［06］Passed 5 years

<http://trife.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2011/05/post-27a1.html>

     On this day 5 years ago, a terrified earthquake occurred at Pacific Ocean which is located close to Japan. It was the biggest earthquake in east of area of Japan waters at the moment according to a survey of earthquake observatory. The scale was magnitude 9.0 (M9.0).  The biggest one in the world is that happened at Chili －M9.6－. Perhaps, you could imagine how it was…  It made a lot of buildings in Miyagi and Fukushima and Ibaraki and Tochigi prefecture collapsed. And then lifeline was also isolated, especially in Miyagi.

However, it was not finished just the earthquake. After the earthquake, Tsunami occurred, too. When I watched a video of tsunami, I was a speechless. A lot of emotions are in my heart. The wave became over 10 meters, and attacked people, cars, houses, city. Dead and missing people are 18,455 at this moment. In addition, there is radiation problem as a secondary disaster. Three of nuclear power plant were melted down and broken. Afterward a lot of radioactive materials are in air. These natural and human-made disasters are not past thing, are continuation now.

     I was a high-school student at that time. I had no idea what I should do. I lacked knowledge how to help them and work for social place. I felt empty for me. And then I went to there to do volunteer in summer of the year. When I got off train and looked around Sendai City, I thought “Wow, city is almost recoveried. ”. but it was not true, Sendai city is a capital town Miyagi prefecture (urban part?), so government fixed it at first to recovery functions as city. Afterward I went to Ishinomaki-city and Onagawa-cho. Those were one of the most suffered town. There was nothing. We could see just rubble.  Even if someone had told us there was a city until a few months ago, we could not believe it. As a ship and fish on ground and many houses without ground floor because of the tsunami, there was a bizarre view.   During my stay, one of missing people was found out at near a river, when I heard it, I’m sorry but, I felt throwing up.  I did not realize that I came to where.  Unfortunately, when I went there was O-bon. (O-bon is a unique vacation season in Japan.  Because of welcoming of spirits of our ancestors, this is a very important family gathering season.  Many Japanese companies also shut down at this time.)  That is why my activity was mainly hanging out with children who did not have school. Since they and their family lost each own house, they had been living at school together.  Honestly, I had not laughed since I came there, but when I looked at their smile, I was certain this city was going to be okay for everything.  Their behaviors made me think so.  I could not help them a lot after all. However I got and gave them many things. After I will come back Japan, I'm going to visit them again.   

     The reason why I’m writing this blog is not for asking for praying for Japan to you. ( I might not have a right to say this sentence because I am not a direct victim.)   I would like to remind you of it and say thank you to other country’s people.  I know that some volunteer group which is not Japanese one are helping victims by a lot of way despite of some of Japanese do not care about it. Occasionally, I check their activity on some website. It is so pity not to introduce them here because I do not get permission. Anyway, thanks for reading until end, I wish all victims’ and your happiness.