Tohuku: 1 Year Later

A year ago I visited Tohoku (the area most affected by the earthquake and tsunami) as part of a volunteer trip that the school put together. On that trip we spent half a day cleaning out drainage ditches so that water didn't flood the streets every time it rained, and the other half of the day preparing and hosting a BBQ for people who were living in a community center. It was without a doubt one of the most memorable experiences in my life. Seeing such destruction on such a large scale barely seems fathomable, yet it was lying right in front of my eyes. When I left, I felt guilty because everything else I was doing back in Tokyo seemed to pale in comparison to the needs in Tohoku, I didn't want to leave.

It's a year later now, and I've had a chance to go back to the area again. This time we were a little further north in, I believe it was, Kensenuma. We traveled through the night most of which I was trying to sleep through, but when the sun came up we could see things get worse as we approached the coast. It's been a year and devastation is still very much apart of the culture. However, the biggest difference between now and then is that now there is a since of hope.

Last year there was nothing. Everything had been wiped out. Homes, neighborhoods, businesses, life itself was washed away. What I saw last week was very much the same, but there was life. Cars were on the roads, people were in the stores, life was finding a way.

We spent the day visiting with people who were in temporary housing. They were living in units that are small, even in Japan. I had it easy in my apartment last year by myself. There were families of 4 or 5 living in areas about the same size. Yay perspective!

A few of the families were gracious enough to spare some time and chat with us. The family in the picture below were forced to retire when they're barbershop was lost in the tsunami. They invited our whole group in and wouldn't stop until we had all had something to drink and plenty of snacks. I thoroughly enjoyed our time with them and would cherish the day that I'd be able to meet them again.



Another family we ran into (pictured below) was hard at work at there new job. They had been farmers, but like all those around them, lost everything. They had started working harvesting seaweed. I didn't quite understand how it was done, but it was encouraging to see them in good spirits considering all they had been through.



I've got at least one more trip up north before I leave Japan, which I'll have another post about, but I don't know if I'll ever see the region return to even remotely what it was. It'll take years, that much is for sure. If you have any chance the least you could do is pray for those people affected, and those helping out to assist in the relief work. Since I've worked with Samaritan's Purse I can say that the work they're doing is in fact good work. They're clearing out rubble, rebuilding houses, and establishing relationships in the community. I can't vouch for how the money is spent, but I know there is good work being done there.

I'll end this with a few more photos I took from my trip last week.

Until next time, peace out!




Our group.



Some of the temporary housing units we visited.



This was the second floor of the building. The first floor being collapsed beneath it.



This boat was about 3km inland.



A car crushed by the boat.



I heard they're not going to move the boat, instead they will leave it as a memorial.



The desolation between the boat and the ocean. Most of what you see is either a second level or has been rebuilt since.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad