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Article updated: 9/4/2012 8:51 PM

Japanese young people volunteer in the suburbs

Teens do service projects in suburbs during 2-week visit

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From left to right, Pastor Kyouko Yonaha talks with Haruka Hikithi, 13; Ai Higuchi, 15; Yoshiyuki Aoto, 18; and Mitsuho Fukuzawa, 16 at the New Song Church in Bolingbrook.

photos by Daniel White | Staff Photographer

Teens from Japan enjoy a day at Great America in Gurnee. From left: Yuri Nakazawa, Ai Higuchi, Pastor Kyouko Yonaha, Mitsuho Fukuzawa.

Courtesy OF Daehong Kim

Japanese visitors enjoy Great America. From left: Yoshiki Fukaya, Shoichi Yoshimura, Kengo Asai, Yoshiyuki Aoto.

Courtesy OF Daehong Kim

Young people from Japan and their U.S. hosts enjoy a day at Great America in Gurnee.

Courtesy OF THE Rev. Dan Capps

Kizuna means "bond."

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

Japanese students from an area of Japan hard hit by the 2011 tsunami enjoy a visit to New Song Church in Bolingbrook. From left: Yoshiyuki Aoto, 18; Haruka Hikithi, 13; Ai Higuchi, 15; and Mitsuho Fukuzawa, 16.

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

Yoshiyuki Aoto, 18, talks about what the 2011 tsunami did to the area of Japan where he lives.

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

Pastor Kyouko Yonaha translates for young people who live in a region of Japan hard hit by the 2011 tsunami. They recently visited with families at the New Song Church in Bolingbrook.

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

At the New Song Church in Bolingbrook, Pastor Daehong Kim explains that Japan is still recovering from the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident.

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

About this Article

Help from around the world poured into Japan after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident wrecked havoc. And recently 22 young people from the island nation returned the favor during a two-week trip to the suburbs where they pulled weeds, washed windows, packed food and cooked meals. "Our theme is it's more blessed to give than receive," said Daehong Kim, a pastor with Grace Mission in Osaka. "We need help and we need to help."

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