Oppai Jyuku (Breastfeeding support workshop) in Kisennuma was used to be held by a local Pharmacist 20 years ago. She was also active at holding workshops and activities in order to support mothers who are breastfeeding. However, no one continued that type of activity since the death of the pharmacist.

I am from Kisennnuma and heard that there is no one who is actively supporting breastfeeding here hence I decided to re-open Oppai Jyuku together with a person who used to support the workshop of the pharmacist.

Our workshops started November 2010 and it was slowly getting to be known by the local people, but then that disaster happened. Hence we were all affected by the disaster that we could no longer volunteer to run the workshop for a while but we have managed to start again in August 2011.

From this year, the number of colleague to run the workshop together has increased. In May we gave some hand massages to the mothers (mothers are always hardworking!) in a hope that they will be able to relax a little. In June we spent a lovely time together with the local mums doing some baby massages too.

Other than holding the workshops, we are part of Tohoku Suku Suku Network (Tohoku Parenting Network).

Midwife, Mihashi.