Seismic aftershocks following a major earthquake are to be expected. The shock of the tsunami and partial nuclear meltdown in Fukushima, however, caught the nation of Japan and the world tragically by surprise. In the days following the tragedy in Tohoku as the extent of the loss of life and critical condition of the power plant became clear, the streets of Yokohama, some 240 km from Fukushima, were quiet as the gasoline ran out at the pumps and the air stood silent.
Taken on a very quiet March 20, 2011
Unsure of the health risks posed by the escaping radiation, the Japanese people kept to their homes or went to work or school out of obligation. Some who didn’t have work fled to the South to be with relatives and put distance between themselves and the power plant. It was a time of concern and a time of mourning. Almost everyone had a mask on which could have been because it was the height of allergy season. I wore one because I was afraid of what might be blowing in the wind.
With just a few exceptions, my non-Japanese friends had left the country in a mass exodus. It was a very uncertain time and people had to make decisions regarding their safety that they felt comfortable with. Asako was teaching on a short term contract at the local elementary school and my school closed a week early for our regular spring break to allow buildings to be inspected following the earthquake and the situation in Fukushima to unfold further.
The only bright side to all of this was how pleased my Japanese neighbors and even the strangers on the street seemed to be that a foreigner decided to stay. Perhaps just my being there was taken as a gesture of trust or display of commitment. These qualities hold a lot of sway in Japan. For whatever it was, I have never been more comfortable, on an interpersonal level, moving about this homogeneous landscape.
Within my immediate professional community, school was closed, so there wasn’t any sense of abandonment by those who left. Conversely, by removing themselves as consumers from the ends of broken supply chains part of the burden on these systems was reduced. Other foreigners left workplaces or communities where the daily demands continued or, in some cases, where communities in crisis needed all hands on deck. I wonder how or if they will be able to re-join these groups. Intuition alone tells me it will not be easy.
On the positive side, Gerry Dorizas, the president of Volkswagen AG’s operations in Japan, remained with his team throughout and was quoted in the Wall Street Journal (click) as saying “If I had left as the president, my role as a leader would have been diminished.”
Similarly, out of a group of 70 foreign JET assistant English Language teachers in Miyagi, the area hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami, a third of them are not leaving (click). Katherine Sheu, 25, from Los Angeles with 3 years in the JET Program, was quoted as saying, ”I wouldn’t cut off relations for no reason. I know I am just one person from a foreign country but if I just left, for me it would be like escaping. I believe me being here contributes, giving them hope and cheerfulness,” she said.
The support for Japan’s recovery has been astounding. A former colleague in Japan who now teaches in Stuttgart, Germany, has raised upwards of $4,000 to help with relief. Tonight there was a nationally televised charity soccer match between the Japanese National Team and a J-League all star team. US Ambassador Roos has shared much of the direct international relief work via Twitter @AmbassadorRoos (Click). The images of devastation as well as the international efforts to help in Tohoku are awe inspiring.
As people fly back to Japan to resume their posts in organizations and communities, it may help to keep in mind that it was a very uncertain time and people had to make decisions regarding their safety that they felt comfortable with. For those that remained, appreciation and community are the just rewards. The long and arduous task ahead is to rebuild Japan with a high initial priority on getting the Fukushima plant situation stabilized – for that job, we’ll need everyone available. – AC
Posted On: Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
Posted In: Blog
Subscribe: RSS 2.0
Comments: 2 Responses
“Other foreigners left workplaces or communities where the daily demands continued or, in some cases, where communities in crisis needed all hands on deck. I wonder how or if they will be able to re-join these groups. Intuition alone tells me it will not be easy.”
Great thought-point as you place this in the context of Japan as a nation that values loyalty and honor more than most.
Hi Joe,
Thanks for reading and your reply. Ramifications are all about context aren’t they? Hope you are well!