SOMA, Fukushima Prefecture--Although a little nervous, Ikuko Kohata let a cosmetic professional put some makeup on her and get her ready for her special portrait.
SOMA, Fukushima Prefecture--Although a little nervous, Ikuko Kohata let a cosmetic professional put some makeup on her and get her ready for her special portrait.
"I am wondering if I look 10 years younger than I really am," the 81-year-old woman joked.
It's a portrait that will help replace ones that were lost in the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.
A group of professional and amateur photographers kicked off the volunteer project in Soma on Nov. 5 to present photo albums and DVDs to survivors such as Kohata.
Many residents here were left with few photos of themselves or their families as the powerful tsunami destroyed their homes and swept their belongings away.
The All-Japan Association of Photographic Societies, based in Tokyo, organized the project for those who have been forced to live in temporary housing after the disaster.
The association, with about 16,000 members across Japan, will present survivors a photo album containing a portrait taken by a member photographer and a DVD.
The project is aimed at helping people who have lost virtually everything make a fresh start.
Photographers plan to hold 14 photo shoots by January, visiting survivors who are living in temporary homes at eight locations in Soma.
On Nov. 5, Takeyoshi Tanuma, who heads the association, and Etsuko Enami, a professional member photographer, took pictures of seven groups living in housing in the Yunuki district who signed up for the photo shoot.
Among them were an extended family with a great-grandchild and Kohata.
Before the sessions, a professional at a cosmetic company, who is helping with the project, put makeup on the subjects.
"I got a little nervous," Kohata said. "I want to hang the photo in my temporary home and show it to my daughter and my grandchildren in Fukushima city when they visit me."