My visit back

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to revisit some of the Tohoku regions that I had been to three years ago.  And I felt words that had gotten lost in me come to life again. The words that were given to our volunteer group in April 2011 (a month after the earthquake and tsunami had hit), at one of the evacuation centers in Kesennuma.

"Please, please don't forget about Kesennuma. Please, keep watching over us, and keep Kesennuma in your thoughts."

I had gotten so caught up in my own things recently, and I have to admit, with shame, that I had noticed myself begin to drift away from the devastated areas. My memories and feelings had begun to fade away...

But going back allowed me to see, hear, and feel the recovery process with my own body and mind.  Throughout my time there, I felt my memories gradually coming back to me of the times I spent there.  And I was able to be reminded that I have to keep caring, supporting those who were affected by March 11th.


Currently, there are still 260,000+ people who are still displaced from their homes in the aftermath of the disaster.  I had heard this news at the mark of 3 years since March 11th, but seeing the same temporary homes that I had been to three years ago raised my awareness. The fact that the disaster victims had lived in these small homes over the past 3 years really struck me.

Many temporary housing residents were told they would stay in these prefabricated homes for a maximum of 2 years. However, as the recovery process prolongs (as well as their transition to more permanent forms of housing),  they are feeling increasingly marginalized and frustrated, and are unable to tolerate it much longer.  Due to these harsh conditions, major pyschosocial issues are emerging (and increasing) including depression, alcoholism,  'kodokushi' (lonely death), PTSD... especially, as public interest wanes.

Learned how to fold these from a woman who lived in one of the temporary houses in Kesennuma Oshima. Her origami skills were amazing :)

During my visit,  I had the opportunity to do some volunteer work with organizations who have been continuously involved in the relief efforts in the devastated regions.  Although each regions' needs and recovery process varies, relief efforts are now focused on volunteer work that can lead to the building of communities, the provision of jobs to those who were affected, as well as the provision of ongoing psychosocial support to those living in the temporary houses. 

It was heartwarming for me to know that organizations as well as individuals are still actively involved in relief efforts. Some had been volunteering continuously over the years, and I also met others for whom it was their first time going to the devastated regions.



Revisiting and engaging in volunteer work made me think deeply and learn. Although the visit felt far too short to me, overall, it was an invaluable experience. And I am grateful I had the opportunity to go back this summer. 


Being abroad, I am unable to visit the Tohoku regions as much as I would like to.  However, I hope that you will once again open your heart to the devastated regions. As much as it is important for me to keep caring and keep watching over the recovery process, I would also like to pass on the baton of support.  

Let us all keep supporting the recovery process.  And let us send our prayers to Tohoku as today marks 3 years and 4 months since March 11th. 

The first time for me to come this close to the Miracle Pine Tree in Rikuzentakata. It was the only tree that withstood the more-than-13-meter high tsunami among the 70,000 pine trees of the famed Takata Matsubara forest. It is now preserved as a symbol of hope. 

 

It has been 3 years and 4 months since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. This picture was taken in Otsuchi, Iwate, 2 weeks ago. There was a town on this empty field before the tsunami hit on March 11th, 2011 (From Tono Magokoro Net).