Japan's 2011 Tohoku Earthquake & Tsunami

Im not good at dealing with emotions, especially misery. Walking by an elderly beggar, or catching a needy shoeshine boy always make me think a lot. I really want to help them in some other "ways" instead of offering them money thou' I would do it first before I can think of the other ways..

Well, when hearing the news of Japan's newest earthquake & tsunami, I was kinda shocked. Actually I'd always had the feeling that some kinda environment disasters were gonna happen soon. And there it was, much worse than I'd expected. At first I didn't have the courage to read very thoroughly through the news or watch the videos about the earthquake, I skipped or even avoided most of them since I didn't want to feel depressed and falling into the state of "thinking". Luckily, today the weather is much better & I got enough vitamin D (I was recently sitting at the balcony reading for 30' or so), my mood seems to become lighter & more cheerful. And now, Im blogging and reading all the news about Japan's recent tsunami.

I was first exposed to Japanese culture when I was 6 or 7 years old, through animes like Doraemon, Sailor Moon, or Conan. During my secondary school years, my best friend started to learn Japanese before moving to Tokyo, therefore I had the chance to pick up some simple characters. After she left, we kept exchanging snail mails to each other until the internet became popular in Vietnam. When I was in high-school, I made some paper cranes and sent them all to the World Peace Project for Children. A few months later, I received a letter from the chairman of the project, together with a picture of the biggest paper crane in the world. I was really happy to get the reply as I knew my cranes got to the right address. In the letter, she (the chairman) offered me to become pen-pal to some high-school pupils from a province of Japan. I can hardly remember the name of the province now. I was eager and willing to write them then. That's when I got my very first impression about Japanese. I always believe that they are extremely humble, calm and kind --- as I could tell from the graphology of all the letters I received from my pen friends. If I've got chance I would love to scan their letters to let you see how beautiful and steady their handwritings are. Thou' we didn't have much things to write to each other, we kept writing until I became busy with my university entrance exams study.

Some people may say that Japanese are so formal & xenophobic. When I studied Cross Cultural Awareness in college,  it was written that Western people always find it difficult to do business with Japanese. Of course, there are culture gaps out there, but I believe once you've got to understand their cultural logic and nature, you will start to love it. And I believe with all their personal & cultural trails, Japan will revive strongly & successfully. FYI, the Kobe earthquake took Japan about 18 months to recover 95% of the pre-earthquake condition. 

And now, see to believe how terrible the double disasters of Japan were:
(From National Geographic: 20 Unforgettable Pictures)

1. Leaving Home: rescue team members carry the body of a man through splintered remains of the village of Saito on Monday.

 2. Path Through Destruction: A survivor walks his bicycle through the remains of the devastated Japanese town of Otsuchi on March 14.

 3. Tsunami-Tossed Boat: A tsunami-tossed boat rests on top of a building amid a sea of debris in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on March 14.

4. Communication Barrier: A mother tries to talk to her daughter, who has been isolated due to signs of radiation at a makeshift facility in Nihonmatsu, Japan, on March 14. The daughter is among people evacuated from the vicinity of Fukushima's damaged nuclear plants.

 5. Wave of Destruction: A tsunami wave crashes over a street in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture, in northeastern Japan on March 11.

6. Tearful Reunion: Tsunami survivors embrace to celebrate being alive in the destroyed city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 11.

7. Miracle of Miramisoma: On March 13 rescue workers approach Hiromitsu Shinkawa, a 60-year-old man from Japan's Minamisoma City who washed out to sea during the recent tsunami and spent days clinging to a piece of roofing.

8. Sendai Sunrise: People search through debris at the Sendai airport on March 14, days after an earthquake-triggered tsunami left the Japanese city in ruins.

9. Cocooned Against the Cold: Swaddled in blankets, evacuated tsunami survivors try to keep warm in a Japanese Red Cross hospital on March 13.

10. Broken Road: A lone vehicle passes a train overpass mangled by the recent earthquake in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, on March 12.

11. Survivor List: A survivor of the recent Japan earthquake reads a list of other survivors in a shelter in Iwate Prefecture on March 13.

 12. Protective Powder: An emergency worker throws disinfectant powder on the ground around earthquake-damaged buildings in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, on March 14.

 13. Memories Amid the Rubble: Coated with mud, a photo album lies amid debris in the earthquake-ravaged town of Natori, Japan, on March 14.

 14. Muddy Wasteland: A rescue worker surveys the devastation on March 14 in the Japanese village of Saito, which was leveled by the earthquake-triggered tsunami.

 15. Survivor's Sorrow: A woman mourns the devastation of Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, in northern Japan on March 13.

 16. Power Plant Ablaze: Flames and smoke billow from a petroleum-refining plant damaged by the Japan earthquake in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 13.

 17. Wrecked Cars: A boy walks past vehicles damaged by the Japan earthquake and tsunami in Tagajo, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 13.

 18. Houses Destroyed: Rescue workers search for Japan earthquake victims amid shattered houses in Tamura, Iwate Prefecture, on March 14.

 19. Japan Earthquake Victim: The hand of a man killed by the Japan earthquake juts out of jumbled concrete sea barriers on March 14 in Toyoma, Japan.

 20. Search for Survivors: Japanese troops search for earthquake survivors in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on March 13.

Japan's Earthquake & Tsunami (HD available)


Okay. So what should we do, NOW?

1. Donating Money: Maybe this is the first thing you think of at this moment. It is correct that cash is the excellent way to help Japan now, however, as you donate to international BIG aid organizations, there is high probability that your cash will be earmarked and tight up in the organization. And as I read somewhere, Red Cross or any international non-profit organizations are not the best places to donate. You must be cautious while choosing this option. On the bright side, this is the easiest way to help. Just come to the nearest location of the organization, and you're almost done. You can also text or donate via Facebook. Try Google first. Read more.

2. Buy Japan's goods: Okay, this sounds stupid because now Japan is in terrible condition, how can it produce goods to sell? Hopefully with high demands of Japan goods, the economies of Japan will revive strongly and Japanese people will be able to stand up to rebuild their country successfully. Japan is famous for its high-tech and expensive goods, however, its household items like kitchen gadgets and cleaning aids are just wonderful. Give them a go and you will never regret.

3. Save the environment. Save future Japan. As I wrote in my earlier blog, there is argument whether earthquakes and tsunamis are caused by climate change or environmental destruction. However, half a loaf is better than no bread. So please protect the environment and start to live friendly with the environment.

4. Praying. Yes, prayer is free. Spending a few minute a day to pray for Japan may be a good choice.

5. Spread the word: Let other people know your feelings about Japan's disaster and ask them to help.

Well, Japan, I'll be with you & pray for you. All the best x.