President Obama's Condolences to Japan

President Obama's message that he wrote in the book of condolences at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC on March 17th has been translated into Japanese. 

Electricity Conservation Posters in Japan

Here are just a few of the great poster created by a community of graphic designers on Twitter to encourage energy conservation in Japan.  To see the rest of the posters (English translations included), go here.

JET participants dedicated to stay and assist their Japanese neighbors

This is a great article by Mainichi Daily News that tells of the many JET participants in the Tohoku region of Japan who are determined to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their Japanese colleagues, neighbors, and friends and work with them in this great time of need.  This is what the JET Program is all about.

Article"Japan donations: poor give to rich"

Hello friends!

At the suggestion of Yukiko, I'd like to share this article with you.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/3/588865d6-515f-11e0-a9c6-00144feab49a.html

Afghans in Afghanistan with not much to give have been donating to Japan relief efforts. This past week, in Tai Maskan (a housing project area from the Soviet communist era in Kabul city) there was a monetary donation drive where people were wedging folded Afghanis (Afghan currency) into cash boxes. This money was collected by the neighborhood of Tai Maskan. In Kandahar, $50,000 was put together for Japan relief by citizen efforts. Kandahar, in the south, is a hotspot for US/NATO war activity.

Speaking with Afghans, they tend to view Japan as a well developed society with generous people. The people interviewed in Tai Maskan said they felt for the Japanese people who have had to go through such a disaster, and were aware help efforts from Afghanistan don't seem that big compared to other nations, but still they wanted to give what they could to the Japanese people. Japan by the way has been working in humanitarian, aid, and recovery efforts in Afghanistan for years. Japan's good will toward Afghanistan has been translated through such donations by ordinary Afghans in a time of need and support.

If we want to build better communities among nations, solidarity and compassion, it begins with doing good, especially by those who are among the haves for the have-nots, and acting on common positives for the future.

- Zarin, Kabul, Afghanistan

Special importance this year of Washington, DC's National Cherry Blossom Festival

With the blooming of the sakura, or cherry blossoms, in Washington, DC comes the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This is always a special festival for the nation's capital, but with the opening ceremonies just 15 days following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, it is that much more poignant.  Here is a CNN video on this issue, with a dear friend Noritaka Takezawa, describing what the sakura mean to him and other Japanese this year.

Planned Blackout!!! 計画停電

Can you believe this photo?!
An area is covered with darkness without lights.
It's in Tokyo.

This is the "planned blackout"

Media focuses on radiation issues and tragedy caused by tsunami. However, it also caused a shortage of electricity supply, food supply and water supply.

Damage on the power stations of TEPCO in Fukushima resulted in shortage of electricity supply.

"Planned blackout" is a technical way of avoiding a large scale blackout in Tokyo where critical institutions and governmental agencies are located. Tokyo and other 8 prefectures and divided into 5 groups (except central are of Tokyo) and each group experience 3-hours of no electricity per day. Well, some have twice a day.

No transportation, no light, no heaters...
Worse thing is that planned blackout do not allow exceptions, meaning no stoplights at carrefour, no medical device including respiratory apparatus.
Those who do experience blackout at night see total darkness. And STARS!!!

Obama, Biden, and Clinton Send Messages of Hope and Support to Japan

Last week on March 17th President Obama paid a visit to the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC to sign the book of condolences for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Today, Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Clinton also stopped by the Embassy to sign the book.  Each took time to write a heartfelt message and to show the strong support that the United States, both the Government and the people, send to Japan and all those who have been affected from the natural disaster.

Japan Earthquake 2011 - Twitter Messages

The following message was posted in response to watching this video.

"Humbling.

I am in absolute awe of the compassion, selflessness and civility of the Japanese people. As a nation, we have so much to learn...

Since this video was made the death toll has risen to over 18,000, with many still missing and hundreds of thousands left homeless. Despite their dire circumstances, the Japanese people continue to live their lives with a grace and civility unmatched by any religiously motivated community I have ever experienced. We should all take note." - Melissa, Washington, DC

“謙虚さ”

私は日本人の思いやり、無私の精神、礼儀正しさに対して畏敬の念を抱いています。国として、私たちには日本から学ぶべきことが多くあります。

このビデオが作成された後も死亡者数は18000を超えるまでに増え続け、未だに行方不明の方々、家をなくした方々がいます。このような状況下にもかかわらず、日本人は品位と礼を持ち続けています。私はこのような品位と礼を持った人々を、どのような宗教心を持った地域でも見たことがありません。私たちは教訓とすべきです。

ワシントンD.C. メリッサ

Eleven Days after the Mar 11th : 震災当日から11日

Eleven days have passed since the massive nature calamity. And the rescue activities are still going on. We are getting new progress with rescuing survivors. It is said that passing time, cold and rain decrease the probability of surviving from the first tsunami and earthquake, but all people in Japan hope more progress.

Many people in the most affected area stay in shelters without sufficient water, food and supply. Some started to move to other cities, saying that leaving their hometown is a heartbreaking for them. Many people believe and hope the survival of their missing family members, friends and neighbors. Some people found bodies of their loved ones, but facing the sad fact that they cannot bury loved ones in appropriate manner for now...

Each has different experiences from the disaster; however, I think, all people are trying to find good news facing the crushing sorrow.

Under such circumstance, people who got relatively small physical damage from the earthquake and tsunami also undergo stress. Many people desire to do something and realize that there is only small things they can do... People see too many tragic scenes through media. Medial professionals warn people to cope with stress before it cause a serious mental problem.

Also, it is reported that some people feel sick due to the continuous aftershocks. It is like a seasick; a person feel the land is shaking when it does not, because his/her body has felt moves of the land for a long time or with much frequency.

There is, of course, bright side of the situation.
Too many things are going on and I cannot state all here, but I would like to keep sharing my thoughts and information with you all.

Reina

みんなで分けあえば、できること。

「今自分にできることはなんだろう」って考え・・・。
TEPCO職員の方々、警察庁、消防庁、自衛隊の方々を応援すること以外できない自分の無力さを感じて・・・。

でも多くの友人が教えてくれました。ちいさなことから、ちいさなことから。
現在東日本で最も必要とされているものが、燃料、食料、電気。
こんなポスターが今話題をよんでいます。「みんなで分けあえば、できること。」

節電、募金も立派な一歩な気がしました。

I have been thinking of "what can I do?"
I have been feeling powerless in front of TV looking at professionals (Self-Defense Force, Fire and Disaster Management Agency) who are strongly assisting people who are badly hit by the tsunami and earthquakes.

But many friends have taught me...
Small assistance from each can make a difference.
Recently the poster attached on the right is wide spread out among Japanese entitled "what we can do if we share".
- 12 rolls of toilet paper worth the use of 1,000 people
- 10 litters of gas worth transporting 4 injured people
- 1 loaf of bread worth fulfilling the appetite of one family
- 1 cooking gas canister worth cooking for 10 people
- 5 kg of rice worth fulfilling the appetite of 120 people
- 1 battery worth providing 100 people information through radio

Just a small effort of one saving an electricity can be a big step for a greater difference.

Stop the Hysteria - A video message from the famous TV personality Daniel Kahl

Daniel Kahl http://daniel.domos.jp/, a well known and respected TV personality in Yamagata, Japan, has made a video asking the foreign media to stop misinterpreting and incorrectly reporting on the nuclear situation in Fukushima. Below is his written introduction to his video.

"I am relating a message from the people of Japan to news services around the world -- STOP THE HYSTERIA. You are causing panic amongst the foreign community in Japan by exaggerating the situation at the Fukushima #1 Nuclear Power Plant. Listen to your own nuclear experts, and get back the job of reporting on the humantarian crisis evolving in North Japan."

Stop Causing Panic in Japan - A video message from a Tokyoite

Dan Castellano in Tokyo tells us in this video how he believes the situation in Japan really is in regards to the nuclear issue in Fukushima.  Below is his introduction to his video:

"The Sendai Earthquake and tsunami on March 11th, then followed by nuclear leaks at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, have resulted in massive international media attention, which has focused its coverage on the very limited nuclear threat and diverted needed attention away from the over 250,000 displaced evacuees in the Tohoku region. This is my appeal to the mass media to adjust its focus back on the immediate dangers facing the survival of so many of our neighbors hundreds of miles north of Tokyo"

Moving forward together

I have been thinking how we move forward in hard times after March 11th. Today we cleaned up streets and buildings in our residence area in Chiba, which were damaged by liquefaction. We worked together, old and young, families and strangers. We are all making efforts to overcome difficulties. Let us help each other, and we will be sure to revive our country. Thank you for your great encouragement. This is great help!

-Yumi
Chiba, Japan

$225 raised!

We are off to a good start, having collected $225 for Japan relief!  Our goal is ambitious - $10,000 - but Yukiko and I feel confident that with some work we can get there.  I am excited about our upcoming event on Thursday in Washignton, DC where all proceeds will go directly to Mercy Corps longstanding partner, Peace Winds, to help families affected by the disaster. The donations will be used to meet immediate and longer-term needs of the earthquake and tsunami survivors in Japan.

Dear friends

As I write this very first message, another aftershock hit us - a magnitude 5.4 event near the coast of Ibaraki. Weirdly enough, I get use to quakes and even a magnitude worth 5 or more cannot surprise or scare me.

Since March 11th everything around me has changed.
I've been thinking "what I can do for my country in this situation?".
Donation, yes, but not only...

Shanti and I decided to create this page to raise funds and, more importantly, to provide a space for those who wish to "do something, say something, contribute to something" for Japan.

We invite all of you to spread your words and together raise funds.
I know many of you are so eager to act for your own country, for your friends or for the good of others. I know this because I am one of them.

Much love,
Yukiko

How to donate to those in Japan

 If you would like to donate to those affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan then go here:
 www.mercycorps.org/fundraising/springforjapan

Mercy Corps is working with their longstanding partner, Peace Winds, to help families affected by the disaster. Your donations will be used to meet immediate and longer-term needs of earthquake survivors.

Thank you in advance for your support!