Naha Nishi High School swim team gives back with blood donation during temporary school closure

Naha Nishi High School swim team gives back with blood donation during temporary school closure

Members of the Naha Nishi High School swim team donate blood for the first time at the Kumoji blood donation room in Kumoji, Naha City, on Aug 21. (Photo credit: Nirai Tamaki)


September 4, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 21, second-year students of the Okinawa Prefectural Naha Nishi High School swim team donated blood at the Kumoji blood donation room in Kumoji, Naha City. While the novel coronavirus pandemic has kept her school from re-opening, Nirai Tamaki, 17, student manager of the swim team, convinced her team to “give back to the community since we can’t swim.”

Thanks to Tamaki’s initiative, a total of 9 students donated blood—Tamaki, seven swimmers, and Tamaki’s twin sister Kanai, who attends Naha High School. The athletes enjoyed a sense of accomplishment after donating blood—one commented, “Our blood may help someone in need.”

Tamaki became interested in donating blood after her mother, Sakie, 44, who is a nurse, talked to her about the shortage of blood during the ongoing pandemic. Tamaki then visited a blood donation center by herself in April but was too frightened to follow through with it.

Nirai Tamaki (front row, 2nd from left) and members of the Naha Nishi High School swim team pose for the camera after donating blood.


Tamaki decided she would fare better in the company of friends and invited her teammates at gatherings and through LINE (a mobile messaging app) messages.

While Naha Nishi High School is temporarily closed and the swim team has not resumed practice, the coach buoyed up the swimmers and gave them the extra push: “After-school activities are available during times of peace. We should reflect on what we can do to help during a pandemic.”

On August 21, Tamaki was the first to volunteer her arm. “I was scared, but I figured everyone else must be terrified, so I went first. It didn’t hurt at all. I’m looking forward to doing it again.”

(English translation by T&CT and Monica Shingaki)

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