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Kuni Takahashi
A few walls of bathroom are all that remain of a house in a residential neighborhood in Sendai, Feb 18, 2012.
Kuni Takahashi for msnbc.com
Jun Hirayama, 20, and his grandmother, Akiyo, 70, at their apartment in Sendai, Japan on Feb 21, 2012. The 2011 tsunami swept their house away and overtook the car they were driving, Akiyo spent a night on the roof of the half-submerged vehicle while Jun hung onto a tire drifting in freezing waters.
Kuni Takahashi reports:
Kuni Takahashi
Jun Hirayama,19 and his grandmother Akiyo Hirayama, 70, stand in front of other family members in front of the remains of their house in Sendai, Japan on April 4, 2011.
Jun Hirayama, 20 and his grandmother, Akiyo Hirayama, 70, lost their home in the Japanese city of Sendai when the tsunami swept it away on March 11, 2011. They nearly lost their lives when it overtook the car they were driving to escape the wall of water. Akiyo spent a night on the roof of the half-submerged vehicle while Jun hung onto a tire -- drifting in freezing waters all night. Akiyo's husband, Shinetsu Hirayama, with some family members in another car, was able to make it out safely.
Jun Hirayama, a college student, had performed as a part-time music DJ at a nightclub, but he lost everything including his clothes and music equipment to the tsunami.
“After the tsunami, I became less materialistic," he said. "I loved fashion and music and used to spend money on clothes and CDs, but I hardly buy anything now except necessary things. Everything I bought and saved disappeared in seconds. I’m so afraid to see that happen again”
“Even a year after, I still dream about the tsunami every month.”
Akiyo Hirayama, who was rescued by a helicopter the morning after the tsunami hit, thought that she would die on the roof of the car, where she huddled overnight in freezing temperatures and snow. She was reunited with her husband at the hospital after her rescue.
“For several months, I was too afraid to either go outside or to stay alone in the house," she said. "I was crying a lot. People kept saying ‘ganbaro’ (stay strong) but I didn't know what to do.”
“Since the disaster, my husband has been working hard to revive the community. I was afraid to stay in the same area but I trust him and have to follow him. Although I am still nervous, there is no other choice but stay here.”
The land where the Hirayamas' house used to stand does not have rebuilding restrictions, though the breakwaters and trees are gone, leaving the area exposed. It is unclear when the breakwaters will be rebuilt.
After Akiyo was rescued, she stayed with her sister. Jun, who drifted close enough to land to make it to shore after a frigid night spent clinging to the floating tire, was reunited with his grandparents a couple of weeks later.
“Being able to see his Seijin-shiki (coming of age ceremony) was the best thing that happened in my life after the tsunami," said Akiyo Hirayama. "I was crying again but that time for joy.”
The younger Hirayama is back in college now and slowly resumed working as a DJ. “Right after the tsunami, I didn’t think I would be able to go back to perform as a DJ," he said. "But at the same time I realized how important the music is to my life. I cried when I went back to the club for first time after the tsunami. The audience was warm and very supportive. It was great.”
“Survivors are going through tough recovery time and some people may think it’s not the time for recreation, but to me, the music is something to live for. Because of the disaster, I feel like putting more energy and doing my best music ever. It’s like the second chapter of my life just began.”
Kuni Takahashi, a photojournalist based in Mumbai, returned to his native Japan in 2011 shortly after the earthquake and tsunami. He recently revisited some of the people he met there— as well as some of the people that msnbc.com profiled in its After the Wave series -- to find out how they were doing nearly a year after the devastating natural disaster.
Buddhist tombstones stand in the empty land which was once a crowded residential area in Sendai, Feb 18, 2012.
Leave a Comment:
Be grateful for what you have and for those you love. All could be gone in the blink of the eye.
CHARDON HILLTOPPERS FOREVER--Never forget, one heartbeat.
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Couldn't have said it any better, Jay!! Best comment I've seen all day and it's only 8:10 a.m.!!
Japan has made it's way back before and will do so again.
Something bad is happening to our world. And when it comes i will open a very fine bottle of bourbon and light up a fatty.Go out in style .
If your preferring to DEC 21, it's been proven to be total bull. Nice Chunk pic though.
maybe he was referring...to the bad water melons... we'll be get'n again this year...most plan on going out...with a different style...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7l6jg4Hlog
You are a moron. If anything at all its been proven its not a joke. Every civilization, the mayans, the egyptians, the japs, even the bible says that people came here from the sky and taught us everything we know. And EVERY one of them says this will be a world changing event. The us government tried to claim nothing will happen, they claimed "there will be no solar flares, no earthquakes and no invasions", but what was the first thing that happened this year? an "enormous solar hurricane" and a huge earthquake, and earthquakes in places that dont have any apparent fault lines(missouri). And the word prefering means to place one over another. The word you were looking for is REFERING. As in referances dating back thousands of years say that something will happen. NASA says solar activity will get worse and worse as we near 2013. Logic says that the number of huge earthquakes in the last few years means the tectonic plates are moving which means that fault lines everywhere will start moving. And science of all fields agrees that things arent right.
Brandon, I think you're the one that needs the bourbon and a fatty. Relax and breathe for a minute before you spout off again.
Wow! Really? Where in The Bible does it say anything about aliens coming to visit and teaching us everything? The Mayans calendar is just ending. How long should they have made it? I guess for you thousands of years into the future wasn't good enough.
As for Missouri and fault lines; they are famous there? Have you ever read a book? Yes, they don't happen as often as say Japan, but they have them. Everywhere in the world has them from time to time. It's how the world looks like it does. I think you need to look up Pangaea. Prepare to be mind blown.
Also, solar activity comes and goes. We aren't due for anything really bad for about a billion years when The Sun starts to die.
Mountainbike:
why wait? Do it now and enjoy it. Enjoy everyday that way.
Brandon, I would have to agree with those responding to your diatribe. I taught in the physical sciences and I will second the fact that the Bible does not say we learned anything from aliens. We learn from Christ.
Yes, Missouri has fault lines. In fact as Jason pointed out, they are very famous....The New Madrid Faults, which have produced some of the largest earthquakes recorded in North America (if not the globe). Check out information on this fault systems, especially references to 1811 - 1814.
Again, Jason stated it correctly about solar flares. These periods are called solar cycles and they happen in 11 year "chunks". Our sun is peaking as we ....um....speak (type). The peak is 2013 and then will start to diminish. Five years ago we came off the lowest sunspot period in recorded history. But recorded history in this case is not very long.
As for continental drift, although I do not believe in Panagea (there is absolutely no physical evidents that supports it -- but I respect other's views on the matter - because we are talking about origins and none of us were there), the Earth's crust is moving. That is called plate tectonics. It is a normal activity based on the crust of the earth riding on the asthenosphere which is a gooey plastic molten material.
I do believe however in the what the Bible says about the end times (I'm sure I will get ripped apart for that statement by those who think otherwise - but all have the right of their opinions). However, the end times are not to be feared if you trust in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So Brandon, chill and enjoy life and this great creation we live on. It is an amazing mechanism!
A few days after the earthquake hit I made this little video for the Japanese people, my prayers go out to them and the hope that they will recover their loss in time.
Here is the video, have a good day, Tom And Lyn, and Thomasp671 on YouTube.
Memories of this tragic day, Japan Earthquake Disaster.
http://youtu.be/B5OODdTJlAY
May I join you?
I agree with Michelle...........why wait for 'the end'? Light up the fatty today and every day and enjoy that fatty!!
The best of luck and speedy recovery to all the fine folks in Japan. I have lived in that country for several years and found that its people are strong and resilient. This too will be managed by them.
My Aunt who is in her 80s and her son live in Natori, Miyagi. Looking at pictures of their city I just cry.
We here in the United States still cannot FATHOM the extent of the damage and overall loss the Japanese people had to endure.
Occupy Wall Street should look at this..
and feel ASHAMED.
I don't think those two things are at all comparable in the slightest.
What? Did you miss the little rainstorm called Katrina? Turn on the TV. Some parts of this country have been devastated by tornadoes. And WTF does Occupy Wall Street have to do with this, and what should they be ashamed of?
If God himself allegedly told israel that they are his chosen people, why didn't God himself tell every other nation about it? Why didn't he say "Hey, I like these people, just so you know."? Why bother to tell one nation at all if he was just going to let other people do stuff to them? It makes no sense.
It's a lot like how God allegedly speaks through the pope....only the pope, yet the vatican has more secrets than the CIA and even brags about their secret vault. If God was talking to the pope, what is he so afraid of the people finding out? :P
On this issue, why were Jesus's writings, and someone with such a love of books would have undoubtedly written his own thoughts, never displayed? Were they censored? Burned? What did Jesus himself feel that is so dangerous to modern chrisianity?
These people who moan around about how miserable you are without God when in reality they are ten times more miserable because all they do is spend their time bemoaning people they don't even know, are going to support our country into world war 3 with these crazy people who hear things no other country hears as they start nuclear war.
Religion is a wonderful thing when: It makes you a productive member of society, when it makes you help those weaker or more defenseless than you, when it makes you care in ways you never thought to, or it makes you conscious of your actions.
The bible is rewritten and christianity does none of these things. A bible verse says "Know them by their fruit." Next time a religious dingbat lectures you...simply know them by their fruit, what kind of good person are THEY to lecture YOU? What do they donate to charity, what child have they saved the life of? What soup kitchen do they dedicate a weekend to?
No...they park their butts down and worry about which politician is going to win and how dare the democrats not want to genocide people because some book said to.
Guess what?
The necronomicon WASN'T written by HP lovecraft, yet was an ancient book written around the time of the bible which was written in blood and on bound leather they assume was human flesh. It travels museums, it has been translated to the best of people's capacity to do so (and I believe lovecraft's was an interpretation of it, like the NIV version), and I do NOT believe a single person should read that book or the reprints of that book OR follow it regardless the fact it is ALSO 4000 year old gobbledygook written in the middle east. That seems very popular for some reason.
You missed the point entirely...
How can you piss and moan and groan because you don't have what someone else does or expect others to pay your way?
Take a look at those in Japan that lost ENTIRE families, homes AND communities..not just damaged and killed but SWEPT out to sea.
Tell me now....what is it again that you have to bitch about??
Because at some point there were many "gods" here and this is why there are many religions. You are right about something though. When all the "gods" left people took what they tried to teach us and twisted it to thier own favors. Dont turn around and call bull@!$%#. Instead study, read about ancient cultural beliefs, look at all the ancient buidlings around the world. They all tell a similar story and there is massive proof.
Not really any way to make a comparison betweem massive sorrow and loss, coupled with astounding resilience half the planet away, and protestors in America even look remotely empathetic.
Just another axe grinder...
Hey Brandon Schmitz, pull your head out of your ass, you're an idiot. Tell you what, why don't you go take refuge in a cave somewhere with a nice big stockpile of bottled water and canned goods. We'll come get you in 2013...maybe.
JP, you know very well we won't be getting Brandon out until 2020.
How about Katrina in New Orleans and other nearby areas? Don't you think that losing everything there is as important as what happened in Japan?
lest we forget that Japan is a socialist country. We work together for all the people.
When a disaster happens to millions of people we see it on the tv and web for months. But when a disaster happens to just a few they are quickly forgotten. The pain is the same for the individual.Your way of life can be destroyed by a tsunami or by losing a family member in a car accident.
Music and laughter are a part of rebuilding the human spirit after tragedy. It is always the right time for music. The people of Japan are very strong, they will recover.
If San Fran. Ever get's its big earthquake maybe Americans will finally realize how sheltered they really have been from most disaster and strife seen throughout the globe.
like we never have tornadoes or hurricanes...or earth quakes that cause damage...
Angela, IF? What the heck? Come on.
How soon people forget....
Im glad I got to read an update like this. Not much to say but it is good to see Japan coming back.
?petroleum¿ - bhaaaaaa!!! - we need to stop with this stuff ASAP - or just go ahead and have your bourbon or whatever. Recycling feedstock (solid) to ethanol (liquid) - what exactly does that do to reduce CO2, huh
I was wondering if we could discuss more interesting things...maybe fruitcakes or tumbleweed formation
Good idea sziggy....
How about we discuss what REAL use you could be in this life...
Like becoming a human shield.
Our best ally in the Far East. And what has the U. S done in helping out this noble country other than borderline nothingness. Rather,we,again, beat those worn- out wardrums for the destruction of another country in the Middle East.
Helinski, within 24 hours the USA had ships off the cost of Fukajima giving medical, food and manpower support. You should try to be come more educated before commenting.
Operation Tomodachi (Friends)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tomodachi
Wow!! About four people really heard what this story was about, the rest are just interested in their own agenda, WTF. Read and absorb people, absorb, stop proving that you too can be a moron!!
I cannot continue to support Japan after watching the COVE movie about killing dolphins at Taiji Japan
well...i will support them...i seen Godzilla...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7gFlSGXt_k
JIW: The incidents recorded in "The Cove" took place in Taiji (as you mention), a small village/town more than 1000 kilometers from the area hit by the tsunami and involved a small number of people from a country of more than 120 million, a very great number of whom (as mentioned in the film "The Cove") are not aware of what takes place in Taiji and a substantial proportion of whom oppose what takes place in Taiji.
Several years ago, Michael Vick and a number of other Americans were found to have been involved in dog fighting for sport. Many condemn that. Should that be an excuse for not continuing to support, for example, those in the US affected by the tornadoes of this past week?
JIW, you won't support Japan, because of their dolphin killing? I bet that you have eaten at Joe's Crab shack or a Red Lobster or any of the hundreds of restaurants that sell seafood. And if you haven't I would bet that you buy some type of seafood at the supermarket. How about that nice piece salmon you like or the Calamari appetizer? You and people like you are sooo out of touch, but go ahead and protest, I'm sure that the Japanese people are, right now at this very moment, trying to figure out how regain your support
We were an advance party,...the armory, and a few other things, our outfit would need to set up shop in Viet Nam. Our C-130 developed engine problems, and we had to stay on Wake Island for a week or so. The beer was free, and we had only two standing orders; Stay out of trouble, and muster at the plane at 0800 every day. There was still a lot WWII stuff to play with and crawl into. (We were glad to have a break in training, and in no hurry to get where we going.) One day while we were looking at some Japanese, and Marine Corp shrines, one of us happened to notice that, although the lagoon was nice, there were no trees on the island. Later on, we asked the planes navigator about the rough, treeless condition of the place. All of us had been drinking, so the jest of what he said was; "...highest elevation is six feet,...inland uninhabitable". Some how, that information took some of the fun out of what we were doing.
We all think we are safe. We think our money and our possessions define us. But the awful truth is that any moment of any day, it can all be gone. What is of real value in life is your connectedness. Who do you love? Who do you help? I wonder how many Americans will understand the lesson of Japan. Building you identity on money and possessions is folly.
Look, we are not safe and I think many people in the USA realize that especially after 911, Hurricaine Katrina, the recent wave of torandos in the midwest and southeast plus many other natural disasters that have taken place in the US. If anything, the Japanese people are very materialistic and well off!!! I know many Japanese New Yorkers who are very shallow, trendy, independently wealthy and materialistic and even tho my heart goes out to the people of Japan suffering who lost their loved ones and everything in the Tsumani, its funny how it took such a disaster to make this young man realize what truly is important in life. I will cut him some slack because he is very young and many 20 somethings have not learned yet what is truly important in life, however, his "realization" is nothing to be praised as far as I'm concerned. I just think some people on here praising the Japanese and talking down about Americans need to rethink what they are saying. I know many people and used to work for a company in NY that traveled to Japan for business, etc. and most of the Americans said they would never want to live there, as the Japanese culture is totally different from here and that the main asset of the people is that they are very, very efficient yet lack warmness, kindness and compassion. One person used to describe them as having a "robot" mentality. Weird.
Karen-1852765: Did you ever wonder why and how bigotry arises?
What a horrific thing to go through. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Where does it mention in the Bible about aliens teaching us everything? As for Isreal being the only people, because they were God's chosen people at the time, and others nations could worship if they desired to. You can read this in your Bible as I have. Now of course, we are in the Gentile times so all are welcome to serve God as the law was fulfilled by the death of Christ so all has been paid and all are able to serve God. The Bible mentions living in the last days and natural disasters. But, God is not responsible for these things. You'll find out who is and why we live in a troubled world. God and Jesus are usually blamed when bad things happen. It's not fair to do that if you really don't know the truth of what the Bible teaches.
Bible Schmible all I can say is kudos to the Japanese for standing on their own throughout this ordeal, and not begging handouts from the US to bail them out. Although i am certain there is some US dollars being thrown at them anyway by the trunkful even though they probably dont even want it.
We have our own Tragedy's with all kind's of weather here in the U.S. killing people and destroying home's and Business'es. Maybe Japan is experiencing Karma from killing all those Whales and Dolphin's. The sea's Heaved up in Anger and destroyed Japan for their slaughter of Nature. Who know's how Karma work's. Maybe Japan better lay off those whale's.
Maybe the USA should consider its karma for testing nuclear weapons on civilian populations. The war was clearly over when 2 cities that had been mysteriously been free from attack were bombed with 2 different experimental nuclear weapons. This was a test involving many innocent people. Don't be brainwashed.
There is going to be an earthquake the likes that man has never seen. Millions will perish.
This is a situation beyond tears.
Whole families, homes and communities washed out to sea.
None of us here can even fathom the loss this country has suffered.
This makes our problems so petty and small.
I seen a video of Japan's hurricane by someone who was recording it while going through it. That was the second thing I seen that was too hard for me to watch. I could not stop thinking and praying for the people going through that. I had nightmares from watching that video. It does let us know how precious life is and material things mean nothing.
The Bible also says Dec 21 2012 is not true. It says only the Father knows when he will be coming back for us, not even his son Jesus knew while he was here on earth. These doomsday people are just guessing because times are bad, storms, tsunami's, earthquakes. His word says when you see these things happening watch the eastern skies. No one knows the day it will end only our heavenly Father. Read what God's word says about that. It is in the Old Testament and the New. Pray, read and learn what his Word has to say. These disasters have been happening for years now and he hasn't appeared yet but it will happen.
My brother pointed out a very interesting fact. Dec 21, 2012 has already happened, according to the old calendar. We are using the Julian calendar, so the "calendar" that the Mayans were using is much different than todays, it doesn't have leap years. So, techanically speaking, we have survived the end of the Mayan calendar.
Shannon-1694812: Probably you mean the Gregorian calendar: the Julian calendar stopped being used in most of the West before the 20th century began. After more than 1,000 years of use, the Julian calendar was only about 10 days off (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar), so it would still not be 12 December even under the Julian calendar.