Ashinaga Foundation to Transfer 'Rikuzentakata Rainbow House,' a Hub for Grief Care for Orphans of the Great East Japan Earthquake, to the City

The Ashinaga Foundation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Osamu Murata; hereinafter "the Foundation"), which supports orphans and children with disabled parents, has decided to transfer the "Rikuzentakata Rainbow House," one of its hubs for grief care for children orphaned by the Great East Japan Earthquake, to Rikuzentakata City free of charge.

The transfer will take effect on March 31, 2026, and a transfer ceremony is scheduled for late April.

Rikuzentakata Rainbow House

Activities of the Rikuzentakata Rainbow House to Date

The Foundation began local activities immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake, identifying 2,083 orphans of the disaster. Grief care services began in May 2011. In 2014, Rainbow Houses (hereinafter "RH") were opened in three locations: Sendai, Ishinomaki, and Rikuzentakata, where the Foundation has been engaged in continuous support.

In Rikuzentakata City, a construction preparation office was established in August 2011. The Rikuzentakata RH was completed in June 2014 and has continued its activities to this day. The total number of visitors to the facility has reached 1,484 (including those participating in programs hosted outside the facility).

"3.11 Open House Day" at Rikuzentakata RH (March 11, 2026)

Most recently, on March 11, 2026, a "3.11 Open House Day" was held, with 14 families of disaster orphans visiting. The orphans who visited remarked, "This is my second home" and "It was a place where I could be my true self," while parents commented, "It was the most important place for the children."

Background of the Transfer

The construction of the Sendai, Ishinomaki, and Rikuzentakata RHs was decided in March 2011. Approximately 4.98 billion yen in donations were received from Japan and abroad for the construction fund.

From the initial planning stage, the Foundation planned and announced that it would "hand over the facilities to the local community within 10 years, taking into account the growth of the disaster orphans." In other words, returning the facilities to the local community was a promise made to those who kindly contributed to the construction fund.

Although it took longer than initially anticipated, the transfer was decided because negotiations with Rikuzentakata City were concluded and the majority of the disaster orphans have now reached adulthood. The transfer agreement was signed on March 17, 2026.

Future Support for Great East Japan Earthquake Orphans

Children who were in the womb at the time of the earthquake are currently only in their second year of junior high school. Furthermore, orphans who have already reached adulthood continue to express a need for a "place to belong."

The Sendai RH will continue to operate as a hub for supporting disaster orphans (in addition to providing care for children who have lost parents due to causes other than the earthquake).

The Ishinomaki RH is also moving toward returning the facility to the local community, similar to the Rikuzentakata location.

In Rikuzentakata, although the physical hub will be gone, the Foundation will maintain its relationships with the orphan families and continue to provide opportunities for interaction.

Utilization of the Facility After Transfer

The land and buildings will be transferred in their current state. In conjunction with the transfer, a memorandum of understanding was signed with the city to maintain items such as the donor plaque for the construction fund and the "Ashinaga Height Board" (which records the children's height growth during their visits).

It is expected that through the city's future utilization, the facility will become a more deeply rooted support for children and local residents.

Ashinaga Height Board

Recording height and date on the board (March 11, 2026)

A visitor looking for their name from the past and reminiscing about their time at the RH (March 11, 2026)

Donor plaque

About the Transfer Ceremony (Planned)

The transfer ceremony to Rikuzentakata City will be held in late April. The date and time are currently being adjusted and will be announced in a press release as soon as they are decided.

Rikuzentakata Mayor Taku Sasaki, Foundation President Osamu Murata, and families of disaster orphans who frequented the Rikuzentakata RH are scheduled to attend.

We cordially invite you to cover the transfer ceremony.

About Rikuzentakata RH

Name: Ashinaga Foundation, Rikuzentakata Rainbow House

Location: 112-7 Narishi, Takata-cho, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture

Structure: Steel construction / 2 stories above ground

Site Area: 2,228.50㎡

Total Floor Area: 1,201.60㎡

Completion Date: June 29, 2014

Entrance Hall

"Multi-purpose Hall" where children can exercise

"Volcano Room" where children can express high energy without hurting themselves or others

"Chatting Room" for grief care programs

Dining Room

"Play Room" where children can play with toys