Japan Earthquake Hits Home

Feeling such sadness over the extraordinary destruction from the Japan earthquake and tsunami. The main area affected by the earthquake and tsunami is Miyagi Prefecture, located in the northern part of the island of Honshu. I cannot imagine the confusion, pain, and terror of the people directly impacted by this disaster. Looking at pictures and videos of the devastation bring such a heaviness to my heart. Those poor, poor people. Their lives just washed away.

Photo courtesy of mapsoftheworld.com

This hits home for me and my family, as we have relatives in Japan. My mother is Japanese and her sisters and their families live in Kyoto, which is located in the central part of the island of Honshu. We have been in contact with them and they are safe. We also have friends there, who also have been in contact, and are safe. Fortunately, we don't personally know anyone in or around the area of destruction.

My mom has been glued to her t.v. since Friday, watching Japanese television on satellite, saddened by what she has seen, but also feeling a great sense of pride at how the Japanese people have reacted. In face of such tragedy, they have remained calm and collected, orderly and respectful. Peaceful.

There is no looting going on, people are waiting patiently in line for food, water, and gas, and there is no riotous behavior whatsoever. Why? Because the Japanese people place their community needs above their own. Things like looting don't happen there.

It's this sense of community that assures me that they will recover, they will rebuild, and they will flourish again. It also makes me extraordinarily proud to be half Japanese!

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