Mika Sato, 46, who lost her 12-year-old daughter Airi in the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, shows a photo of her taken in August 2010 in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture. Photo: REUTERS/Issei Kato
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Grief hasn't subsided for some survivors of tsunami

28 Comments
By Mari Saito

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After reminiscing about the disaster, the man told her it was shameful that people went to court for money after the disaster.Afterward, Sato said most locals had been supportive, but others believe survivors like her shouldn't have pursued their cases in court.

"Some people say heartless things, but people who don't understand will never understand, no matter what you say."

I do not have any involvement nor personally knew anyone affected by the 3.11 quake but I feel for them and those that have lost their entire lives and loved ones might never move on and its normal. Not everybody is strong enough to just move on like nothing happened and let those responsible left unaccounted for. In my opinion, Japan is very resilient when it comes to disasters, but when it comes to coping with disaster, they seem to not have much compassion or even acknowledge dealing with the emotional scars left by these events.

16 ( +19 / -3 )

A very tragic event.

Japan is very resilient when it comes to disasters, but when it comes to coping with disaster, they seem to not have much compassion or even acknowledge dealing with the emotional scars left by these events

Agreed, compassion is in short supply in this country

15 ( +18 / -3 )

The grief of such a tragedy will never fade. Over 20,000 people gone in an hour. Whole families wiped out. People not only lost family members they lost their homes and livelihoods. It’s disgusting that the J-Gov have left so many people stranded and struggling for the last decade.

Then, add the people of Fukushima who were displaced due to a man made and totally avoidable disaster and have had to fight to get any kind of compensation from TEPCO and the J-Gov, which owns 51% of TEPCO.

DISGUSTING!!!

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Imagine losing your 5yrs old child then hearing that people heard her crying for help for hours in the darkness. Those feelings will never go away. Of course grief hasn't subsided. Why would it. The article's poor writing itself assumes that feelings of grief in this situation are some kind of anomaly or is not the norm. The idea that people need to move on is incredibly cold and callous. I really wonder about the true nature of people.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

10 years.

How tragic for so many people.

I remember watching the TV in horror the tsunami moving inland and just hoping the cars driving could escape.

It was an unimaginable nightmare.

Bless their souls.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Rest in Peace to all the lost souls.

The tragedy is that if leaders had listened to their wise ancestors, who warned against building on the very foreshore of the "tsunami coast" (and placed warning markers) many lives would have been saved.

Never forget 3/11. Learn from the tragedy.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Your body will heal from a wound or surgery but the scar will almost always remain.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

While some survivors look backward, the larger Japanese public is preparing to celebrate the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, an event the government is intent on using to showcase its recovery from the disaster.

BS, the general public is not preparing to celebrate anything! The media should be totally ashamed for even writing this! Abe then Suga and all the other politicians dont want anyone to focus any attention on Tohoku and the refugees that still exist.

Quit with the PR about the Olympics...help these people.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Just goes to show that Time does not in itself heal. Time does nothing.

It's what you do in Time that heals.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

aomorisamuraiToday  10:52 am JST

*"We all suffered and it's time to move on," he mumbled before walking away." **- That's right, jiji. No further questions, no more analysis. Just shut it all further conversation and walk away.*

Of course jiji would say that....he's old and approaching the end of his life. Why would he care about others with their whole lives ahead of them like children. Pure selfishness. I see and hear more and more of these self-entitled senior citizens who only care about themselves.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Japanese media mark the 10-year anniversary with special programmes. Most feature post disaster life and narratives of local people, aim to provide prayers to victims as well as comfort for survivors. Though they are relevant and highly significant, I would also like to see something more analytical and insightful from which we all can learn useful lessons.

A NHK Special documentary aired an interesting story about mass evacuation and individual/group behaviors with various first-hand accounts as well as big data analysis. It tries to investigate how and why some people were able to survive, others couldn't despite their very similar circumstances under the crisis. The program is insightful and worth watching (will probably be broadcast again).

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I watched an interview on the BBC today with a chap whose rice was cold at breakfast on 3/11, so he had a row with his wife and stormed out.

His whole family was wiped out that afternoon when the wave came.

Treasure your loved ones, folks. We never know how long we've got.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

My thoughts and prayers are still with all of them.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@MilesTeg

"The idea that people need to move on is incredibly cold and callous."

Spot on.

"Didn't you get like 300 million yen?" the man asked. - An attempt to boil all of this down to a cash grab. Disgusting.

""Actually no, we didn't," Sato answered calmly, before the man cut her off." - Doesn't even want to hear her side of it.

""We all suffered and it's time to move on," he mumbled before walking away." - That's right, jiji. No further questions, no more analysis. Just shut it all further conversation and walk away.

One does not lose a small child and simply "deal with it".

5 ( +7 / -2 )

What saddening stories. Life can be very cruel.

The bit about the son not understanding his parents' relationship until he read letters from his mother to his missing father was especially poignant. As the living, let us celebrate our lives and appreciate the people around us.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

My Japanese sister in law had lived in the Netherlands over 40 years at the time of the earthquake. As soon as she could she travelled to Tokyo to make plans with her friends on how to provide help in the affected area. She ended up going 3 years in a row. Defying the risks of (too high) radiation. Cancer killed her, 6 years and 11 treatments later.

These stories bring tears to my eyes. For the survivors, their loved ones and for my sister in law Kimiko. She was a courageous woman and I thank her for sharing her strength and motivation with me, who took care of her house and beautiful garden when she was away. Helping.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Time doesn't heal the wound when you've lost a loved one, especially a child. I feel so much sympathy for all of them.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Interestingly enough, jazz bassist Marcus Miller, who has played tours Japan since the late mid 80’s, held a benefit concert with Q-tip and Robert Glasper in NYC, and the venue, musicians and video personnel donated their time and 100% of all proceeds to Fukushima. His money and other assistance arrived before the Red Cross ans was an astounding figure— probably more than he ever made playing gigs here.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I can only say a prayer for them. May them find peace.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Every time I read about how that kindergarten bus drove toward the ocean or when none of the teachers at Okawa had the guts or sense to move the kids up the hill for 45 minutes after the earthquake, makes my blood boil.

As many drills and advice that's given here about what to do after an earthquake, especially one of the biggest ever, they did the exact opposite and almost a hundred kids died unnecessarily.

If something like this happens, have the guts and will to do something when you know it's right. Don't wait for some higher-up to tell or allow you to do something.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

That is the truth, yet conveniently ignored or forgotten by the world.

10 years on, the fiasco of nuclear plant explosion has not been adequately absolved.

Man creates fission, but not sure how to end the fission. The Fukushima is the reminder of man's folly.

When fusion is commercialized one day in the future, will man exactly know how to end the fusion if it goes out of control? Any idea?..

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I think that there is still very strong emotions on the coast lines of North east Japan, There is some very deep emotional scars that will never heal, maybe the goverment should set up a Dept to help with the greaving, like a councillor that will go through there feeling and thought and get that anger, frustration, hurt out of there minds, then they can move forward with a brighter and happier future. may be a new garden/park with tellephone boxes in them, that was a brilliant idea.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Speed,

Absolutely agree with you.

I was in a room with 3 Japanese people,good people,one was even a nuclear worker from Tokai Muura.

Once it hit 10 years ago they were all like deer caught in the headlights despite it being a big one.

They didn't know what to do despite of all of the countless drills and all stood around.

it was me,the gaijin in the room,who told them to get under the desks.

Since then I have lost a ton of respect for the locals.

Drills don't mean anything if you can't think laterally.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Simple empty words can not explain a painful loss that we all must accept. Sad!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A truly tragic event. This event has shaped the nation for many years to come. I hope we never forget this event and always prepare and plan for such disasters even if it means cutting back on some other infrastructure.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

True Love .... Loss ... Grief

How can this be questioned ?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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