Takatacho

Yesterday, after our volunteer work,we were taken to Takatacho,what used to be the center of Rikuzen-Takata city.

Takatacho was one of the hardest struck regions. The damage was so great that volunteers aren't even directed in this area. It isn't a livable environment so there are no needs for human volunteers.

I saw the now famous "ippon-matsu", the only pine tree that survived out of the 7 million pine trees of Takata.It stood by itself-lonely yet beautiful,representing hope.

And then,I saw the gymnasium. It was set as one of the evacuation shelters during natural disasters. 200 to 300 people had evacuated here on March 11th but the tsunami was so great that it reached the gym, creating a whirlpool leaving only 3 survivors. It is said the waves were like a huge washing machine sucking in people who tried escaping to the very top.

The clock was stopped at 3:30p.m.,the time the tsunami had struck. Here,it was as if the time was on pause since that day.

Inside the huge devastated gymnasium,I tried to imagine how the tsunami had struck. How frightening it must have been.

It gave me goosebumps to think so many people had lost their lives at this very place.

Nearby the entrance,there were flowers and snacks presented as offerings.

Before leaving,I prayed for those that lost their lives.

May they please,rest in peace.

Rubble and debris-are valuable memories

Yesterday I arrived in Rikuzen-Takata city to work with the NICE program here.

Compared to the last time I was here,the city seemed to be making progressive steps forward.There were temporary houses,a prefab convenience store,and a gasoline stand was up and running.Indeed,according to those who have been here for months,the city was much cleaner despite all the remaining rubble and debris-thanks to the many people involved in the relief efforts.

At night we were fortunate to get advice from some of the people working at the volunteer center in town.

Some good advice we received were...

To volunteer with 60% effort-especially when doing hard labor.Safety first:)
And also that the rubble and debris are valuable memories to the people here.So don't treat it like trash or treat it roughly.Treat it with care. And save any kind of precious memories you find...

心が大切: Prioritizing hearts

On Tuesday, I went to a talk given by a member of an NGO organization called NICE .Since April 11th, this individual has been doing supporting work for Rikuzen-Takata city. Helping out at one of the evacuation shelters.

As she has been doing volunteer work there for two months, there was much I learned from her talk.

Going into the devastated areas to volunteer, many people have strong feelings to be of help in any way possible. And although this is great volunteer spirit,at times it can be too much.

For instance, she pointed out that at times the people may not want you to do anything. So I learned the importance of being in their shoes first. To prioritize hearts (feelings) over anything.

She also emphasized not to forget the fact that the people who were effected by the natural disaster-they are all normal everyday people.

So don't treat them differently,or in a special way. Laugh with them if they laugh, cry with them when they cry.

Maybe what she mentioned in her talk was all common sense.

But seeing the situation in the devastated areas, it's easy to forget. You just get this urgent feeling to help in any way possible.

But next time...I'll be more careful. And when I'm lost, I'll have this talk to look back on :)

The Footbath Squad

Today, I'd like to talk about the footbath squad- a group of volunteers sent by the Nippon Foundation through the Road Project.

The inspiration for the "footbath squad" originated from the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995.

Much of the volunteer work in the devastated areas involves hard labor such as busting accumulated mud from the tsunami and cleaning up after the debris and rubble.

Yet, the footbath squad focuses on emotional support.  By warming the feet and at the same time offering a hand massage, it offers a place to relax and breathe. A place where people can come together.

The volunteers listen as some of its users talk of their frightening experiences. Doing so, it hopes to ease the anxiety of the people. And by listening, it seeks to pick up the needs of the people in specific areas.

A few days ago, I participated as a member in the footbath squad- a squad sent to Yamamotocho in Miyagi-prefecture. We offered foot baths over the weekend to the people now living in the temporary houses in the region.

I heard elderly people talking about how they do not want to die here (in the temporary houses). About how all their pictures had been taken away by the tsunami so they don't even have a nice funeral picture.

Many talked about the limited space that was provided by the temporary housing.  Compared to their houses that had been washed away, many felt cramped and stressed out in their new homes.

Although I could only nod and listen to some of their painful stories and frightening experiences, I was happy when some of the people gave us positive feedback:

"Yesterday, the footbath allowed me to sleep so well. That's why I came back today"

"The footbath is so relaxing!  Do, come again!!"

Even the kids seemed to enjoy the foot bath. There is not much play area in the area of the temporary houses so many seemed intrigued and curious. Their school pool had been taken away by the tsunami so the kids found it as a replacement for the pool. They really seemed to like the bath oil because it added color to the foot bath.

What we provided was only something small. But I hope the people in Yamamotocho were able to enjoy our footbath. And that we were able to warm their feet, hands, and hopefully- hearts, as well.

Our signboard for the footbath. We put a lot of effort into this one !!

A lot of the kids brought their friends along so we used the huge tub-
this was more like a foot "pool" instead of footbath ;)

かぞえうた

It's challenging to find the right words to provide...

to someone who's lost his/her home
to someone who does not know when he/she can return home
to someone who's lost his/her job
to someone who's lost loved ones
to someone who's lost everything

At many times, I am lost for words.

I know listening is important.

And just maybe-my presence may matter, too.

But I wish I could be of more support.

Just please, please don't lose your hope.

Radiation: Damage you can not see with your eyes

This past week, I participated in a program in Aizuwakamatsu- to play with kids who were living in the emergency shelters in Fukushima.

During the orientation of the program, I was told there were approximately 7,000 people living in the shelters in Aizu. Even though three months has gone by since March 11th, many are still being forced to live in shelters, mainly due to the nuclear plant crisis at Fukushima Daiichi.

Some of the families in evacuation here have houses standing, unaffected by the earthquake and tsunami.  Yet, they have left everything as they have been forced to evacuate due to the high radiation levels.

Many were told they only needed to evacuate for a week. But the one week has prolonged to weeks, to months. And now...three months. 

Some have not even gone home once since the natural disaster struck. Some were effected by all three: the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation.

And nobody knows when they will be able to return to their homes.

Playing with the kids in the numerous evacuation shelters in Aizu, seeing the kids smile and laugh, I sometimes forgot that these children are those who are being forced to live here. Kids who lost their homes, kids who have been forced to say farewell to their friends.

But I would snap back to reality. As I would overhear the adults talking about the radiation levels, about when they can go home, about the distance of their homes from Fukushima Daiichi.

A grandma came to me and sighed,

"There is nothing to do here. I just want to go home..."

And even the kids made me aware of the situation.

A little girl playing with a toy house started to take everything out of the house- furniture, dolls, etc. I asked her why she took everything out when she had spent so much time making the house look nice and organized.

"There was an earthquake!" she told me.


Looking at the depressed, fatigued look on the adults in the evacuation shelters, it scared me, how hopeless some of the people were.

I wanted to support the children so that I could make the kids smile, make them happy, despite their current situation. But I don't know whether I was of any help. Because there is SO MUCH more support needed for the people in Fukushima.

The damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami was devastating and destructive. Yet, coming here, I have realized the great fear and damage the radiation has caused. Although you can not see it with your eyes, it has caused great damage to the hearts and lives of the people in Fukushima.

Even though I could only participate for a week, I pray for the health and safety of the the children here. And I wish for their days to be filled with smiles and laughter.  I miss the children, already.

If you are interested, please check out the volunteer program
 for the children in Aizu through the NICE website.

My last race to Tohoku!!

I am going to switch gears today to running because I raced yesterday! Sadly,it will most likely be my last race in Japan. That is,at least for a while.So I want to keep it in this blog.

I was nervous for this race as I haven't been getting my mileage in.I also hadn't raced since the Tokyo marathon. Ever since March 11th,races have been cancelled one by one.

I also feel runners all over Japan have been affected to some degree,losing their spirit and energy.

I myself can't seem to enjoy running 100% when I am aware there are people out there who are in no situation to run.

But today the organizers of the race called out to us runners,

"Let's send energy and spirit to the devastated areas!!"

It was a 10km cross country race so I imagined it would be nice and short.Instead,the first 5km was hardcore uphill. I enjoyed the downhill though and the view was quite epic :)

Whenever I felt like I couldn't continue,I thought about the people in Tohoku. This was nothing compared to what they were going through-that kept me strong throughout the race.

I dedicate this race to Tohoku. The race energized me-so I hope to bring that energy with me as I head to Fukushima today.

Still, no water...

It has been almost three months since March 11th.

Yet, in some of the devastated areas, the water supply is still cut off.

This is the case in Minamisanriku-cho, a town in Miyagi-prefecture.

People are going to nearby rivers to wash their clothes. Yet, when it rains, the water gets muddy which prevents this. Others go to coin laundrys located about 20km away from the shelters. Yet, as many have lost their cars in the tsunami, many can only do laundry on weekends when their relatives and friends visit.

In the shelters, people are still using portable toilets. So that they don't have to go use the restrooms (which are outside) too often, people are unconsciously restraining the amount of water they drink. Which is obviously detrimental to their health.

The amount of water that can be carried to the shelters per day limited. Allowing people to take baths only twice a week...

Three months without water supply.

I can not even imagine...

It is June. As the hot summer approaches, I worry about the health and hygiene of the people living in the devastated areas.

As I read and hear stories about the slow recovery process, I feel powerless. I can only hope and wish that the water supply will return quickly- even a day sooner...