United Planet Japan, a Boston based non-profit organization with offices in Nagoya and Sendai, has received a grant from the Center for Global Partnership at the Japan Foundation to set up an ongoing volunteer program between Japan and the United States. United Planet recently opened volunteer programs in the devastated Tohoku region (supporting survivors of the tsunami) as well as in Nagoya (in social projects).
Professors and students are needed to volunteer in Japan both as individuals and in groups for periods ranging from 1 to 12 weeks. Volunteers work directly with survivors and immerse in Japanese culture through homestays with families in Tohoku. There is a cost to participate, but fees are covered for professors who organize groups of 10 or more to volunteer in Japan.

United Planet Japan is located at 11 Arlington Street, Boston, and its phone number is 617-267-7763.
Complete information on this program is available online, at http://www.unitedplanet.org/volunteer-in-japan-short-term .
United Planet’s Japan Country Manager, Chie Goto, a nonprofit organizer and journalist who has covered the Tohoku crisis and reported on it extensively (see her blog at http://gotochie.wordpress.com) is visiting the United States until October 20 and would be happy to talk by phone (in Japanese or English) to any professor who is interested in learning more about this program. Japan Society Flyer