On Wednesday, March 20 (a public holiday), and Thursday, March 21, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. (President: Kengo Sakurada; hereinafter, “Sompo Japan”) hosted theater shows with the NPO Aichi Puppetry Center in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture. The events drew an audience of approximately 80 people, mainly children with their parents and guardians.
The show performed was “Big Mouse and Little Mouse.” During the events, handmade gifts and message cards from employee volunteers all over Japan were also distributed to audiences.
Dates: Wednesday, March 20 (public holiday) and Thursday, March 21, 2013
Venues:
- Osanai Hall (Unosumai-cho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)
- Kasshi Childcare Support Center (Kasshi-cho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)
- Kamaishi First Kindergarten (Tenjin-cho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)
Background
Sompo Japan owns Himawari Hall, a theater devoted exclusively to puppet shows in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. The company has been conducting community outreach activities jointly with the Aichi Puppetry Center, the organization that operates this theater.
In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Sompo Japan and the Aichi Puppetry Center formed the “Sompo Japan’s Smiles Delivering Troupe!” which performed puppet shows in March and August 2012 in Kamaishi City for those living in temporary housing complexes.
In March of this year as well, shows were performed in Kamaishi City in partnership with the Aichi Puppetry Center and the Soranoyume Theater Company,* which is based out of Himawari Hall. These shows were put on in the hope that puppet and stage shows would bring together members of the Kamaishi City community and fill the venue with children’s laughter.
Description of Activities
The shows were attended by approximately 80 people, mainly children with their parents and guardians. The children became absorbed in the show, which has no dialogue, clapping their hands in tandem with the movements, shouting in surprise, and laughing.
Afterward, parents and guardians who went to the show gave comments like, “I was so happy to see children laughing with joy. I could also relax and enjoy the show with a smile on my face.”
In addition, handmade gifts (felt balls that children can play with even indoors) and message cards made by Sompo Japan employees from all over the country were distributed at each show. Employees of Nipponkoa Insurance Co., Ltd., a member company of the NKSJ Group, also participated in the event as volunteers.
*About the Soranoyume Theater Company
Based in Nagoya, the Soranoyume Theater Company was founded with the ideal of depicting mutually shared dreams and beliefs, all in the hope of realizing a peaceful society where children can grow up with healthy minds and bodies. The company is currently touring across Japan and staging five original productions.
About Sompo Japan and Nipponkoa
Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. and Nipponkoa Insurance CO., Ltd., leading providers of Property & Casualty insurance in Japan, together established NKSJ Holdings, a joint holding company as a comprehensive service provider group for the risk and asset management in 2010, and are now preparing for a merger as “Sompo Japan Nipponkoa” by 2014.
As a leader in CSR, NKSJ Group has proactively committed to build a sustainable society over many years, focusing on its own CSR material issues such as climate change and sustainable finance. The Group is regularly recognized for its efforts for the sustainability and listed on “SAM Bronze Class”,“Prime Status” by Oekom Research, and “World’s Most Ethical Companies” in 2012.
Corporate Social Responsibility Department
Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. and Nipponkoa Insurance CO., Ltd.
Tel: +81-3-3349-9597
Fax: +81-3-3349-3304
E-mail: CSR@nksj-hd.co.jp
www.sompo-japan.co.jp/english/
http://www.nipponkoa.co.jp/english/
http://www.nksj-hd.com/en/
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