Aishiteru yo, Nihon
It was on this exact day one year ago a seismic event and the subsequent tsunami the likes of which we never ever want to see hit the island nation that is Japan. It not only destroyed thousands of lives, it took them. As a man who is deeply in love with everything that the Japanese culture has to offer, from Anime to their Music, to the wonders they have provided in the field of technology, It’s an extreme understatement to say that what occurred shattered my heart into a million tiny fragments that were then melted over the burning black flame that is death. Watching the raging 65 foot tsunami slowly make it’s way through Rikuzentakata reminded me of nightmares i used to have as a child.
This nightmare was real.
The entire night and the following day felt like it was all in slow motion, all the while feeling as though my organs were forcefully ripped from my abdomen. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t study, couldn’t enjoy anything because the thought of those people suffering was too overbearing. I cried for those people who lost their families, their homes, their lives. It’s something I hope that I never have to see happen ever again.
But through this tragedy, this vile game the earth has played on the 19,000 people who lost their lives that day, the Japanese people didn’t falter. Their discipline, resilience and their poise throughout this disaster shone through like a beacon of light in the dead of night. If this had happened to any other country, riots, looting and mass chaos would ensue. The Japanese kept their composure with the utmost pride.
You Japan, have my everlasting love, admiration, and respect.
I pray for the ones who have lost their families, those who must start from scratch and those who even a year later are still sifting through mountains of debris hoping to find the ones they love.
“Our predecessors who brought prosperity to Japan have repeatedly risen up from crises, every time becoming stronger, we will stand by the people from the disaster-hit areas and join hands to achieve the historic task of rebuilding.” -Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.
Let this be a reminder to us that human life is an incredibly fragile existence. Cherish what you have. Your family, friends your Life.
Aishiteru yo, Nihon.
