Daily Glimpses of Japan: Temporary Houses In Tohoku; A Japanese Proverb

Temporary house is a concept that gives the chills. More than one year after the earthquake in March 2011, many people still live in modest conditions and tiny houses. However, the difficulties are compensated by a lot of human warmth. I showed images taken in the stricken area in the post on 2 July.

This is the home I visited there. Thank you for your hospitality, Eiko-san. Also, thank you for your approval to show the photos to my friends and to people who have never been there, to see. I remember well that time together, and our conversation in Japanese. "Are you curious how the tsunami was? Do you have questions? You can ask anything." It was so generous and brave to talk about terrible events. I had never known before that the tsunami strikes several times, the second time stronger and reaching farther than first time. Though it is logical. And I can still hear the words describing the current feeling: mada mada. It means "not yet" - like, the soul not yet healed, or the fear not yet gone. On the day of my visit there, the evening brought a strong earthquake, magnitude above 6. In my country, a big one means magnitude 2 or 3. So I was scared.

There is a good proverb in Japanese about the vicissitudes of life: 七転び八起き nana korobi, ya oki - fall seven times and stand up eight. It means that when life knocks us down, we have to stand back up and keep trying. It is encouraging and inspiring.

After the earthquake and tsunami, people lived in the mountains for a few days, without anything. This little boy was 7 months old at that time, and needed powdered milk. He lived for three days without food. And without crying. The family always wonders what happened, what made him bear hunger without tears. I often pray for this sweet child, to lead a peaceful and happy life.