Sunday, May 1, 2011

Gov't assumes 3 yrs for removal of debris from disaster areas (by Mainichi Shimbun)



Workers remove a damaged car from the debris at an area devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, Monday, April 4, 2011. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man )

http://mdn.mainichi.jp

Mainichi Shimbun, May 1, 2011

Love blooms at shelter as evacuee and volunteer set to marry (by Mainichi Shimbun)


From right, Nozomi Murakami, her son Yunosuke, and Seiki Abe are pictured at Shizugawa Elementary School in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 22. (Mainichi)

Mainichi Shimbun, May 1, 2011
http://mdn.mainichi.jp

Life in Limbo for Japanese Near Nuclear Plant (by NYT)



National Police Agency chief Takaharu Ando, center, in protective gear in Futaba, a town now almost deserted after a 12-mile evacuation zone was declared in northeastern Japan.
http://www.nytimes.com

"Why the kids in Japan have to go through this hardship?"--A girl's question to Pope

Pope Benedict XVI responded to a question from a girl living in Japan,"Why do the kids in Japan have to go through such a terrifying and sad thing," through a TV program by RAI, Italian national TV network.

The girl is 7-year-old Elena Matsuki, living in Chiba Prefecture. She asked Pope a question through a video letter recorded at the balcony of her apartment.

Pope responded by saying, "I myself have been asking that question and there might not be an answer. Jesus Christ suffered from being falsely charged with the crime he did not commit and he would always be with you."

According to Elena's 63-year-old grandma, when the earthquake hit, Elena was at her home, an apartment on the10th floor with her mother and experienced strong shaking many times. Elena later learned that many children died from the quake, the question she asked Pope occurred to her.

Pope also said, "Your sorrow never goes away. However, people around the world are thinking about the Japanese people and I pray for all the suffering children in Japan."

Asahi Shimbun, April 23, 2011
http://www.asahi.com

Translated by Yuka Yamashita