Report from Akita

Since the devastating earthquake and tsunami aftermath on 11th March 2011 at 2.46 p.m. so much has been learnt about what happened. This knowledge is both unbelievable to comprehend and so powerfully upsetting that words can hardly describe the magnitude of these events.

Now, living in Akita, (which has a population of one million) on the West side, near the Akita Airport, surrounded by mountain ranges, we were isolated by road and air, after the earthquake. However, as of 20th March roads and the airport are open, so we are once again connected to the rest of Japan. As we were cut off for a short time fuel, food and daily necessities were not in abundance and this caused ‘panic buying’ of commodities. Long queues were formed at supermarkets and gasoline stations. Petrol was rationed to 2,000Yen per car. To live in Akita it is vital that one can drive and therefore petrol is a means to an end. During all the queuing that I have seen one thing sticks out in my mind…how patient and polite the Japanese people are and how quiet they are whilst queuing. Everything has been conducted very respectfully and with a common courtesy. Quite different from the behavior one can experience when hunting for a ‘bargain’ at a big department store in the heart of Tokyo.

I am sure that if you asked most people where they were on Friday 11th March 2011 they would be able to answer exactly and they will all have a tale to tell…mine was like this…

My husband and I had booked to stay for one and a half days at Mizusawa Onsen which is past Lake Tazawa in the Mizusawa Hot Spring Resort near Mount Komagatake. This is one of our favourite hideaways and we needed to get away for a short relaxing time before heavy work schedules start this April.

We were almost there and the scenery of the snow covered rice paddies was so beautiful. We stopped at a Daily’s Convenience Store for a hot coffee, when all hell let loose and nature turned on her beauty into evil, just for a very short time but during that time it has now been estimated that up to 16,000 people have been killed. Immediately, there was a power cut in the shop and items started falling off the shelves. We ran outside but were faced with the tarmac ground moving like a huge sea up and down and groaning. Our car, parked close by, was jumping up and down about 20/30 cms. and from side to side. I’m afraid I did begin screaming and panicking and did not know where to put myself. Other customers in the shop were silent and I have to say I feel very ashamed of my behavior now looking back. This situation continued for longer than I liked and eventually of course we began to drive home slowly taking care on the icy roads with the traffic lights being dead.

Driving home safely we were alarmed to see so many cars already queuing for gasoline and food supplies. We did the same and realized this was possibly going to be a survival course. Our mobile phones were dead nationally and we had the car radio on for information. Now, in Japan the earthquake warnings are broadcast in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, English and Japanese. This has been tremendously improved over the years and now serves a greater internationally dependent community in Japan. Having said that I would make a personal comment that although the English was excellent and coherent and greatly appreciated it did not convey the ‘urgency’ that I think it could have done. Whilst driving home my brother called me on my mobile phone from England as clear as a bell and told us that he was seeing the tsunami wave on the BBC news coverage. At this point we began to realize the urgency of the warning. He was so relieved to know that we were ok. The whole world was watching what we could not.

On returning home safely we found no damage to our house but we had no power. At this time in Akita it is still cold and has, in fact, snowed several times since the earthquake. We were ashamed to find that we had not taken care in preparing our survival kit on how to survive during an earthquake. We did have a torch but that was about it. All during the following 2 night’s, earthquakes of some magnitude kept pounding Akita and the surrounds. Needless　to　say, we were up and down all night half-dressed, half crazed in terror with the anticipation of what could happen.

Two nights later we got power back and were able to watch TV and see all the coverage of the events unfolding before our eyes. We were in deep shock at what had happened. Also, the realization that as the crow flies we were not too far from the epicenter of the earthquake.

‘There go I but for the Grace of God’ immediately springs to mind and how often have I said these words.

It is time now for the release of all the stress to show itself and I believe that we are not going to be able to keep ‘the stiff upper lip’ much longer. Emotions are going to flow very soon. Not only emotions on that scale but emotions of ‘why me’, ‘why now’, ‘why here’? Questions of all sorts will be asked from now on, on a broad spectrum of topics.

Complicating the earthquake and tsunami in the Akita, Iwate, Miyagi and Chiba Prefectures is the added collapse of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station immediately following. I cannot help but think that the earthquake damaged the power station and caused the collapse. It has been stated that the velocity of the earthquake registered 9. Which brings me to question again and again as I have been doing ever since I was aware of nuclear power in Japan…how is it possible to build such a monster in a country with a high risk of earthquakes? This is one of those ‘why’ questions…

I think that from now on each one of us has to ask what is important to themselves…how many material possessions do we need to fulfill our lives? How much energy do we REALLY NEED?

Why is it that whenever one visits any electrical department store anywhere throughout Japan that ALL the TV sets are on or ALL the air conditioners are on or ALL the lamps are on in the Lighting Department? I have had a personal ongoing campaign that when I am visiting these opulent places I switch them off as I go by!!
How many electric toilets do we need in public places in Japan? Also, don’t forget that these toilets are, I believe, all giving off CO2s. How many times should ladies flush the toilet on one visit? By themselves these questions amount to nothing but put all these queries together and think about Japan’s population of 240 million, they certainly mount up to ENERGY and WASTE.

We must ask ourselves how many power stations in Japan we really need to provide this wasteful energy and risk the lives of human beings. Is this industry, politics, and economics talking too strongly? Do these institutions really think through and really think about the needs and safely of the population? All this in the present threatre is certainly ‘food for thought’ and we should not ignore it hastily.

The present situation in Japan is unfolding every hour. More and more mobile phone photo footage is being released from survivors. The loss is insurmountable. It has been reported that there is not enough fuel to burn the bodies of the recovered. The Civil Defense Army is working overtime to recover bodies as this is so important for the Japanese. The burning of bodies is by law in Japan and also it is possibly a purifying act.

Little food and daily commodities are slowly creeping into the evacuation, holding areas but not enough and not quickly enough. I fear that there will be many who will not survive the cold, lack of food and the general degradation and shock of all the events.

I am not an expert and I am not sure of what is going on. There has been a lot of damage throughout the whole of Japan but the media is really only focusing on the main prefectures and the nuclear power melt down.
The rock-on effect of this major earthquake and tsunami is going to take ages and ages, maybe up to 20 years at least to overcome and Japan has got a hard road to trudge from now on.

I am so very privileged to say that all my family members are safe and have not been affected in any way, only emotionally and psychologically, so far.

In Akita we are promised forecasted power cuts, however as of 20 March they have not taken place. Our town is in confusion. Shops have returned to some normality but assistants cannot come to work as they do not have petrol. Local university’s schedules have been postponed and some graduation ceremonies have also been delayed. We are being asked to conserve our energy. We have also been advised to stay indoors and wear masks on going out. Windows should be kept closed and washing should not be hung outside. The wind may be transporting the pollution from the nuclear power melt down. Overcoats should be taken off on first entering the house and brushed down to get rid of pollution. Gargling and washing hands is also advised.

Through the Red Cross Hospital in Akita, donations of clothes and blankets from local residents have been donated for the people in the evacuation holding areas in the severely hit areas but it is not enough.

Progress has been made in linking people to each other who have been misplaced and great joy has been seen on the TV at these very emotional reunions. Whole families have been wiped out. The fishing industry and tourist industry of the areas have been totally devastated. Generation upon generation of family’s livelihoods have been instantly finished.

As I said in the beginning of this essay… words can hardly describe the magnitude of these events.

To be continued…