It's been three months since the 3/11 earthquake---Part 2: The terrible smell is becoming a big problem

Needles to say, the Fukushima disaster has complicated the situation. As you may know, the disaster is still going on and there is still no sign that the plant is getting back under control. In this post, I'll talk about disaster-struck areas in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures which were the most seriously damaged by the 3/11earthquake and tsunami. Some towns there were completely washed away by the massive tsunami.

According to the news, mountains of rubble are here and there. Although local governments involved have been struggling to find sites for temporary moving them out of sight, the victims are forced to live near piles of rubble. The locale governments have announced that they will do their best to remove them from sight in the next few months. On the other hand, it's been projected that it will take about three years until the rubble removal activity is done and it will take another two years until all the removed rubble is disposed of.

http://www.asahi.com/special
/10005/TKY201106040151.html

As summer is approaching, the terrible smell is becoming a big problem. The rubble is giving off various kinds of odors. Specifically, the foul smell of rotten fish is afflicting people in the disaster-struck areas. Since the ocean area around the epicenter of the 3/11 earthquake is one of the three largest fishing grounds in the world, there are many major fishing ports in Miyagi and Iwate. Sadly, almost all of them were devastated, and a large amount of fish which were stored in refrigerated warehouses were scattered all over the tsunami-struck areas. So, it's not easy to get rid of them. Many of them have been inevitably left behind. Some agencies are doing pest control for epidemic prevention.

There are still many missing people. Their families have been struggling to find a way to move on. Some of them are trying to give up finding their loved ones' body/bodies and try to accept their death because it's been three months since that day. Rescue workers collected mementos, like albums, while rummaging amid piles of rubble for bodies. After they drew off, volunteers and local people continuously collect them. For the victims whose personal belongings were totally washed away, finding things which remind them of their lost common but happy lives is an important step to move on. Piles of rubble are being removed with the greatest care.

Some victims have already moved on and want to rebuild their businesses as soon as possible. Some are still struggling to find a way to move on. This difference seems to complicate matters, as well.

Lots of events to cheer up children and a lot of carp steamers swimming in the sky

May 5th is Children's Day in Japan.In the day, families with small boys fly colorful carp streamers called Koinobori/鯉のぼり(Link #1) outside their homes to celebrate the holiday.

Yesterday, at many places throughout Japan, a large number of carp steamers were swimming in the sky in the hopes that disaster-hit areas would be rebuilt as soon as possible. At the disaster-hit areas, various events were held to cheer children up. At a shelter, many carp steamers which were made and sent by non-victims throughout Japan were flown (Link #2). Under these carps swimming in the sky, children enjoyed a sort of games. At another shelter, many children enjoyed kite-flying. Actually, children at shelters remind me when I was a child. It goes without saying that no children who are playing video games there. They are playing the same way as I did when I was a child.

At Ishinomori Manga Museum in Ishinomaki, Miyagi/ 宮城県石巻市, a manga festival was held as planned although the museum was seriously damaged by the 3/11 earthquake and Tsunami. Amid piles of rubble, many children enjoyed a show where famous superheroes like Kamen Rider/仮面ライダー appeared (Link #3). Have you heard of Kamen Rider before? The museum was established and built by Shotaro Ishinomori /石ノ森章太郎, a manga artist and the author of Kamen Rider. He was born and raised in a town near Ishinomaki. At an elementary school where many students were killed by the 3/11 tsunami, some parents were seen praying for their children. There were a lot of flowers and sweets placed

At disaster-hit areas, grown-ups often seem to be encouraged by the children. At a shelter, some children write articles and publish their newspaper everyday (Link #4). They say that a few days after they started living in the shelter, they noticed that many of the grown-ups there always lowered their eyes, so they wanted to do something to cheer them up". The editor is a seven-year-old girl. The deputy editor and reporters are also children, but older than her. It's interesting that there isn't a seniority rule which many Japanese companies have been struggling with.

LinK #1 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koinobori

Link #2

http://photo.sankei.jp.msn.com/highlight/data/2011/06/11/8carp/

Link #3

http://mangakan.weblogs.jp/manga/2011/05/index.html

Link #4

http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0415/TKY201104150190.html

Sendai city fascinates people from Tokyo. Tolerant people in the northern area support our economy.

http://www.city.sendai.jp/kikaku/
kokusai/english/kankou.html

Sendai city /仙台市 in Miyagi prefecture/ 宮城県 is the largest city in the Tohoku/東北 area (the northern area of Japan). As you know, the area was very seriously damaged by the 3/11 earthquake. Since the epicenter of the massive earthquake was near Miyagi prefecture, the earthquake has wreaked untold havoc in the prefecture. It has been reported that Miyagi is the worst-hit prefecture.

Before the crisis, Sendai city fascinated people, especially those from Tokyo. Since Sendai is a business hub in the northern area, it was not uncommon for people in Tokyo to be transferred to Sendai before the earthquake. I'd often hear that these people were reluctant to return to Tokyo when they were transferred back. Sendai was a peaceful and relaxing place for people who were tired of the hectic life in a large city like Tokyo. Sendai provided both a city life and a country life. The modern city was in harmony with nature. A one-hour drive from the city took you to a famous range of volcanoes, and a 15-minute drive from downtown Sendai took you to a beautiful beach, although it was entirely washed away by the huge tsunami. Matsushima Bay/松島, which is well-known as one of the three most scenic spots in Japan/日本三景, is approximately 30 kilometers from Sendai. On top of that, the local food was good and the living cost in Sendai was much lower than that in Tokyo. Local people were friendly (I'm sure they are still friendly even after the earthquake). Sendai had things that Tokyo had lost.

A lot of factories in the northern area were seriously damaged by the earthquake and Tsunami. Many auto parts and electronics were produced there. As you may know, the shutdown of these factories has greatly affected both Japanese and global supply chains. I've heard that since people in the northern area are persistent and tolerant, they are well oriented to manufacturing precision or sensitive equipment. Speaking of supply chains, many factories associated with Hitachi in Ibaraki prefecture/茨城県 were also seriously damaged and haven't restarted production yet.

93 year-old woman who lost everything because of the huge Tsunami said on TV while smiling " When I was young, I lost everything because of another huge Tunami from Chile. We rebuilt our town. However, the town was washed away again. I'm very frustrated. So, I don't want to die until my town is rebuilt. I'll live until I turn 100". She was playing with children at a shelter where she stays and was trying to cheer them up. How strong she is !

Sendai

http://www.city.sendai.jp/kikaku/kokusai/english/kankou.html

The three most scenic spots in Japan

http://nihonsankei.sakura.ne.jp/eng/index.html