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Moon Author Reflects on the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
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By Ruthy Kanagy
Two weeks have passed since the devastating 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in northeast Honshu, the main island of Japan. As I follow the news here in Oregon on Japanese TV, it's been heart-wrenching to see the faces of thousands who lost their families and homes—including those who've had to abandon their homes near the nuclear power plant in Fukushima.
Thankfully, my brother who lives in Tokyo is safe—he emailed our family right after the earthquake. Some of my friends in Tokyo said they had to walk 18 kilometers home the day of the earthquake because train service was disrupted. While the nuclear power plant crisis continues, hundreds of aftershocks rattle the region daily. Today there was a 6.0 'aftershock' and another tsunami warning, which was later withdrawn.
What is hard to grasp from our side of the Pacific is the vastness of the devastation: 400 miles of coastline hit by the earthquake and tsunami—about the distance from San Francisco to L.A. The Tohoku, or 'northeast' region north of Tokyo is largely rural with fishing and farming villages along a narrow strip of land backed by mountains.
Almost 1 out of 3 residents are over age 65, because young people head for the cities as soon as they finish school, for jobs and further education.
Currently more than 200,000 people are displaced in 2200 evacuation centers—many of which are local elementary and junior high schools.
Schools in Japan are typically 3 to 4-story ferro-concrete structures and are usually the tallest buildings in rural areas, and are designated places to flee to in case of a disaster.
Because of the total destruction of bridges, roads, power, water and gas lines, many centers still lack electricity, running water, adequate food, heat and gasoline. For people accustomed to nightly hot baths, the lack of clean clothes and bathing facilities are also hard to endure. Many of the elderly need medical attention, but don't have access to doctors.
On the bright side, displaced people and volunteers are organizing to distribute food, blankets and other necessities as relief arrives. As I learned from going to school in Japan, children from kindergarten on up are taught to work together in teams and look out for the welfare of others. Gaman - ability to endure or delay gratification, Gambaru - doing your best, not giving up, and Kyooryoku - cooperating with others, are values reinforced in school and society.
March is the end of the school year and graduation season in Japan. Since many schools in the affected region are filled with displaced people, graduation ceremonies have been canceled or delayed. But some schools held ceremonies with the evacuees joining the teachers in sending off the graduates.
April 1 represents new beginnings in Japan—the new school year, as well as the new fiscal year for government and business. It is also when the much-anticipated sakura or cherry blossoms open, beautiful and fleeting. It will take months and years of work to rebuild lost homes and lives, but I pray that spring will bring hope to many people.
If you'd like to donate, Japan America Society of Southern California is accepting donations for the 2011 Japan Relief Fund. You can visit their website here. You can also make a donation to the Red Cross.
Ruthy Kanagy is the author of Moon Living Abroad in Japan. Born in Tokyo and raised in Hokkaido, Kanagy is an expert on Japanese culture and currently works as a travel systems consultant, leading cycling tours of Japan. She calls Eugene, Oregon home.
Photo of a Sakura in Tokyo © Ruthy Kanagy
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.
Fabers
Posted by efaber on March 31, 2011 at 4:03 pm
I read Julie's comments and wanted to connect. My wife and I knew the Kanagy family when we lived on Hokkaido. It is possible that you were in school with our daughter Linda.
Japan
Posted by jshozen on March 31, 2011 at 2:03 pm
I very much appreciate your author, Ruthy Kanagy's comments about the recent disaster in Japan. I too grew up as an American in Japan and feel very sad about about the loss and hardship for the Japanese of this region. I do believe the strong community and cooperative spirit of the people will mitigate their loss and speed their recovery. Many of my American freinds are so suprised about the lack of looting and crime but I am so saddened as an American that Americans have come to expect people taking advantage of disaster situations with crime and looting as being the norm. My hope is that someday we as Americans would expect a cooperative community spirit of ourselves in time of disaster too.
Hopeful
Posted by lmartone on March 31, 2011 at 8:03 pm
I, too, am grateful for Ruthy's post - and her perspective as an American still connected to the Japanese culture. I hope that those affected by the terrible events in Japan are able to rebuild their homes, communities, and lives in less time than predicted. And I agree, jshozen, that the Japanese people's cooperative spirit is something that we, as Americans, should try to emulate. As a native New Orleanian, I was especially horrified by the crime and looting that took place in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which only made a terrible tragedy even harder to bear.