UTO's Contributions to Society Support for Victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake As a Corporate Citizen, Providing Long-Term Support

UTO's Contributions to Society
Support for Victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake
As a Corporate Citizen, Providing Long-Term Support

UTO relocated its factory from Yamanashi to Iwate in October 2011. At the time, the Tohoku region was in a state of confusion six months after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and nearly 600 people from the coastal areas had evacuated to Kitakami City, which was relatively undamaged, and were forced to live in severe conditions.

As newcomers to the area, we all wondered if there was anything we could do as corporate citizens. Since it was difficult for us to go to the area as volunteers, we decided that we would like to help by making donations, even if they were small amounts. We decided to donate a part of the cashmere sales from our main business every year so that the donation could continue for as long as possible.

At first, we donated 100 yen for every cashmere hand warmer, scarf, or other small item sold, but when UTO cashmere became a tax return item for Kitakami City, we decided to donate 100 yen for every donation we received.

We thought that by making a donation for every Furusato tax donation, the support would not be limited to one year, but would be sustainable and would not taper off, and that as long as Furusato tax payments continued, we would be able to support them, and if we worked hard, the amount of donations would increase every year.

We first started donating through Kitakami City in the hope that the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake who were evacuated to Kitakami would be able to pay for kerosene to help them survive the cold winter in Tohoku.

We started donating the year after the earthquake, and in 2024 we will be making our 13th donation, with the total amount exceeding 4 million yen.

Cashmere Angel Bookmark Contributes to Donations

In order to increase the amount of support for disaster victims, we thought of something unique to a cashmere knitwear company and created the world's softest "Cashmere Angel Bookmark".

The "Cashmere Angel Bookmark" is handmade by our employees one by one, using the world's best raw materials from which we make our products, and considering the combination of the color of the body and the color of the fringe, we decided to sell it for 300 yen, although it costs about 500 yen per piece. Of course, 100 yen is donated to support the victims of the disaster. Also Cashmere Angel Bookmarks are sold at museum stores, bookstores, and online. Of course, we donate the amount of each bookmark sold to the victims.

Sometimes one person purchases dozens of bookmarks. When we asked them what they were using the bookmarks for, they replied, "I agree with the purpose of the bookmarks, and I will give them to each of my students as a graduation gift.

At Sakaide Elementary School in Kagawa Prefecture, students donated 5,000 yen by selling 50 sheets at a school event. High school students in Mie also sent us donations by selling cashmere angel bookmarks at a school festival.

To the circle of support that has spread overseas

There is a bookstore called Keibunsha in Ichijoji, Kyoto. This bookstore has been selling these cashmere angel bookmarks and receiving additional orders every month, and has been very supportive.

In 2010, The Guardian magazine in the U.K. selected Keibunsha as one of the 10 best bookshops in the world in their list titled "The World`s 10 best bookshops.

Mr. Bruno, a buyer for Yvon Lambert, a leading gallerist in the Paris art scene, came to Japan on a trip and bought a UTO Cashmere Angel bookmark at Keibunsha Ichijyoji store. She sent us an e-mail saying that she would like to sell the bookmark in her shop in Paris.

Yvon Lambert, a bookstore in the Marais district of Paris, famous for being the center of tourism, art, and fashion in Paris, began selling the book in January 2012. The book has been selling well and we have received additional e-mails.

It has been 13 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Unexpectedly, donations of support from overseas have also spread across the sea.

We have received letters of gratitude directly from disaster victims saying, "We are very grateful for the support because it snows a lot in Kitakami and it is very cold. We are honored to be of service.

Unfortunately, as time goes by, memories of the tragic Great East Japan Earthquake are gradually fading and donations are decreasing. As a manufacturer in the Tohoku region of Iwate, I would like to continue to provide support as long as the company continues to operate, even if it is in a very small way.