Hyper Japan 2011 will include Yet I Still Dare to Hope, a charity photo exhibition exploring hope and rebuilding in the wake of the Japan earthquake.
Alongside the sushi, cool gizmos and crazy cosplay outfits, visitors to this year’s Hyper Japan event will be able to see and respond to the stories of ordinary Japanese families from the tsunami-affected town of Shichigahama, through an intimate collection of photographs taken by local resident Christina Aiton.
Yet I Still Dare to Hope explores how 14 families in the northeastern Japanese town of Shichigahama, one of the areas hit hardest by the March 11 tsunami, are rebuilding their lives after the destruction.
Visitors will be able to leave messages of support that will be shared directly with the townspeople, encouraging those that have been directly affected and letting them know that they are not alone in the face of such a difficult time. There will also be able opportunity to donate and purchase charity goods for the benefit of residents of Shichigahama and Miyagi Prefecture.
Yet I Still Dare To Hope uses still photography accompanied by narratives from each survivor and features items from the disaster-hit area in order to convey the terrifying truth of humankind's fragile existence, while exploring the subject of hope as the community begins the process of rebuilding their lives from the tragedy.
The exhibition has been organised by disaster relief organisations Tohoku Earthquake Relief Project London and Seven Beach Aid.
“This exhibition offers a unique insight into the lives of 14 normal people from a small Japanese town, offering a chance for people living in the UK to get to know these people who were living a modest life until their lives were turned upside down. This exhibit is not about sorrow, but about hope. It’s about rebuilding. It’s about the future.” Angus Miyaji – Seven Beach Aid.
For more information about Hyper Japan, please see our events page.
