E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Norikazu Tateishi / AP
In this March 22 photo, Manami Kon, using Japanese hiragana characters she just learned, writes a letter for her mother who's still missing after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami at the devastated city of Miyako, northeastern Japan. The 4-year-old Manami wrote, "Dear Mommy. I hope you're alive. Are you okay?" It took about an hour for her to finish it. Twenty days after the disaster that hit Japan's northeastern coast, her parents and a sister were still unaccounted for.
Norikazu Tateishi / AP
In this March 22, 2011 photo, Manami Kon, 4, waits for her parents and younger sister who are still missing after the March 11 massive earthquake and tsunami, in Miyako, northern Japan.
Norikazu Tateishi / AP
In this March 22, 2011 photo, 4-year-old Manami Kon exchanges a high-five with her grandmother at the devastated city of Miyako, northeastern Japan. Manami Kon's mother is still missing after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Read about the latest developments in Japan and see more images in our slideshow.
Related content: 'I will come again tomorrow': Boy, 9, desperately searches for missing family in Japan.
Leave a Comment:
;(
i wish her mother still alive.....
it's so sad to c this......
i pray for her....
god bless her....n her mother
whatmins you suck
@whatmins: just what, exactly, is wrong with you?!?! How can you say such a thing? The child is 4 YEARS OLD and, what's more, there are dozens if not hundreds of others like her in the same situation. At least she still has her grandmother; some of these kids have NO ONE LEFT. I'm a PETA supporter but if this is what they are advocating then I'll just put my donation somewhere else and you can go get stuffed!
What a complete and total douche!! If you wanted to get a rise out of everyone, you just did it. This is a baby we are talking about. May God forgive you for what you have said.
Manami he,
Ki wo tsukete yo. itsudemo itsudemo, Kokoro ha anata no ryoshin to imouto san wo ikiteru yo! anata no kao ha hontou ni utsukushii yo. ganbarre! fi-to-! obaasan ha ii ne... obaasan ha subarashii obaasan mite no... issyouni wo ikitteruyo!
tomodachi,
ryuchann
まなみ へ、
気をつけてよ。 いつでもいつでも、心はあなたの両親と妹さんを生きてるよ！あなたのかおは本当に美しいよ！フィーと！おばあさんはいいね。 おばあさんはすばらしいおばあさん見ての。一生にを生きてるよ！
友達、
りゅうちゃん
my bad translation:
Take care yourself Manami. In your heart is living your family and sister forever and ever. Your face is really beautiful. Don't give up and keep up the hope! Your grandmom seems really wonderful so please keep fighting to live together as a family.
your friend,
Ryuchann
Your words to whatmins won't matter - it's a troll. Just hit "!" and "Inflammatory" and it will go away.
@whatmins...you are a complete jerk! while i dont condone whaling, i do condone living...we do not have the right to be anyone's judge and jury...everyone is accountable for their actions...but for you to be this excited over thousands of deaths shows that you are a complete and total moron! life is precious and this child is 4 yrs old and basically alone in this world except for her grandmother...i know it's hard to do with you being ignorant and all but think for a second what you would do if the world that you knew was suddenly wiped out when you were 4! I pray that this child finds her family alive and well, but if not then i pray that she never has to meet people like you!
For God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame . HE chose the WEAK things of this world to put the powerful to shame...God spirit is in you my child, and through Gods spirit you will understand his spiritual blessings.
@whatmins...try looking at petakillsanimals.com As a Board member of a shelter, PETA will never get another dollar of mine!!!!!! You are a disgrace to the human race!
@whatmins. So you support the efforts of terrorist groups? As for your comment towards the little girl, you heartless ass!! You should be air dropped into the middle of Sendei, no Parachute!
It breaks my heart to know she's only one of many children who are missing their parents.
@whatmins - you must be one of the PETA @!$%#s who literally stepped in front of me and stopped me from entering the EMERGENCY ROOM of a hospital when I was pregnant with a very difficult pregnancy. I almost lost my son 6 times. Who does that? Who stops a VERY pregnant woman from going into an emergency room at midnight? PETA, that's who. I love animals - except the animals who call themselves PETA. They give "inhumane" a whole new definition. And your words here are truly inhumane!
how heart wrenching!!! So many people have lost their family, friends, everything. I pray that people will give of their hearts and their finances to help these people.
She is just precious, it just breaks my heart. I just love the picture of her smile when she is high fiving her grandma.
Me too. I have a 4 year old and it breaks my heart thinking about a child that young being separated from her family like this. At least she has her grandmother to look after her.
anybody who supports PETA should be shot
Whatmins, maybe God needs to strike you down, this is a four year old trying to cope as best as a four year old can to a tragedy and not totally understanding where her mother and other siblings have gone. Obviously you do not have a shred of humanity in you for the comment you left. I am hoping you left it just to get a rise out of people, but alas I suspect you really do feel this way. PETA people make me ill, for as the Bible, koran and most religeous books say we are to have dominion over the animals, even God has killed animals down to the brink of extinction( the flood).
Oof.
Gutcheck time, folks. What a heartbreaking story. Let's keep them all in our thoughts and/or prayers.
It is super hard for me to read these stories. Here is another one that just breaks my heart. I am so happy she is with her grandmother and the high five brought another round of tears.
There is absolutely no reason to be mean to these people. No reason whatsoever.
Comment # 1.1 deleted. A "they had it coming" derail. whatmins, don't death wish please.
wat
Dear lovely Manami..
I'm very sad to see this..
I hope ur mother still alive and get to see u again..
Hiks...;(
I wish everything to that little i almost cried when i saw that i do wish her good luck and pray 4 her
God comforts and will take care of his children in times of sorrow and despair, be strong and seek refuge in him. The hearts of the Americans are with you, you will never be left alone in spirit. We Love you Manami!
Troll alert. Does that have ANYTHING to do with the article? No. Take it some place else.
-back to the article now
Stories like this just break my heart :-( I really hope her family is okay... it's just hard knowing how many people have lost their lives to this devastation already.
Oh and that's for John, not Tim! Don't want any confusion here! :(
Should be for both. Admonishing a mystified and grieving child-victim of the Japan tragedy to "seek refuge in" what amounts to a sky-fairy is patently idiotic. Certainly the Abrahamic religions' characterization of this "god-thing" would bear responsibility for her suffering. Now these dolts would have her debase herself to a supposed "god" who slaughtered thousands of people? How f@#ked-up, exactly, would you have her be? Quit being so pathetically addle-brained.
Empathy for her condition, sympathy for her apparent losses and donations to remediate her material hardships are all appropriate. Telling her to "pray" and "seek refuge" just magnifies the psychological trauma. Go blather this dogmatic tripe elsewhere -- the poor girl does not need to entertain your inscrutable and unsubstantial self-delusions.
Pray? Really? How insufferably -- and moronically -- inappropriate...
jhoopy, STFU, and if you don't believe, who cares? We don't. We just believe. Stop with name calling, and leave your lack of a God out of this. This is about a little girl, not whether she believes in Him. Go now, and stop trolling please. We really don't care about what you think, just keep it to yourself.
Whatmins should be totally ashamed of the attitude he has taken towards the heartbreak of a 4 year old child. He is totally heartless in his feelings. It would be nice if he could find it in his heart to feel the anguish and sadness she is going through, and the difficulty she must be having trying to understand why "Mommy" isn't there for her any longer. Shame on you for that, Whatmins.
However, I do believe his remark about the whaling was taken totally out of context. I believe he is condemning anyone who kills off these beautiful creatures, and I believe that he may be a member of PETA, which accounts for his ending his message with the word PETA. He may be taking it upon himself to speak on behalf of the organization with regard to the whaling industry in Japan. So, while I agree with your condeming his words regarding that beautiful child and her loss, let's not condemn an organization, such as PETA, for the work they do on behalf of God's non-human creatures.
Poor little girl, I'm glad she still has her grandmother. PETA--- If you want people to understand your views, than you must act like adults, instead of using nasty comments . You must work WITH people to help animals instead of against them. That's why I help OTHER animal organizations instead of YOURS.
Ok, so we've accomplished that everyone has their own opinion. GOOD FOR YOU; people who wants to solicit their negative views when they know they'll be anonymous, COWARDS is what you all are. If you don't believe in God, then congratulations, but that does not conclude that people who have faith are fools, and if they wish Gods blessings amongst these people, then so be it. Who are any of you so say otherwise.
Now on to the more important issue, this absolutely breaks my heart. I could not imafine having those thoughts of "is my mother alive?, is she ok?" I will proudly say I pray for those who have been affected. May God, whoever he may be to you (allah, jehovah...whoever they chose to believe in) watch over you, guide you and protect you all. I spoke my peace.
Therein lies the problem. Re-read my post. My exact point was that this represents an opportunity for empathic and sympathetic responses -- not proselytizing. And certainly not proselytizing a cherished if ill-supported delusion. It is not I behaving thoughtlessly in this regard.
Exactly. So please describe why prayer or "seeking refuge" should have ever come up. If censure is in the offing, it seems fair application would apply to posts suggesting this recourse. Recall my position was in rebuttal to already posted material. If fairytales are not posted, there is no need to rail against fairytales, now is there?
This is a blog about a young girl dealing with death of loved ones. I simply tire of religious people using tragedy to sell their system of strictures and mythology. And no, "la la la" denial is not seemly.
My point was quite straightforward, but I'll put it another way: when a grieving child reaches out, she should be met with an agenda-less, sympathetic hug, a wipe for her eyes and something soothing to eat and drink -- not with the metaphorical sheet of scripture. I suggest that my position has a certain moral advantage over prayer...
Forgive whatmins yall, for he know not what he say or do!!! He just want some attention, and what do we tell the devil....GET UNDER MY FEET DEVIL...I AM THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL... U R THE BOTTOM AND IAM THE TOP.... I REBUKE U N THE NAME OF JESUS!!!!!!!AMEN!!!
JHOOPY-just because you don't believe in God doesn't give you the right to verbally persecute those that do-like you said, this is a board for opinions, where we agree and disagree, but no need to "burn anyone at the stake" or "behead" anyone just because their view/belief in a higher being doesn't line up with yours-ultimately that's what happened to the jews with the holocaust, and martyrs all over the world. You gotta start learning to respect others' views even if they are starkly in contrast with yours.
That letter and others written by children that can't find their loved ones should be published into a book because I'm sure there are others out there, and it's beautiful what the little girl wrote and at the end she asks "are you okay?", and it took her an hour to write what looks like 2 1/2 sentences because she's just learning to write, OMG, it's adorable and heartbreaking at the same time!!!!
May "GOD" put the right people in her life always to bring her joy, comfort, lots of giggles, snips and snails, and puppy dog tails-anything that will keep her happy and safe, and not afraid or sad!!!!
Well, unless their views are just batsh-t crazy.
Renee
when you discuss deity you are "spreading the word", when others discuss lack of deity you term it "persecution". What a disconnect. You say believe because we were told so. They say disbelieve because you have a mind to think logically. You are not persecuted in this regard, you are merely defenseless. You would interpret the absence of God as a proof of his existence and if that doesn't work, you will blame lack of faith.
I have done no such thing, so please stop with the strawman demonizing. My bone of contention is with those who thoughtlessly suggest that this poor girl should, as a matter of her recovery, entertain their own cherished religious fairytales -- and this, despite the mind-numbing paradoxical requirement of simultaneously thanking "God" for sparing her and her grandmother whilst failing to acknowledge that if such an agent existed, he/she/it would concomitantly be guilty of murdering thousands of innocent Japanese and holding survivors to a relatively bleak (from an irradiation standpoint) future. The position is, frankly, childishly obtuse and grotesquely illogical. I cannot imagine recommending this to anyone, much less a devastated, innocent and impressionable child.
If there is a God in any of this, one would have to say he/she/it needs to treat her better. I suggest thanking such a brute is so much self-debasing tripe and speaks to a fairly twisted and repressed psyche.
No "persecution". Just not a lot of tolerance for inanity -- and not a great inclination to extend a waiver for responsible and sympathetic behavior to those who would leverage tragedy to promote a religious agenda.
Pardon the pun, but thank God for earthquakes, tsunamis and leaking reactors? What the hell for? How about we just stick to cleaning up the mess and helping the victims?
jhoop56 wrote the following:
If there is a God in any of this, one would have to say he/she/it needs to treat her better. I suggest thanking such a brute is so much self-debasing tripe and speaks to a fairly twisted and repressed psyche.
No "persecution". Just not a lot of tolerance for inanity -- and not a great inclination to extend a waiver for responsible and sympathetic behavior to those who would leverage tragedy to promote a religious agenda.
I'm confused. You say you are not trying to persecute the faithful or those that believe in God, yet you turn right around call it inanity? While I am not super religious myself, I don't think it is very productive to bad mouth or dismiss the feelings and beliefs of others. Despite what you may think, there are those that DO find comfort in their faith when faced with immense tragedy. Why are you so against anyone suggesting that this child look to her faith for comfort, if it was something that worked for them? Is it not in our nature to try to make suggestions to those in need based on what worked for ourselves? Granted looking toward a higher being for some sort of comfort and understanding may not be possible for this little girl. But, don't call the effort or mere suggestion inane or supporting a fairytale just because that is what you think it is. Why not let this little girl and others like her try whatever they need to, to move past this tragic event? And if that means praying to God, then so be it. To many, their faith is very powerful and very real. Just because you can't see it or understand it doesn't mean that it is a pointless act. Nor does the mentioning of a higher power necessarily a push to convert someone or further a religious agenda. I find it very interesting that you seem to automatically draw the conclusion that the religious have to be up to something when they dare mention the existence of a God. You may believe that those that are religious are short sighted, but you sound like you are too.
Massively off-topic. Shame on you people. Go have a religious fight somewhere else.
Excuse me, but I am allowed to state my opinion whether you agree with it or not. My heart does go out to this little girl and her tragic losses. As my name implies, I am a mother and I cannot imagine the heart wrenching devastation this little girl must be feeling, and sadly there are many children in her situation as well. Shame on me? Shame on you for judging me. If you even bothered to read my post fully then you'd know that I'm not just concerned with a religious point of view here.
Ah, ok. This is a religious convocation whose unstated purpose is to provide metaphorical corkboard, vases and novena candles for people to vent emotively. I misunderstood -- it looked like a blog, but okay. Now that I understand, let me take another stab at this. Instead of merely stating that I hope Minami finds peace, joy and hopeful purpose despite these horrific circumstances, I will include the apparently obligatory invocation expected of those who post to this article:
"Oh mighty God, please bless Minami and those who would care for her -- now, you know, that Your earthquake and tsunami pretty much ripped her world apart. But hey, we are stupid and You are so very Big and Smart, so we know there is a reason, even if thousands of innocents were killed -- this must have been part of Your Plan. Oh, and please help with the reactors -- we know there is a reason for that, too, so no worries. And the fractured economy. And maybe the contaminated ground water. But that's all... Well, maybe the fish, too, okay? Help us to believe all this cra... er, stuff -- and as always we trust in Your benevolent use of Almighty power. Amen!"
Gosh, I feel tingly. Is that the Holy Spirit? Oh, wait. My bad. I had a 5-hour energy...
How rude.
If, by "rude", you imply wittily crafted and critically accurate, I accept your assessment. I think it unseemly and presumptuous of you to criticize my prayer, however. Co-exist, right?
May I criticize the sarcastic arrogance of the above comment towards a thread that has been blown WAY out of proportion? Let's keep this about the little girl, leave religion and politics and sarcastic prayers out of it please.
I couldn't hold my tears. I hope your parents and your younger sister come alive. May God watch you over throughout your life. We love you.
This is heartwrenching. I can't imagine what this poor child is going through. I pray that her grandmother lives a long life to care for her. I also pray for a miracle that they find her family, but it seems doubtful after so much time.
I just love when the real PETA members express their true Nature.
Applemomma,
I'm hoping that her family was separated, is all right, and they are just not able to find each other yet. Or worst case, maybe even seriously injured but alive and that is why they have not found each other yet. I hope MSNBC follows this story, no matter what the outcome.
Why do so many of us go looking for unsettling stimuli? Voyeurism at its finest. It's hellish to look for suffering daily on a voluntary basis.
HEART-felt Blessings to this young child and for her Grandmother too.
Manami: You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that your family is found to be safe. Stay strong sweetheart.
@whatmins---really?? they're all dead and they deserved it for all this horrible whaling they do! ??? if in fact you are a member of PETA, shame on you!!
The very heart of all of PETA's actions is the idea that it is the right of all beings—human and nonhuman alike—to be free from harm.
my heart goes out to this little girl, and her remaining family. no one human, or nonhuman should have to endure such tragedy! keep your small minded opinions to yourself!! you obviously don't have any idea what you are talking about!
This message is for whatmins u for real, u are the meanest person I knew.
How could you say that you have no heart what so ever. let me ask you somthing
put you self in her shoe if your parents were missing and sis or brother and you were 4 years
old would you like some one say that about your parents. i think its time for you to keep your
useless comments to you self. Any ways I hope they are alive i hope she reunites with her parents
god bless you baby sweetheart.
I don't believe whatmins has parents. A blackbird $hi! on a stump and the sun hatched it and poof there's whatmins.
You people do know what "troll" means when on the internet, right?
he isn't a troll just a retard
not everyone distasteful is a troll and likewise
only noob trolls go for that kind of thing
Heartbreaking.
Yeah,
off now to the rest of your occupations. You won't remember this from the rest of the deluge.
I am so happy she has her grandmother, at least she is not alone. My heart breaks for all of the people affected by this disaster.
Precious Manami: You are loved and special and, wherever your parents and your sister are, they are smiling and waiting for the day when they can hold you in their arms, again. May the entire community wrap their strong arms around you and love, keep and protect you from now on. You are in our thoughts, our wishes and our hearts! Blessings and peace to you, to your wonderful grandmother and to all who are enduring through this tragedy. Love is!
May Lady Luck bless and keep all the heart-broken children missing their parents.
Whatmins: You will be judged in the end for that inhuman comment.
Can you back that threat up, Anon...? Right. I thought not. Repetition is not evidence.
Ladies and gentlemen, kedbob the troll.
can you prove anonymous is wrong.?? Sounds to me like you may have the same problem. Let people be. Freedom of speech works both ways.
God or what ever powers that be, Bless this unhappy nation and provide comfort for it's people.!!
The burden of proof in on the claimant.
For obvious reasons.
I'm completely crying..... Watching her precious little hand holding the pen, while she writes the letter to her family... It says "Mama pe, ikiteru toi iwa..." which is simply. "Mama, you must live..." Such a sweet simple message. I just can't stop crying. You are such a precious little baby girl! I wish I could adopt you, but you have your sweet wonderful grandma, and that makes me feel better, but still, my heart breaks for you!
She's such a sweetie and I so hope and pray her Mother and sister are ok. My heart goes out.
This is so sad, and my thoughts were just that....
This is the saddest thing I've ever seen. I have a Japanese granddaughter and this is just too close. I pray for this little girl and her grandmother.
Whatmins did you say this because of your need to "shock" people? let me tell ya pal, no one thinks you're cool, what I believe we all think is that you are truly a MORON......get some help!
Mr Moron Whatmins thinks whales are more precious than human beings. Yes, really do get some help!!! Actually, you are probably beyond help.
Whatmins- people like you scare me .. that is a serial killer mentality ... even if u are trying to just get a rise from people ...
To everyone else with a heart and decent soul .. continue to pray for them all in Japan .. miracles happen .. i believe in that .. GOD BLESS
whatmins -- you are one sick puppy .. serial killer mentality .. this is a baby .. so you are with PETA .. care more for annimals than humans .. perhaps you are an animal .. matter of fact in order to say what you did ( even if it was just for shock value) you are an animal ..
GOD bless Japan ,, hold out for hope .. miracles do happen ..
I seriously doubt whatamins is with PETA. As I seriously doubt God is with you.
All I can say is What is it were Whatmins child would the word have been the same. I can in too late to see what was written and I am glad. But I can tell from everyone is saying is was cruel. Any way I pray for the 4 year-old and her family. May God watch over her.
This is time for calm and focusing on the victims. What Whatmins said speaks worse of him than anything we could say about him.
I've been sobbing for a half hour now....As a single Daddy of 2 little girls there's got to be something we can do for her. Is there a trust fund we can set up for her? WE have to do something for this little girl! My HEART is broken....
C'mon Candy, buck up! Yes, it's tragic. Yes, it's painful. It is not your pain. Accept that you are helpless to prevent tragedy. Be sure that the good people of Japan are looking after their own. Tears and heartbreak won't change this. The best you can do is protect your children and foster a society that protects its members from harm. There's a long way to go. Do not think for a moment that I am not touched by the photos of the little girl. I am also touched by reality and the knowledge that this is none of my business even if it is of my concern.
Donate to all..not just one. From what I have read over the past couple of weeks, Japan is not going to entertain the option of international adoption of the orphans but will get them to families within Japan.
The picture probably brings home the results of the disaster maybe even moreso than what has been seen otherwise.
Try the Red Cross, Or they may know who to contact. Nice thing to think of.
Oh this made me cry ... I'm glad she has her grandmother ... whatmins, you did a great job in having us pay attention to your remark ... but keep in mind it is not about sick people like you ... it is about a young girl who lost a valuable person .... go dig a hole and bury yourself in it ...
God bless this sweet, beautiful baby girl...I am praying so hard that her family is safe & alive. This is heartbreaking...I just want to pick her up, give her a hug and tell her all will be ok. God please help Manami find her family (as well as all the other lil ones lost in Japan), keep her & her grandma safe & close together. Amen!
NO. FREAKIN. WAY. A comment that mentioned God and prayer that kedbob DIDN'T troll on. IT'S A MIRACLE!
may god help and guide this precious little girl and her grandma. if you ever need a friend i am there for you love this brave little girtl. zubie
I lost my house in the Katrina Hurricane but cannot imagine how bad this was. God Bless Manami and all the Japanese people.