On April 15th, Smooch CEO Marcus Yeung was fortunate to be able to accompany the Colombian Ambassador to Japan on a trip to the disaster area to get a first hand understanding of the scale of the disaster and to see the volunteer activities of Peace Boat and other NGOs.

Photos of the trip can be found at the following link:

http://www.yogile.com/peaceboat

The following comes from Marcus Yeung’s journal dated 15th April, 2011:

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* A month after the tsunami, the “emergency” period is almost over now. Most of the main roads have been cleared, gas is available, electricity is available in patches, mobile phones are working, people are getting their food and water.
* The weather has turned warmer, although still chilly at night.
* The availability of gas has meant that people are beginning to move – back home if they have one, or away from the affected areas
* There are some baths available now, so everyone can at least have a bath occasionally
* Nobody is starving as there is a lot of rice. But there is little meat, fish or fresh vegetables. As the weather gets warmer, food goes off quicker and fridges and freezers are required.
* The overall atmospehere was quiet and determined, people were trying to get on with their daily lives without complaints or panic.
* The devastation is on an enormous scale and the damage is so widespread that only the emergency work has been done so far. Upturned cars still litter the streets and collapsed buildings and debris are everywhere and remain untouched.
* The SDF are focusing on clearing the main infrastructure (heavy lifting), searching for bodies, and serving hot maels
* The Red Cross are running hospitals and have raised a lot of money which they will give to victims eventually
* Volunteers are mainly doing the cleaning work which the local residents can’t do by themselves (mud clearing, removing debris from houses etc). Peace Boat estimates that it will take 100 volunteers 4000 days to clear it all!
* The volunteer groups are not affected by red tape and are often able to act quicker than official authorities e.g. moving smashed cars away from the road etc.
* Volunteers are also involved in distributing food and goods. The total meals served in Ishinomaki now is 20,000 meals a day. The SDF is providing 8,000 at the moment and volunteer groups the remaining 12,000. The meals required are expected to fall to around 12,000 a day after people have moved out or gone home. The SDF will continue to provide 8,000 and the volunteer groups will provide the rest. As time goes on the volunteer meals are expected to decrease and PB will step in to provide a safety valve, to make sure enough is provided. PB plans to make use of vacant restaurant spaces and hire local staff to provide long term volunteer support.
* A volunteer base requires significant logistical support and infrastructure. Most volunteers are staying at a university campus grounds, but this will no longer be available when the university starts again. Camping ground and facilities, mobile toilets and washing facilities, and equipment to do their work is required. Plus ingredients for the food.

_________________________________________________________________________

If you would like to support, please contact Peace Boat directly:

http://www.peaceboat.org/english/index.php?page=view&nr=19&type=22&menu=62

If you would like to help, you might consider one of the following charities offering direct assistance to those in need.

› Japanese Red Cross Society

› American Red Cross

› American Red Cross on Causes.com

› British Red Cross

› Save the Children

› AmeriCares

› Care

› MercyCorps

› World Vision Canada

› KIBOW project

› NOLA Japan Quake Fund

› Interaction

› UJA Federation of New York

› World Vision International

› Ekokoro.jp (Japanese)

› GlobalGiving

› Oxfam Japan

› Salvation Army

recycle with playful spirit

恵比寿です。

試作は発見の連続☆

「フルーツの冬の楽しみ方いろいろ！」、今年のSmoochの冬のテーマです。

じゃあ、ホットもフルーツで楽しんでみようかと恵比寿のキッチンで日々試作中です。

Miki店長と私が「これはおいしい！」と思っても、必ずしも男性陣の「むむむ！」を勝ち取れるということはなく、｢甘さ」について個人差に改めて気づきます。

ホットは温度が高い分、果実の甘さをしっかり感じますね。

。。。その中で全員が「これは美味しい」と賛成票を出したのがもうすぐスタートする

Hot Orange Pine Ginger！

いつもながら、「そのまま原材料～」みたいな名前ですね（＾＾；）。

でも、南アフリカから来たオレンジはすっきりした大人味の甘さで、ジンジャーとの相性抜群です。

勿論ガムシロップやお砂糖は入っていませんよ

フルーツをあっためる、今年の冬の試作は楽しくなりそうです。

あなたの感想をぜひお知らせください！

Our Chief Smooch, Marcus, was interviewed by Japan Today, the leading internet news site for foreigners in Japan. Read more:

http://www.japantoday.com/category/executive-impact/view/fancy-a-smooch

We came across a wonderful band on youtube and were thrilled to find out that one of their members is none other than our music producer Jordon!

Take a listen for yourself. It will make you go bananas!

Love is all around

恵比寿です。

みなさまのご協力をよろしくお願いいたします

Smile!

Smooch の音楽をお聴きになったお客様から時々頂く質問があります。

「選曲基準、どうなっているんですか？」

POPあり、

クラシックあり、

シャンソンあり、

ロックあり、

エスニックあり。。

いつもは、Smoochのテーマ〝Life is good”を感じさせる音楽をMarcusが選び、O社のJさんがまとめてくれています。

スピーカーシステムに問題があった時もJさんが助けてくれています。

そんな頼りになるJさんをyou tubeで思いがけず発見！

しかもJさんが歌う歌のタイトルは、ずばり

♪♪Banana♪♪

今までSmooch musicに入っていなかったのが不思議なくらい楽しい音楽です。

バナナと荒川線を愛する方はこちらをチェック！

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42SzsGm1rvs

So light and yummy!

Yasuko です。

冬メニューが始まりました。

サプライズは｢ワッフル！」

Smoochらしいワッフルというコンセプトでバナナ、ヨーグルト、米粉を使ったワッフルはもっちりなのにおなかに優しく収まる満足感がNICE!です。

スムージーは｢リキッドミール」と呼ばれるほど、ある意味完成度の高いドリンクで、これにあうスナックというのは見つけるのが難しいのですが、

このワッフルは食感も味もパートナーとして「あれれ」うれしくなるほどぴったりなのです。

初めて焼きあがったものを食べた時はスタッフみんな「あれれ？合う！スムージーに合う合う！」と小躍り状態。

フレーバーは、得意のバナナ、得意のラズベリー、そして季節のワッフル、今は柚子を作っています。

問題はホームメイドなので沢山焼けないことですね。。。

夕方までに完売してしまうのが、嬉しいような申し訳ないような。。

そのかわり、開店直後なら、焼き立ての外はカリカリ、中はモチモチの美味しいワッフルを召し上がって頂けますよ。

商品開発チーム、この秋のおすすめです