Japan stands strong: seeing is believing

Dilani Yasara Jayalath

Today marks the two years remembrance of the dreadful Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, which struck northeast part of Japan. This natural calamity claimed thousands of lives across the regions causing severe damages to property and real estates.

Farming in Japan

Shopping mall in Japan

Debris left behind by the tsunami

The daily routine of the people and other administrative functions were halted creating immense hardships to the people. However, the great courage and determinative nature of the Japanese people were evident in the aftermath of the disaster and Japan has been able to accomplish recovery rapidly.

Being invited by the Japanese government under the KIZUNA project (KIZUNA means ‘bonds of friendship’), I was fortunate to have visited the Iwate Prefecture in the Tohoku region in Japan. The recovery was amazing as was evident in this prefecture, especially in Tono, Rikuzentakata, Otsuchi and Kamaishi cities, which were severely damaged by the tsunami in 2011. Reconstruction projects are in progress in the Iwate prefecture based on three main principles namely, ensuring safety, rebuilding lives and restoring livelihoods.

These are clearly enumerated in an official document entitled Iwate Prefecture Great East Earthquake Post-tsunami Reconstruction Implementation Plan’ a document publicised by the Planning Division, Reconstruction Bureau, Prefectural government of August 2011. These principles clearly emphasise that the Japanese government has a clear vision on rebuilding the Tohoku region in a sustainable manner. According to the reconstruction plan, 2011 to 2013 was designated as ‘Infrastructure Recovery and Emergency’ while 2014 to 2016 has been designated as the period of ‘Full-scale Reconstruction’ and the final phase covering 2017 to 2018 is named as ‘Further Development Era’; a very positive outlook towards the making of a new Japan.

Large scale construction projects

The reconstruction of basic infrastructure facilities in Iwate prefecture are in progress on a rapid pace with the help of voluntary organisations and other government agencies. The cooperation by the people in Iwate area for the reconstruction process is highly commendable. This reminded me of Japan’s rise from the ashes of destruction after World War II. A totally devastated country was uplifted into a developed nation through the tenacious commitment of the people of Japan.

Reconstruction activities in Iwate

Reconstructing infrastructure is not the only thing that matters in people’s lives. The well-being of the individuals depend on a variety of indicators such as health, education and shelter. There are several ongoing programmes focused on health and education for those affected by the disasters. Apart from that, temporally housing have been provided in the area they used to live in but in a more organised town planning structure.

The hospitals in the region are well developed and they provide a great service to the people in the region. Maintaining the living standard is not problematic as the support of the committed officials of the administration in the Iwate prefecture. However, the devastated city areas are still visible with ruined buildings here and there, a sad reminder of that disaster. I sensed that the people are moving forward with their lives with a heavy heart amidst the unforgettable memories of the tragedy that struck them.

This is evident from the sight of paddy fields, which are almost prepared and ready for the cultivation. Several voluntary organisations and people in the area are working together to cultivate in coming spring.

The fact that the tsunami has made these people stronger is commendable. There are temporary shopping areas and small boutiques providing for people’s daily needs and the shopkeepers maintain reasonable prices for provisions in the cities as a relief measure for the affected people.

Even people from other prefectures have been involved in construction activities and agriculture activities in the Iwate prefecture, in a showoff solidarity, togetherness and cooperation among the Japanese people. Even during heavy snowfall, voluntary organisations and governmental agencies make every possible effort to make the lives of the people more comfortable. Undoubtedly, this evidently shows the amount of kindness and love they bear towards their home land and how much they are indebted to their nation.

Voluntary activities

Japan is always subjected to natural disasters. Nature has been testing the courage and resilience of the Japanese people throughout the history by causing various natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis. The Japanese people never involve in any kind of environmental pollution and always seek to find novel ways of protecting the environment. This was evident in the way Japan tries to remove the large amount of debris left behind by the tsunami. There are loads and loads of debris in the Iwate prefecture due to the tsunami. Here debris are categorized carefully according to their grades of recyclability and are disposed or reused in an environmentally friendly manner.

Debris Management

Disaster management has been of very high standard in Japan as it is subjected to natural disasters such as tsunami, earthquakes and typhoons from time to time. Iwate prefectural government has a well-organised disaster management bureau to deal with disaster situations.

They make people aware of disasters and support them to evacuate fast. Moreover, fire brigades and logistic support sections are always ready for the disasters. It is admirable that the Iwate prefecture has established disaster management units and other supportive sections to face any kind of disaster situations.

Japan as a friendly nation respects the cultures, values and promotes peace and harmony. The Japanese culture and its constant preparedness to face natural disasters has strengthened Japan day by day and made them resilient and positive in outlook.

With these inborn qualities, Japanese people in the Tohoku region accepted the tsunami as a great challenge, which came as a blessing in disguise to test the tolerance levels and their determination.

However, Japan lost lives of people and other properties due to the disaster, but as a strong nation, Japan has always stood strong to rebuild the nation and the economy giving it a new outlook. Iwate prefecture is a good example of a strong city where even nature’s negative forces are harnessed towards development. Japan will stay strong in the face of challenges through commitment, mutual support and proper management.

The writer was on a visit to Iwate, a prefecture hit by the Tsunami in March 2011, as part of the KIZUNA project