NVOAD in Japan

From February 18 to March 1, 2001 I had the privilege to represent NVOAD in Japan, speaking in Nagoya, Kobe, Tokyo and Sendai, meeting with students in Osaka and discussing disaster and non-profit issues with many government and non-profit officials.

It was a wonderful experience made more so by my hosts at our sister organization, Nippon Volunteer Network Active in Disaster (NVNAD), who had arranged the symposia and other meetings and obtained funding from the Japanese government. I owe particular thanks to my friends Dr. Tomohide Atsumi and NVNAD's president, Mr. Tanaka, as well as to Kenji Komizo whose help went far beyond interpreting

It is my hope that the chronicling of this trip on the following pages will lead to even stronger ties with our Japanese counterparts.

Rino Aldrighetti