Look what’s happening in Japan!!!
Rubble: Collapsed buildings and rubble in Kesennuma in Miyagi had made this corner impossible to get through but the impressively swift clean up has left the same corner accessible to traffic
Dear all,
Japan is a country I have long admired since I was a child. I was able to visit Japan a few years back and stay for three weeks. I really enjoyed Japan so much. Everyone thought I was Japanese when I was there. Everyone spoke to me in Japanes when I was there…even on the plane flight over they were talking to me in Japanese…they were taken aback when I could not speak Japanese. I love the so many temples I had the fortune to visit in Japan. Some temples foreigner were not allowed in after a certain point. I went with Malaysian friends and they were stopped, but I just walked right in to the restricted area of some temples. We all found that very amusing that I was the only one that looked Japanese to the Japanese in our group.
After such a huge disaster,it is just so incredible to see how fast they bounce back in such a short span of time. So much to recover from and so much work…yet look at the pictures and see for yourself the incredible recovery rate. It tells you the Japanese people are very strong and very driven for anything they set their mind to. They cannot be the world’s second largest economy for no reasons at all.
Incredible progress in Japan’s tsunami-hit area..Japan really is phenomenal. Such a great nation. So resilient and also very efficient. I am happy to see this progress and recovery. I offer my prayers to the beautiful Japanese nation, may they recover fast and be safe always. Be Japan thrive and have peace.
Tsem Rinpoche
More work to do: Back in March last year a rescue worker wades through rubble in the tsunami hit area of Minamisanriku, Miyagi, and although the area has largely been cleared tyres and gas canisters have since been dumped there
Chaos: In Ishonomaki, Miyagi a boat washed up in to the middle of this street bringing down pylons and buildings and although the building nearest to the camera on the left needed to be pulled down all the other buildings were repaired
In March four people take to the area of Rikuzentakata, Iwate unsure where to begin after it was devastated by rubble but 11 months on the whole area has been cleared leaving just a cross roads in the centre
Houses crumbled either side of this main road in the tsunami-hit area of Ofunato, Iwate but ongoing efforts have cleared the debris - and despite the nearest homes on either side being pulled down, many of the other buildings were salvaged
Major project: A number of areas like this site Natori, near Sendai required large scale operations to clear them of the debris which seemed never ending
Rebuild: Cars and even a plane cluttered up the Sendai Airport in Natori, Miyagi but after an intense clean up the fenced off airport is now back in service
Pile up: cars had piled up in front of the airport control tower in Sendai on after the tsunami but has since been totally transformed
Back to normality: Cars are able to come and go through this bridge in Hishonomaki, Miyagi less than a year after a washed up boat prevented anyone from using the road
In March, Yuko Sugimoto was photographed wrapped with a blanket standing in front of debris looking for her son in the tsunami-hit town of Ishinomaki. Below, the same housewife stands with her five-year-old son Raito at the same place
All change in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, as seen on March 22, 2011 and January 15, 2012
Before and after clean-up shots of Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture
The scene in Tagajo, Miyagi prefecture before and after the rebuild operation
Amazing transformation after a road is cleared of debris in Tagajo, Miyagi prefecture
The city of Kesennuma is seen after the clear-up last month
A hill overlooking the city of Kesennuma and the same area on January 14 this year
Residents of the tsunami-hit area of Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture seen last March, and this January
source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2099811/Eleven-months-tsunami-earthquake-ravaged-Japan-new-pictures-incredible-progress-multi-billion-pound-clear-up.html
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I love Japanese although I’m a bit skeptical to live there for the rest of my life ( Japan is known for disasters).
I love their culture and especially for their upbringing. You can see that they work hard and positive attitudes towards life and almost everything. Thanks for these photos Rinpoche.
Natural disasters like earthquake or tsunami can happen anywhere and any time. Japan was unfortunate to be hit by earthquake and tsunami a couple of times in a few year.All these made they stronger in away to overcome any disasters. Their technology are so advance ,they do everything they could to detect the disasters and to rebuild whatever the disasters destroyed.For one thing Japanese people are very hardworking people,with determination they together as one community.
Looking at those picture before and after where disasters struck was incredible , they got so much to clean up.These show that they are really strong and mind set to rebuild fast.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.
It’s always inspiring to see how people come together and rebuild after a disaster has struck. It reflects on the strength and resilient of mankind.
Japanese are well known to work long hours. Whether this directly translate to higher productivity is still debatable and so is efficiency level. However, results such as above would seem to support Japan as a very efficient and effective nation in their working methods. One thing for sure Japan thrives in adapting technology to maximize productivity and quality.
I can’t help but think that a big part of this Japanese culture we observed today has to with the destruction Japan experienced during the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing. I respect the Japanese very much not only for recovering from such impact disaster but for being able to completely reverse the impact and overtook the rest of the world to become one of the leading economy and technology super power. But I would also observe Japan with caution as advance technology with the wrong principles could easily bring about a catastrophe way beyond the atomic bomb.
It’s very unfortunate that disasters like earthquake or tsunami would always hit Japan, but I guess this is also what makes them so advanced and strong today. After so many incidents, instead of going backwards, they are growing stronger and stronger each day, it’s amazing how they could pick up everything so fast and this is why I truly respect the country, it’s culture and people.
We are consider very lucky to have born in Malaysia where most of the time we are free from all these natural disasters, there were a few incidents but certainly they weren’t as bad as Japan, not even the quarter of it. I really admire the attitude adopted by most of the Japanese, they are truly inspiring.
I count myself very fortunate living in Malaysia when only once was certain places affected by the tsunami a few years back. Those places suffered some damages from the after-effect of the tsunami but not from a direct impact of the disaster. Aside from the flood during the monsoon season and flash thunderstorms, Malaysians are spared from natural calamities such as tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, famine, drought, earthquakes etc.
Malaysia is truly Asia.
When disaster strikes, it tests the strength of the country. How Japan has picked themselves up is very recommendable. They took everything in stride and build their country up again. Like how they did after WW2 and industrialized themselves and have their products worldwide.
The Japanese are truly remarkable they can bounce back like that it shows what kind of mettle they are made of. As a culture they seem to be highly evolved culture. And in some ways the Koreans seems to share the same type of culture with the Japanese for instance at the night market vendors just leave their goods around and go for dinner or leave it unattended.
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for showing the pictures of the destruction done by tsunami to the city and then people of japan. The transformation or restoration of the city and the people to the usual self is the indication of the people awareness and the strength to bring their city and lives back to normal again.
I see this as a show of character, hard working, discipline, determination of the Japanese people.
Thank you again for taking so much effort to show these to us.
What Rinpoche admired are these qualities that Japanese have: bounce, recover fast, strong, driven, passion, resilient, efficient hence progress and peace. I think these are qualities we can equally reflect upon our selves to emulate to become better. When we fall, we should recover fast and don’t dwell on the past but remain strong and move forward with conviction to progress in something we believe in passionately about, to produce peaceful positive results. Wow!
Globalgiving’s Partners in Japan have contributed to a steady recovery in the region. In addition, associations of aids and relief (AAR Japan) Organisation Mobile Clinics, Sanitation services,Psycholical care and community interaction and exchange events; through these comprenhensive efforts AAR Japan continues to support people in the disaster zone as they work to maintain both their physical and mental health. Volunteers’ groups and residents set-up container houses through AAR Japan and now have shifted the focus to long term rebuilding in communities, including jobs creation, community development and nuclear safety. The Japanese have a good sense of belonging to a place and also a mutual obligation to other people who lived there. So people tend to watch out for one another in absolute unity. With such resilence, care and efficiency, incredible progress of recovery can certainly be expected to be rapid.
looking at the before and after effect of the disaster just amazes me how the Japanese people go on with life and adapt to changes so well, the picture speaks alot of who they are, and how they overcome such drastic change, and within short periods of time, rebuild the town to its former state. Japanese are well known to have strong mentality and work things through very fast, and these picture proves it.
Thank you Rinpoche for the post.
The Japanese has fought many wars with neighbouring countries and also with mother nature. This has made the Japanese a strong unit as a whole, country and ppl. I have a few Japanese friends, they are extremely patriotic. They would only use Japanese made products even if its second best. They believe that the loyalty to their country is more important.
I admire the Japanese very much for taking hardship and misfortune as an opportunity to propel forward and improve as a nation.
The Japanese are very self driven and efficient. Nothing can stop them from standing up after the disaster they went through. I am glad that they are back on their feet and resuming their daily routines. May they never have to go through any disaster anymore.
Wow! The before and after pictures are a great representation of strength, care and determination. Look at the amount of damage done and yet, the Japanese has proven that there is a way to come back from whatever the set back is. Nothing is impossible, just do not let yourself be defeated.
I remembered there were news articles praising the Japanese during this disaster. Despite what they were going through, there was no havoc within the people – people still queued up to get their food supplies from aids around the world (there was no stampede), there were no break-ins into the supermarkets, people were respectful of one another, and the whole nation mourned but grew strength and sticked together harmoniously to rebuild their city, their lives, their homes.
This is so inspirational, especially for me who always make lazy excuses and dwell to not do more when there is a minor hardship/setback. Look at the Japanese!!! May this forever serve to remind me that nothing is impossible, and that no setback is ever too difficult to overcome.
There is a Japanese saying that literally means “Fall down seven times, get up eight times”. At the heart of the Japanese society is the spirit of ‘gambaru’ or Perseverance.
This is not the first time the Japanese people have had to endure hardships and bounce back. When the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, it annihilated the city but even with the setback, it did no permanent harm to the spirit of the Japanese people. Japan bounced back after the surrender which hit the nation’s pride hard but not their spirit.
I really appreciate how the victims of the quake and tsunami just cleaned up and moved on. This is a great example for those of us who have wallowed too much in our own tragedies.
Dear Rinpoche:
Thanks for sharing.
I have great confidence on their rebuilding progress after the incident happened last year. They love their country & people very much and the “Samurai” spirit is the key for them to survive in any condition.
I have been working with Japanese for about 8 years since I graduated and even after I started my own business 4 years ago, my major client is still Japanese. I enjoyed working with them and I learned their systematic, efficient and careful way of doing work. They work extremely hard and play super hard also. hehe! I respect their “talk less, do more” culture. But one thing, they don’t trust other ethnics easily, they hates sweet promises. They only believe in facts and figures. To deal with them effectively, just need to be transparent and honest to them then they will be very generous to us. I like doing business with them because they are professional and pay promptly. hehe!
Thank you.
With love,
VP
Yes, Japanese are very efficient and discipline, and that’s why they grow to what they are now. I remembered in the 80s, Japan are being laughed at, but see where they are now?!
Being struck by natural disasters so many time and so often, they never complaint, clean up, and move on. This is the spirit I wish I have!
I agree with your opinion Rinpoche, as I believe that Japanese have a really high discipline and driven. Something that I personally can learn so much from. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Dear Rinpoche, Thank you for sharing these images. We live in Osaka, Japan so we are far away from the devastated area; but the terrible event has had a deep psychological effect upon the entire Japanese nation. The recovery is remarkable. Of course a “Big One” is expected to hit the Tokyo region within a few years. As the previous post mentioned the racism & discrimination against foreigners here, I would like to say something respectfully in response… I’m a U.S. citizen living in Japan 3 yrs (married to a Japanese over 6 yrs)and I agree that it is a problem. Japan pays a lot of lip service to the “idea” of being “International”, but in reality there is an invisible wall for us “gaijin” (foreigners). I deal with it by not giving them any power over my emotions or spiritual inspiration. Admittedly, this is NOT easy at times… but if they wish to continue to keep us at arm’s length… well, that’s their loss. I truly enjoy visiting temples & shrines and I accept the experiences I’m offered (perhaps having a Japanese wife makes it a bit easier for me than some). I have a much better knowledge & understanding of the spiritual and religious traditions here than any Japanese person (young or old) I have yet spoken with on the subject (I truly wish this was an exaggeration but, sadly, it really isn’t)! It is a country sorely in need of genuine spiritual awakening. When friends from the U.S. ask me what religion the Japanese have I respond: “Materialism”. The real worship and devotion is at the shrines of Gucci, Louis Vuitton & Panasonic, and they do so because they have been told / trained to. They follow orders and advertising very well and without question. The last 20 years have shown the rest of Asia by-passing the once popular “Japan model” because of Japan’s reluctance or inability to change, adapt or “let in” the world. Many of Japan’s best & brightest have escaped to other parts of Asia or the world to find REAL prosperity (of body-mind-spirit)elsewhere. . Only the Japanese themselves can rehabilitate the cultural malaise that stifles them. They have to WANT TO break free of the programming that has been drilled into their heads through their entire para-military educational “training” (NOT “teaching”). This may best be achieved by approaching any shrine here in Japan which houses at it’s sacred, central position a perfectly polished, circular mirror. Since the earthquake & tsunami of almost 1 year ago I really hope that Change is in the air….
Namaste. Love & Light.
Very well said.. thank you for your response. It was my life long dream to go live in Japan, and then when I finally did, it was very difficult once I started experiencing the discrimination, and it got the best of me. But now I have started to realise that its not something they are doing on purpose or to me personally, but something that is inbred into their culture, and so ingrained that it is almost semiconscious. I also like how you refer to their religion as ‘materialism’; unfortunately this is very true, and most Japanese are very anti-religion (even Buddhism) due to many cults/things that have happened in the past. I hope this time I can overcome the feelings of discrimination.
Dear Rinpoche,
I lived in Japan for 18 months, and will be going back this year. I had a hard time with the apparent racism/discrimination against foreigners, such as not being allowed in certain places, not being accepted etc. What would you recommend to try to deal with such things and to not get angry or upset about them? Thanks.