7 months later - Japan Tsunami

Over 7 months ago - on March 11th 2011 - The east coast of Japan was hit by an Earthquake registering 9m which caused a tsunami of equal size.

It goes without saying that this was one of the biggest natural disasters in human recorded history and affected people all over the world.

However, it seems that the media world has been quick to move on. 7 months is a relitively short time. Here in Japan there are those of us still mourning, still piecing together our lives and trying to gain some form of normality.

For those of you who don't know, I came to Japan on April 4th 2010 to start my new life here as a teacher. I had some ideas of the challenges and difficulties that i would have to face - from navigating myself around a country where i dont speak the language to being so far from home. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened on march 11th.

I worked in 2 high schools - one in Miyako City and one in Yamada town. On March 11th I should have been at school but was granted a work day (you work from home). However, i was moving that weekend and my housemate was leaving that night. So, at lunch time we decided to have a break from cleaning and packing. We met up with some friends and other teachers who also had work day and had a farewell lunch. The earthquake happened just as we were leaving the restaurant, I should point out that we had already had a previous big earthquke 3 days before. so, initially my house mate and I were going to return to return to finished what needed to be done. Thank God we didn't. 

When the tsunami came i was with my friends, high up at an elementary school...we had no idea how bad it was... 

my street was in the Atago area - if you youtube miyako city - the famous video of the water coming over the wall and the boat getting stuck under the bridge is where i lived. My neighborhood was hit badly. Again I had god on myside as my house was only one floor and was the second floor - this was the same for most of the residence down the street. But all our cars (mine was loaded up, readying for moving), shops and restaurants were all destroyed.

With luck on my side i was able to stay with friends - i desperately needed information about my schools... with phonelines down, power out, water supply cut off, no tv or radio - essentially we only had word of mouth and limited zones for cell signal... i was told my Miyako HS had been hit and yamada was cut off and had been hit very badly... 

eventually i was moved to a hotel in a nearby city - BUT i was determined to return... it was just under 2 months later that i finally returned and was able to find another apartment and rent a car. This meant i was able to visit the area where my school was. The school was still standing but i had no idea how my students and teachers were, some of which lived in the local area.

Yamada was devastated... i had lived there for 8 month - the school was fine as it was built high up and so was used as a refugee center BUT nearly all my students were made homeless. Many of my old neighbors died, some due to the fires that broke out. When i first visited i almost broke down there and then but i stayed strong because my students were wondering the reckage...

Still to this day I cry - I cry because I later found out that 2 of my current students died...that many of my graduate students died...that 2 of my best japanese friends died.

I didnt have to live in a shelter, i didnt have to trying and search for bodies, i was kept away from all that - but its still hard for me...so i can only imagine how hard it is for those who did go through it all.

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7months on we are smiling, laughing, playing - we are making the best of what we can...we try not to complain and be thankful instead. We remember our friends and live for them. My High school in miyako was repaired and eventually the students moved back into the building in august - im still a teacher there and we recently had a sport day event. Unfortunately my contract was changed so i no longer teach at Yamada BUT i do still visit. Some businesses have reopened, families are in temporary housing, we have still had our festivals to keep the spirit in us alive - the locals know of us who went through this event with them and who have stayed - and for this it has brought us closer together...its very rare we are referred to as the foreigner...

I recently had thoughts of leaving - we all have our weak moments - there are those who left, both foriegn and japanese (some japanese moved to other cities to live with families or to start again). Japan still has a long way to go - which is why i have to be strong and why you cant forget that we still need your help!

There are mini supermarkets and convenient stores made out of canvas and poles, which are gradually being built...some people have to drive (where as most have to catch a bus) for over an hour to get to school, a supermarket etc... there are still no trainlines to many affect areas and roads that are still damaged.

A lot has changed in 7 months - it is getting better BUT theres a long way to go!

 

Next month i do intend to release my own photo book of my local area - 8months later.

for now, you might be interested in a short photobook of pictures taken just after the distaster in Miyako

(i do hope to put another book together of yamada and tsugaruishi)

This is the link to my current book - theres many options, including an eBook version

 

 

 

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• Japan
• earthquake
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• Asia