Japan Nuclear Plant in Quake Zone to Close as Precaution (by NYT)

The Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant of Chubu Electric, in central Japan, on May 7.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/world/asia/10tokyo.html?ref=world

Quake-hit city suspends food rationing over lack of fairness fears (by Mainichi Shimbun)

About 500 to 600 people wait in line to receive rations in front of JR Watanoha station in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on May 3, 2011. (Mainichi)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110509p2a00m0na011000c.html

Japan Reaffirms Nuclear Energy Use (by NYT)

The view on Sunday from an observation deck at the Hamaoka nuclear plant, which the government wants to shut down until protections can be built.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/world/asia/10japan.html?_r=1&ref=world

Man made to work at Fukushima plant for 2 weeks without prior knowledge (by Mainichi Shimbun)

People in radiation protect suits walk in J-Village in Naraha, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan Tuesday, April 12, 2011. J-Village was a sports complex which has been converted to a base for workers at the tsunami-damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110509p2g00m0dm005000c.html

Strong desire to return hometown and teach

(by Mr. Kengo Yoshikawa (26), a teacher returned to the parents’ home in Tarou, Miyako City)

I came home after 40 days, and felt relieved to find out that everyone including my family are doing better that I had expected. I am also glad that Tarou Ichi Elememtary School, the one I graduated from, is still in good condition. I teach in Shizuoka right now, but I started to feel the strong desire to teach the children in my hometown who encountered the tsunami.

Iwate Nippo, Tsugaru Tendenko ~ Messages from the disaster hit areas~ 

http://www.iwate-np.co.jp/tendenko.html

Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano

Even to this area… I was speechless

(by Ms. Motoko Miura (64), a housewife living as an evacuee at Nochinoiri Community Center in Ofunato City)

The tsunami approached just in front of my face, and I hurt my left leg when running away from it. I watched from the high ground that houses and cars were washed away. I did not expect that tsunami would come to even this area and was speechless. I will think about the future after moving in to the temporary housing.

Iwate Nippo, Tsugaru Tendenko ~ Messages from the disaster hit areas~ 

http://www.iwate-np.co.jp/tendenko.html

Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano

Taking care of the graves with respect and sincerity

This is the burial site for about 350 people died from the earthquake and the tsunami disaster in Higashi Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture. There are a group of men who take care of the graves. They pour the water for flowers and level the mound by hands. After that work, they give silent prayers and move to the next mound. They are the employees of three construction companies in the city. Grave markers are in line with flowers and offerings neatly placed in front.

These three construction companies are in charge of digging up the ground for temporary burial and reburial to the permanent grave. Right after the disaster, they were fully occupied just to bury the victim’s bodies delivered there one after another. The grave markers were in disorder and the mounds were uneven. When the chaos of burying the victims somehow became settled, the employees voluntarily decided to straighten up the graveyard.

The families of the deceased express the great appreciation for their sincere attitude in caring the graves.
There are 20 men in total, and some are young in their twenties. There are some who lost their own families, and five among them come to work from the evacuation center. No one complain or gripe about the job. The supervisor (63) said, “The young people might realize the importance of mourning the dead. I know they cry when they go home. It is a hard job. They are working very hard bearing the sorrow and pain.”

Now their schedules are tight with reburials, but they try to find slightest time to come and care for the graves. “We must pay the respect,” a man said and went back to his work.

Sankei Shimbun, May 3, 2011
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/affairs/news/110503/dst11050318010023-n1.htm


Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano