[English] I've been to Tohoku areas where 3.11 earthquake and the previous big typhoon have hit.

Hello.
Today, I'm writing this entry in my poor English because I'd like to people who can't understand Japanese know the situation or what one of Japanese think.(There is another reason that I don't want Japanese to read this blog post because this topic is sensitive.)

Where I went was Ishinomaki city in Miyagi. You could see unbelievably devastated situation easily if you were there. However, letting you to imagine the depressed scenes is not what I'd like to do. So I will tell you what I thought.


●Beautiful nature
I often gazed in wonder at beautiful nature there. You know, there are remains of houses and cars that washed away, but I couldn't feel sad all the time thanks to it. The splendid views on the beaches and from the mountains have been making people relax as well, to some extent, regardless of their conscious. (even if there were lots of floating bodies soon after 3.11.)

Also, fishes and meets are so delicious. One of my friends who moved to Ishinomaki city from Tokyo in order to give a help to them said, "it is nice that I can eat delicious and fresh foods easily instead of being in convenient." It hit me that we pay for something in nature that people have for free once, in exchange of convenience or material abundance that don't necessarily mean being happy.

At the same time, I think that if the earthquake hit Tokyo where has no nature, it would be a kind of hell. Everything would go off. The atmosphere would get gloomy and depressed. I don't even want to imagine that.


●People have their wills
On the last day to work, we went to the area typhoon has hit although people didn't have any damage on 3.11.

Then, it was the first time to work with people as talking something. The most surprising thing was they were so energetic and vital. They looked no longer depressed. They rather had warm hearts to take care of volunteers as giving food and drink, that were provided by some companies.

There was no difference among men and women, the younger people and the older people. They had their wills to get their own lives back same as before. We just follow their instruction given by women most of the time.(This was surprising for me too. Most of the men living there also didn't understand what they should do same as volunteers on some parts. haha)


●To just follow them
It would be tough and so long way to go. We must support them. But it doesn't mean we must feel sorry for them. Their future will be bright as long as they have their wills. What we should do is to just follow them as volunteering or donating without any concern. We can revitalize Japan together.

If you have any opportunity to come here Japan to go to Tohoku area, do not be too serious. I think they would look happier with beautiful nature than you think. They live their own lives.
You could see warm and energetic people there although I'm not sure what they actually think.