Tokyo city staff make T-shirts to raise funds for Kumamoto quake relief
In short
Volunteers among employees of Musashimurayama City, western Tokyo, have created original T-shirts to wear on duty and sell to colleagues, with the proceeds going to areas hit by the July Kumamoto earthquake. By September 11 they had sold 375 shirts to 179 people, including city assembly members, for nearly 1 million yen, leaving about 530,000 yen for donation after production costs. The shirts were first proposed as a way to cope with the heat, since plain T-shirts had been banned as too casual for city offices.
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Volunteers among the employees of Musashimurayama City in western Tokyo have created original T-shirts to wear on duty, selling them to colleagues and sending the proceeds to areas hit by the July Kumamoto earthquake, according to Nikkei, Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun. The shirts were designed by the employees themselves and produced by a contractor. There are nine designs, carrying the city name in Roman letters and the city mascot “M Jiro”, in colours including white, black, navy and purple, at 2,500 yen each. By September 11, 375 shirts had been sold to 179 people, including city assembly members, for sales of nearly 1 million yen; about 530,000 yen after production costs is to be donated to the affected areas. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Nikkei reports that the idea grew out of staff heat measures. Light summer clothing has become more common, but Musashimurayama City had banned T-shirts as looking too casual. A proposal emerged to make T-shirts that would both cope with the heat and be relatively cheap to produce, with the sales proceeds going to disaster relief. The city authorities were approached and exceptionally allowed the shirts to be worn at service counters, and the city also decided they could be used as uniforms at events. [ 3 ]
The city's public relations and promotion division said that wearing a shirt that leads to support also expresses “a feeling of standing close to the victims”, and that it hopes residents will buy one and help. Nikkei reports that the city will consider putting the project in the budget and selling the shirts to citizens as well. The documents do not say when the donation will be sent or to whom. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The case is presented as an unusual form of disaster support, in which workers making and wearing the same shirt also signal solidarity with victims, according to Nikkei and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun. Nikkei reports that the city may budget for the project and consider selling the shirts to residents, which would widen the fundraising beyond city staff. The documents do not indicate how large the eventual donation will be.
Key facts
- Volunteers among Musashimurayama City employees in Tokyo made original T-shirts to wear on duty and sell to colleagues, donating the proceeds to areas hit by the July Kumamoto earthquake. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The shirts were designed by the employees themselves and produced by a contractor. [ 2 , 3 ]
- There are nine designs featuring the city name in Roman letters and the city mascot “M Jiro”, in colours including white, black, navy and purple, priced at 2,500 yen each. [ 2 , 3 ]
- By September 11, 375 shirts had been sold to 179 people, including city assembly members, for sales of nearly 1 million yen. [ 2 , 3 ]
- About 530,000 yen, after deducting production costs, will be donated to the affected areas. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The idea came from staff heat measures: T-shirts had been banned in city offices as looking too casual, and the city exceptionally allowed them to be worn at service counters. [ 3 ]
- The city's public relations and promotion division said the shirts can express a feeling of standing with victims, and that it hopes residents will buy them too. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Musashimurayama City employees made original T-shirts to wear on duty and sell, with proceeds going to relief for the July Kumamoto earthquake. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The shirts, designed by staff and made by a contractor, come in nine designs at 2,500 yen each and feature the city name in Roman letters and the mascot “M Jiro”. [ 2 , 3 ]
- By September 11, 375 shirts had been sold to 179 people, including city assembly members, for nearly 1 million yen in sales, with about 530,000 yen after costs to be donated. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- When the donation will be sent and to which body. The documents say the money will be sent to the affected areas but give no date or recipient.
- Whether the shirts will be sold to the general public. Only Nikkei mentions this, and only as something the city will consider, including budgeting for it.
- Whether the number of shirts sold has risen since September 11. The sales figure is reported as of September 11, and the documents do not give a later total.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Tokyo Shimbun publishes a report that Musashimurayama City employees have created T-shirts whose sales will support Kumamoto. [ 1 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun publishes details of the shirt designs, price and the 375 shirts sold by September 11. [ 2 ]
- Nikkei publishes a report adding the heat-measures background, the city comment and the possibility of selling shirts to residents. [ 3 ]