A Japanese Actor's Message (part 3):Think and Imagine the Truth Behind the Scenes

Following is the translation of the text from Tatsumi Takuro, Japanese actor's blog ( http://ameblo.jp/tatsumitakuro/entry-10837023303.html).

 

"Good News!"

My friend in Ishinomaki finally called; his first since that initial satphone call. “I finally made it home. I’m okay. Thank you!” The knot in my stomach released as my eyes teared up uncontrollably.

Something of a technophobe, I never considered writing a blog. Pressure from friends inspired me to begin my “Michikusa Nikki” (Dawdling Diary), which over a five-day period garnered some 2.5 million hits. Along with a sense of gratitude, I feel a heavy responsibility. I’m filled with the urge to reply to everyone who left comments, but it’s just not possible. I will however endeavor to post updates.

There is an error that I must correct here: In my previous blog, “Jigoku” (Hell…), I mentioned “evacuation centers.” However, it seems these places were not “designated evacuation areas,” but more aptly described as “places to which people evacuated.” In other words, as the first choices for evacuation were swallowed up by the tsunami, survivors waded to buildings poking up through the waters like a patchwork of tiny islands. As these locations were confirmed, it seems a few relief goods began to trickle in.  However, from the perspective of these survivors, viewing the horrible spectacle around them, they must have felt relatively safe. When the water finally receded, those who still had them, returned to their homes; the remaining folks seemed to have made their way safely to evacuation centers. 

I speculate that reasons they didn’t make their whereabouts known include thoughts that many more folks were probably far worse off, and not wanting to be bombarded by media types.

Word that “children are starving” carried such a sense of dread it quickly echoed through the web, spreading over the world like another tsunami. He regrets making the statement now. However, bear his situation in mind. With no medical personnel on hand to determine actual cause of death, he described the death of children with nothing to eat as “starvation.”

Unable to stop myself from playing the role of reporter, I selected this particularly impressive phrase from the many things he told me.

“Even if you come here, there is really nothing you can do. Perhaps it would be better if you lent us a hand once we’re back on our feet.”

It’s been ten days since the initial quake. Search and rescue operations are still underway. Amid growing concerns about damaged nuclear power facilities, and continuing after shocks, the number of victims remains unclear. A rosy path forward (the mission of television I think), and myriad video images are being beamed into our homes, however, actual recovery, especially in coastal communities, still seems a long way off.

I must store up my energy until that day. Yes, I will continue doing all that I can here, while looking forward to the earliest opportunity to go to the disaster zone to see what I can do there.