Chaffey alumnus reports from Japan, Part 4

Notes from Japan by Nori Kosuge

Nori Kosuge graduated in the summer of 1993 and returned to Japan in August 1993. Kosuge is an artist whose specialty is a Japanese art form called paper-cutting.

The following concludes Kosuge's report of the aftermath of the 9.0 earthquake which struck on March 11.

April 23

My family, especially my sister Yuka and my 10-month-old niece Saki, were about to move to where I live. They had just bought a new house last year and they figured that nowhere is safe today.

They still have aftershocks, which perhaps will last more than a year. I think these aftershocks are too strong to call them aftershocks. My parents still feel seasick as I mentioned in my earlier post.

I still don't see certain kinds of batteries and portable radios. Sometimes I still see sold out signs for bottled water on vending machines. Water has been sent to the victims. Stores keep announcing not to buy out anything.

Although our government says "It is alright," I have no idea what is alright. I keep asking myself, "What is it all for?"

The victims of the earthquake have made a fresh start in reconstruction. The focus (epicenter) has to be sealed so the residents there must move out. They criticized the government and Tokyo Electric Company because their  reaction was too slow. Donations and volunteers have come, not only from Japan, but from all over the world; however money from Tokyo Electric Company was angrily refused.

We have started to think of living without nuclear power plants in the future. Tons of debris must be cleaned, yet they have no idea what to do. A scholar has said that the debris will reach Hawaii next year and reach the US west coast in about three years.

Tokyo Disneyland was reopened at the beginning of April. School children from the focus began the new school year at shelters all over the country.

I hear that some had moved to Fukuoka, where I live. I hope they have bright futures and everything will be alright for them.

APRIL 8

Today's news broadcasters reported that the radioactivity from the nuclear power plant in Fukushima covers the northern hemisphere. The situation is more serious than we thought and feel that our government is acting too slowly.

The survivors have started leaving the area most affected by the earthquake and tsunami. They have dispersed all over the country. A few stayed, but most of them have decided to leave for a safer environment.

Most of them cannot work because their workplaces were hit by the tsunami. The products from the key industries, such as agriculture and fishing, are not wanted because of the radioactive contamination.

By summer many of the companies will be out of business. "This is not a natural disaster but a man-made disaster," one fisherman said angrily, in reference to the nuclear plant damage. Most people who work for primary industries (fishing and agriculture) work for small private companies and others are self-employed. There is no government help or subsidies for them.

Chiba prefecture, where my family lives, is a peninsula with the east side facing the Pacific Ocean and the other facing Tokyo Bay. They live in the Tokyo Bay area, which is reclamation land. Reclamation land is man-made land built on sea or riverbeds. My parents have seen some cracks in the streets with posted "Keep Out" signs because sea water is seeping through.

The Tokyo Bay area is almost 100% reclamation land. On a street near Tokyo Disneyland  a manhole has popped up about two meters (about six and one-half feet.)  Tokyo Disneyland has been closed since the earthquake. No one knows when it will re-open.

I have heard that if the earthquake had been centered in Tokyo, Japan would not have been able to function.

March 29

It has been two weeks since the earthquake in Japan. The deaths and those missing is over 16,000 as of March 29.

Nothing is in order and all still seems to be in confusion. Radioactivity was found in the water in the Tokyo area.

Fukushima prefecture is where the nuclear power plant faces the Pacific Ocean, so the fishing industry will be damaged soon. On the other hand tons of crops and seafood have already been wasted due to radioactivity. The local industry is agriculture and fishing; no one wants their products.

The victims and survivors are still waiting for food, water, medicine and electricity. They are hypersensitive of radioactive pollution…water, crops and marine products and of course they can't drink tap water. Water companies work day and night to supply clean water, not only for the focus, but also everywhere else.

Even those who have nothing to with the damage started buying out groceries and say, "Just in case." It makes serious shortage of supplies to the victims. We call it "rumor damage" due to information through the internet; it blows things up.

At least the victims want to remove the debris, but even a piece of a dish is private property. It will take four to five years just to remove the debris.

They are not yet ready to recover their hometown.

March 18.

 It has been one week since the earthquake in Northeast Japan. The total of the dead and missing is increasing day by day. Even survivors are under tough conditions; shortage of food, electricity and especially dependable information.

Ironically today's technology is useless in such a disaster. Cell phones cannot be charged. I saw many people waiting in line in front of a phone booth.  The computer is also useless. The electricity is out of order due to the accident at the nuclear power plant.