Photo Exhibition Commemorates Sixth Anniversary Of East Japan Earthquake And Tsunami  

In commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011, the Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, the Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago, the Japan America Society of Chicago, Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Chicago, and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Chicago Office present ? Kizuna 6: Resilience, a series of events to remember the victims of the earthquake and tsunami and to show continued support from the people of Chicago to those affected by the disaster. The word kizuna means "bond of friendship" in Japanese.

Kizuna 6 consists of events including a photo exhibition from March 7-17 at the Daley Center Lobby and a commemoration ceremony on Thursday, March 23 at the Japan Information Center. An ongoing project focused on healing from the earthquake and tsunami that claimed over 15,000 lives in the northern Tohoku region of Japan, the first five Kizuna projects consisted of photography exhibitions and related programming which toured multiple venues in Chicago from 2012-2016. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel serve as honorary of chairs of ? Kizuna 6: Resilience, and programming is led by Kaori Stearney and Kimiyo Naka, new Co-Chairs of the Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International.

Kizuna 6: Reliance Programs

Photo Exhibition

March 7-17, 2017

Open during building business hours

Richard J. Daley Center (50 W. Washington Street)

Free and open to the public

The Kizuna 6: Resilience Photo Exhibition was curated by Alan Labb, Associate Professor of the Photography Department and Associate Provost of Educational Technology and Innovation at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The selection was made from the Kizuna exhibition archive as well as current photos taken by the Tohoku-based photographer Kiyotaka Shishido.

Labb searched through past Kizuna photo archives and was awestruck by the excellent quality of photographs produced over the past six years. "Photography functions on many levels, and all the previous Kizuna exhibitions have done an exemplary job of both chronicling a timeline of events, and documenting the lives and places that were changed forever by the tragic earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in 2011," he said. "I also looked for images that best illustrate resilience, by being both indexical and allegorical. These photographs reveal the difficulties facing the community, while exemplifying the inner strength of the individuals depicted and the strength of the collective Japanese spirit that is capable of overcoming the worst of obstacles and participating once again in the fragility of life."

This year's exhibition also includes images of the Kumamoto prefecture in Japan which was struck by a large-scale earthquake in 2016. The Kizuna exhibitions have been contributed to by many photographers including Mr. Shishido and the leading Japanese business newspaper Nikkei's photo department archive, "Memory: Things We Should Never Forget."

The online edition of the Photo Exhibition is available from this year.

Commemoration Ceremony

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Doors Open 5:30 p.m., ceremony from 6:00-7 p.m., reception from 7:00-8 p.m.

Japan Information Center (737 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1000)

Free and open to the public, but advance RSVP required at kizuna6.rsvpify.com

The commemoration ceremony will remember the earthquake and tsunami through a speaking program. Guest speakers will include Takuma Sato, a Japanese-born, world-renowned professional race car driver, and officials from the Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago, the Illinois Governor's Office and the Chicago Mayor's Office. Sato competes in the IndyCar Series in North America, and founded a non-profit organization, With You Japan, in 2011 to help Japanese children who were affected by the disaster. He has expanded his charitable efforts to the other areas of Japan that have been affected by natural disasters. Edward Clemons, a Chicago resident who experienced the earthquake first-hand as an English teacher living in the Tohoku region, will be recognized. The event will also feature a portion of the Kizuna 6: Resilience photo exhibition, music performance, as well as food and beverages.