On Saturday, October 1, in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, and on the following day, Sunday, October 2, in Rikuzen-takata City, Iwate Prefecture, Canon participated in the reconstruction assistance project Michi no Cafe.

Michi no Cafe provides assistance for the recovery of areas devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The project, jointly coordinated by Starbucks, the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management, Canon and others, creates a place where disaster victims living in northeastern Japan can relax by enjoying a cup of coffee at an outdoor cafe. Photojournalists capture images of the event and of participants smiling for the camera, which are then printed on the spot using an inkjet printer and presented to guests as souvenirs.

On the first day, an area featuring an outdoor cafe and photo printing service corner were set up in the garden of the Guesthouse Urban wedding hall, located in Kesennuma City. The second day of the Michi no Cafe project took place in an open space between temporary housing units on the grounds of the Yonezaki Municipal Middle School.

Over the two-day project, more than 1,000 local residents visited the cafe and relaxed while enjoying coffee and the photos captured during the event. Of the photos taken by the three participating photojournalists, about 500 were printed and presented to the cafe guests.

A number of the disaster victims living in the temporary housing units had lost all of their photo albums and photographs from the ensuing tsunami. Comments from those who received photographs taken during the project included: "I am so happy to receive a photo taken by a photojournalist that has been printed out so beautifully right here." One guest said, "Looking at this photo fills me with great cheer," while another said, "The building of new memories begins here."

The two-day October event marked the second time the project was held, following the inaugural Michi no Cafe held on July 23 and 24 in Rikuzen-takata City.

Michi no Cafe project activities can be viewed on the following website:
http://www.michinocafe.com   (Japanese)

Taking into consideration the circumstances of disaster-affected areas, plans call for Michi no Cafe project activities to continue in the future.