Meet the “Pink Ladies” of Oshika, Japan

By Tom Feissner

Each day, hundreds of women living along Japan’s Oshika Peninsula can be seen going to work in bright pink kappa emblazoned with heart-shaped Union Jacks. Kappas are a type of heavy-duty overall that have been used by Japanese fishermen for generations to protect themselves from the harsh environment of the sea. Without kappa, the men and women of Oshika’s many fishing villages would be unable to earn a living. The story of how the kappa of Oshika got their distinctive profile is the story of one woman’s compassion and determination to make a difference in the lives of people in distress.

The story begins on March 11, 2011, when a magnitude nine earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, the main island of Japan, causing a terrifying tsunami that devastated much of the country’s Tohoku region and resulted in the disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Those affected by the catastrophe lost their homes, their loved ones, and their livelihoods. The Oshika Peninsula, home to many small fishing communities of Miyagi Prefecture, was the closest part of Honshu to the epicenter of the earthquake. Four years later, the hardest-hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima continue their struggle to recover despite the government’s intensive reconstruction efforts.

In order to help the residents of this region reclaim their livelihoods and rebuild what was once a thriving part of the Japanese fishing industry, British author, lecturer, and entrepreneur Caroline Pover founded the Pink Ladies of Oshika Project. Having lived in Japan for many years, Caroline was especially touched by the plight of the women of Oshika and their families. She reasoned that disaster relief does not need to be costly to be effective, and so she came up with the idea of providing kappa to the women of Oshika as a way for individuals to reach out and provide assistance directly to those afflicted by the tsunami. According to Caroline, “This cheerful work wear gives something extremely practical to the people in the area, directly supporting their working lives.” The pink color of the kappa, she explains, “make(s) people smile, whether you are the person wearing one, or someone catching a glimpse of a Pink Lady hard at work.” The Pink Lady Project has been so successful that HRH Prince William made a special effort to meet the Pink Ladies and recognize Caroline for her efforts on his recent trip to Japan.

Just like Caroline Pover, we at Planet Depos believe there’s always a better way to get the job done, and we’re constantly striving to find new ways to make the litigation process more productive while minimizing costs. We provide the most comprehensive suite of litigation support services available, including realtime court reporting, live streaming video, and electronic document management to attorneys throughout the United States and around the world.

We further believe that no firm can truly be considered a leader in the service industry unless it is committed to serving the needs of its community as well as the needs of its clients. With court reporting and video teams located in Taipei, Seoul, Osaka, and Tokyo, Planet Depos – American Realtime considers itself an integral part of the Asian community. As such, we are proud to be the latest in the long list of sponsors who have provided kappa to women of Oshika, Japan.

To learn more about the Pink Ladies of Oshika Project, or to become a sponsor, click here:

http://www.carolinepover.info/2015/02/the-pink-ladies-of-oshika/