items (worth 1.06 billion yen) were distributed.