The most powerful quake in Japan’s recorded history killed 20,000 and triggered a massive crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The power plant meltdown eventually forced an evacuation of 100,000 residents from the area.
A year later, Japan is rediscovering traditional values that have equipped its society to cope with disaster, said Kumiko Gonzalez at dinner following the Toronto Japanese Catholic Community Mass at the Scarboro Missions chapel.
“They emphasize harmony,” said Gonzalez. “At one point, Japan was really materialistic. After the tsunami people realized that old-fashioned ways are very important.”
The ways being rediscovered include an emphasis on “Kizuna.” Represented by two kanji characters meaning “bond” or “ties,” it’s a concept Catholics would associate with solidarity and communion, said Yuka Okada.
That traditional Japanese values would come to the fore doesn’t surprise veteran missionary Fr. Tom O’Toole.
“They work as a group, you know,” said the Scarboro Missions priest who spent 27 years in Japan. “They knuckle down. They’re tough.”
Visiting Toronto from Japan, Redemptorist Father Yoshiyuki Hagihara said the prospect of decades of cleaning up and rebuilding after the quake had brought a new seriousness to Japanese society. Unemployment, loss of the fishery, fears about radiation-affected food and the realization many have been left isolated in the Tohoku region hardest hit by the quake has caused people to try to reclaim a sense of community. Television announcers have urged prayers on behalf of quake victims, teams of volunteers are making door-to-door checks on the elderly and volunteer cleaning crews have recovered and cleaned thousands of family photographs from the rubble, said Hagihara.
People who have lost everything are able to search the recovered photographs for family and friends they haven’t seen since the quake.
“Some people lost their daughters and sons. These people remember their sons and daughters in the pictures only. They want to keep the memory,” said Hagihara.
Mariko Lilifeldt has faith in the Japanese will to survive.
“They lost everything, but they didn’t lose hope,” she said. “They never give up.”
“They are more community focussed now,” said Yuka Okada.
Prayers for the victims of Japan Disaster of March 11
O God, full of mercy, you are always with us and share our joys and sorrows.
Help and encourage those who still suffer from last year's earthquake of March 11th.
We offer sacrifices for them and pray for them. May those people affected by the quake and tsunami live safely soon.
May those who lost their lives rest in peace with you.
We offer you thanks through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
東日本大震災被災者のための祈り
あわれみ深い神さま、あなたはどんな時にも私たちから離れることなく、喜びや悲しみを共にしてくださいます。
去年の三月十一日の大震災によって今も苦しむ人々のために、あなたの助けと励ましを与えてください。私たちもその人たちのために犠牲をささげ、祈ります。そして一日も早く、安心して暮らせる日がきますように。また震災で亡くなられたすべての人々が、あなたのもとで安らかに憩っておられますように。主キリストによって。アーメン