News

On Saturday, January 9, 2010, the TOKYO FM "Holiday Special" Public Recording Event Kuraray "Mirabakesso" Presents "Sending School Bags Across the Sea" was held.
This was the kick-off event for the 2010 School Bags Across the Sea Campaign, a program for contributing to the international community through the donation of used school bags to the children of Afghanistan.

The day began with a talk show with photographer Takeshi Uchibori, who photographed actual conditions in Afghanistan over a period of several years, and Minoru Ishikawa, founder of the Rainbow Project, which donates writing supplies and other items to Afghanistan. Ai Kawashima, Hitomi Yoshizawa and Riko Narumi, who appeared in Kuraray's "Mirabakesso" TV commercial, appeared on the show each holding school bags. An appeal was made for donations of used school bags for distribution in Afghanistan. Ai Kawashima also gave a live musical performance.
At the end, it was announced that proceeds received by Kuraray from prizes produced in the "Kuraray-chan" alpaca motif and used in crane games such as "UFO Catcher" will be donated to purchase blackboards for schools in Afghanistan, and a presentation ceremony was held.
At the close of the event, visitors had commemorative photos taken with "Kuraray-chan," and the event site was bustling with visitors up until the very end.

The program was broadcast on Monday, January 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the TOKYO FM "Holiday Special."

Front row, from left to right: Ai Kawashima, Hitomi Yoshizawa and Riko Narumi

"Kuraray-chan" the alpaca and Riko Narumi

[Reference] The Sending School Bags Across the Sea Campaign

The manufacturer and marketer of CLARINO man-made leather that is used for school bags, Kuraray has a more than 70% share of the market for this material. Kuraray also plays a central role in the distribution of donated used school bags to children in Afghanistan and Mongolia.

* Shipping costs for school bags
From donor's home to collection center: Covered by donor
From Japan to foreign country: Covered by Kuraray

Begun in 2004, this campaign is now marking its seventh anniversary. Over 60,000 school bags have already been delivered to children in Afghanistan and other countries.

Kuaray will begin accepting donations of used school bags for 2010 via its website from Saturday, January 9.
Please visit the following website for details about how to donate and past activities of this campaign.

http://www.kuraray.co.jp/csr/randoseru/ (Japanese only)