As some of you may know, after the disaster hit Japan last year, our school’s Red Cross Club made efforts to raise money to help. I remember that it was such a big deal at first, when it had just hit. Everyone in the school talked about how horrible it was, and how they would want to help if they can.
Our main fundraiser was in May and not March. As we started to sell vouchers that would benefit Japan, I remember how everyone could care less. They responded with words like “dude, Japan doesn’t need the money” or “I don’t need to help. They probably have the whole world helping them”. I was really disappointed in people’s responses, just because the disaster was two months ago, instead of two days ago. I remember thinking how amazing it was that everyone just moves on with their lives as if nothing happened, completely forgetting the conditions that victims are still living in. I remember seeing a photo that really hit me, and posting it on Facebook. It was a photo of Tokyo tower, a symbol of Japan, with its lights off at night because they needed to save electricity. When I saw that photo, I remembered that just because time has passed doesn’t mean that they’re living happily again. But it seemed like no one understood that.
Since I’m a huge Japan fan and I follow a lot of their social media, I was really affected by the situation there, even though I did not have any relatives, even though I am not from Japan. Today, I watched a news report on the recovery of Japan on a news program called Newsevery, which is hosted by a singer that I like. The episode I watched was a special from November, where he visited various points that were struck the hardest. He had been to those places two times prior to November. They had been following up on the recovery efforts.
That’s when it really struck me. The efforts made by those people are amazing. Though you could clearly see the sadness in their eyes, the exhaustion from the last few months, and their struggles to live on, they were still strong and put on such amazing efforts to recreate their community.
One such city is a fishing city. 70% of the fishermen’s family’s yearly income comes from harvesting a certain type of fish. After the disaster had struck, not only could they not harvest those, but the reputation of their fish was so bad that it was difficult to make a living. In order to make an effort, housewives got together to form a restaurant with home cooked meals that would benefit everyone. 7 months later, they celebrate the recovery of the fishing economy with a festival.
It amazes me how strong they are. They say, while interviewed, that they weren’t able to really make a difference because they are just a few people compared to the population of Japan. I almost cried at that. Can’t make an effort? Are you kidding me? What they are doing is amazing.
The willpower they have to try and make even the smallest difference. That, to me, was amazing.
Another prefecture that was hit by the tsunami was slowly recovering as well. Initially, they opened a store in a single tent and tried to make a living, as well as support others, that way. Owners of popular restaurants were forced to reopen their store on one table. Supermarkets now have to stock only the necessities in a very small space. Despite their difficult circumstances, they support each other. The restaurant lady cooks meals for the other store owners, and the supermarket man sells her ingredients. 7 months later, they have been able to afford a portable building and set up stores there once again. The extra space allows other more families to reset up their store, and the economy is slowly rising.
One woman said, with tears nearly spilling out of her eyes, “I know everyone else is going through the same thing. That’s why I can’t cry.” I almost cried at that! These are amazing people all working towards rebuilding their lives.
There was one family who owned a pig-pen. One man described how everything changed in five seconds. The tsunami came up to his pig farm and he took shelter high up in the water tower. There, he saw all 1,000 of his pigs swept away by the water in 5 seconds. 5 seconds and his life had completely changed.
It was touching to watch it. Looking at clips of the effects of the tsunami made my heart shake, and I really wanted to cry. But watching at the individual’s efforts was really touching. Everyone is doing their best to rebuild their lives. They are so strong.
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