A charity campaign is underway in Tokyo to sell handicrafts from Nepal to help people affected by the catastrophic flash floods that hit the Nepal-China border region.
At a Tibetan restaurant in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward, items including colorful coasters made of felt and key holders are being sold. They were made by women at a workshop in Nepal.
The campaign, which started on Thursday, was organized by Ebihara Shiho, an associate professor at Gakushuin University who studies the languages and cultures of Tibet and the Himalayan region.
Ebihara has often visited the Rasuwa district in central Nepal for research. She says some of the people she met there have lost their homes and have family members who are unaccounted for.
Visitors looked closely at the handicrafts. They also viewed photos taken before the disaster.
The money raised from the sales will be sent to the disaster-hit areas.
Ebihara said she wanted to do something after seeing friends who were devastated by what has happened and started the campaign to assist them in a small but personal way.
She also said she thinks long-term support is necessary and hopes the handicrafts will increase awareness about the lives of the affected people.