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Tsunami refugees dig in for harsh winter

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“They must be either staying with relatives far away or living in their own house if the damage was not so bad,” an official said.

“But we don’t have much information about them.”

9 months on??? 20,000 families that they are unsure how they are keeping warm? Talk talk talk, talk talk talk - come on, action, do something. Where is the support? The organization?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Light has only been shed on the organization recently. This will take years. No jobs and no money is harsher than the cold.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

For a 1st world, technologically advanced rich country like Japan, how can you not provide adequate means to care for 20,000 families during winter? This is a 21st Century Japan.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Don't use FEMA trailers................

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"the misery of tsunami survivors"

More than 9 months after the disaster, tsunami survivors still face misery in 2011 Japan? Incredible...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

”In Ishinomaki, one of the hardest-hit coastal settlements, more than half of the city’s 61,000 houses were either swept away completely or severely damaged by the tsunami.”

The biggest irony here is that money that could have helped them is being wasted on protecting the whalers. I hope they question the government on that one.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

CVHuan: "For a 1st world, technologically advanced rich country like Japan, how can you not provide adequate means to care for 20,000 families during winter? This is a 21st Century Japan."

Japan can be an interesting contradiction, private company buildings are extremely high tech and well built, but most public schools and offices still require the use of gas heaters (which you have to open the window for in light of the fumes), are poorly lit, badly maintained, not earthquake-safe, and require the kids/workers to clean themselves. It should be no surprise that instead of helping people out more than they are doing the money is being diverted to useless public works projects, fighter jets, and whaling, etc. Imagine how much they could actually improve these people's lives with that money.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

I think you may have forgotten the scale of the disaster... Tens of thousands of people were left homeless. The temporary houses, are, awful. Having said that they're perfectly acceptable as a temporary measure. When they have lost everything, they still have some form of shelter.

The 20,000 quote above is probably out of context. The local government were responsible for everyone who lost their houses to the tsunami and went to the shelters. They were not responsible for those who's houses were damaged but could be lived in. Call it a bureaucratic misquote if you like.

A lot of comments from people who really don't know what they're commenting on.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Scale of the disaster? Well aware, been doing my bit, it's an emotional and physically draining experience.

9 months later and this? British company, German too offered quick clean and very nice modular emergency housing.... Were told it wasn't needed all in hand. Seems someone had it in their hand.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

I'm well aware of the foreign companies who tried to bring in temporary housing however there are a lot of units standing empty because the residents have moved on or there wasn't the demand. As I mentioned above, not everyone qualified for temporary housing so it's quite possible that the 20,000 mentioned were not those elligible for the houses. So that particular person who they spoke to wasn't aware of their situation. There's been a lot of movement of the population and it's hardly surprising that not everyone has been accounted for.

PS loving my negative ratings on previous post for suggesting that someone do something to help. Presumably it's just a bit to warm to be sat behind their computer...

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Last point not directed at you Cricky, as you've clearly been involved and have an understanding of the sher scale. Lot's haven't though. And they are the armchair experts...

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Still makes you wonder why all this money from donations is being held by the local and national government and not being spent (as was reported on here a couple of months ago). Although it's probably lining someone's pocket nicely so we shouldn't really worry...

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

What's up with the insurance co's ? are they paying out like their supposed too?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Most people aren't covered for natural disasters, I THINK that something like only 20% of those who lost their homes were covered but I may be wrong on that.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

temporarily adopt a needy family

3 ( +3 / -0 )

My heart just breaks for this people. They've been through the unimaginable. A lady nearby took her brother in for a few months after March 11th. He lost his wife, 3 young kids and home/ business. He returned back up north as he didn't feel right in Tokyo and wanted to help rebuild to honor his kids and wife. Whenever (think) I am having a bad day, I think of him and the countless others trying to get through another hour, day or week bearing such immeasurable loss with such valor.

@Heda_Madness. It's absolutely wonderful that you are in 'the trenches' helping so to speak. I admire you. We need more folk like you and Crikey in this world. I am sure you have been most profoundly affected by your hands on experiences helping with the relief efforts. Please understand that not all of us can actually travel over to directly help the affected areas but I am sure most folk have tried through donations, charity work or other avenues to try to relieve the suffering....if only little bit. Some people, myself included just didn't feel it was right for money allocated to help the Tohoku region rebuild be allocated for other issues. Especially at this time, as so many are still living in a vacuum so to speak.

Am sat now with hubby watching a documentary about the tsunami with victims accounts and it is incredibly moving. Tonight, I have hugged my loved ones much more than I usually do and thank the powers that be that we are all together, safe and warm.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Heda_Madness: "Most people aren't covered for natural disasters, I THINK that something like only 20% of those who lost their homes were covered but I may be wrong on that."

20% sounds low, although you may well be correct. From what I read or heard some time back it wasn't only that, though, but that some were covered for one thing but not the other, and insurance companies were exploiting it because they cannot afford the mass payouts. For example, I would imagine quite a large number of people have earthquake insurance, but the insurance may not cover a tsunami. Anyone who's house was swept away in the tsunami can't very well prove the house was first destroyed in the quake.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The Japanese are a strong bunch, this is not the first earthquake, not the first tsunami, the radiation well that may be a first but I have confidence in the good people of Japan, a little cold, snow etc..is not going to break their spirits, a stupid, slow not caring Japanese government will not break the common Japanese spirit, these people who survived are strong and they will come out stronger than before and teach us all a good lesson in coming back, getting back on our feet, never giving up against many horrible odds, so even though stupid Tokyo Electric may be lying to us, filling our air, water, food supplies with crap from the nuclear power plants, those of us still in Japan will come out stronger, wiser. I pray that these good people in Ishinomaki etc..not only just survive but that we can all learn from their humble yet stoic character.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Elbuda: "The Japanese are a strong bunch..."

That they are, although I daresay in other nations as well this kind of major disaster will bind people together in ways they may not have been before. The problem isn't that people aren't strong, the problem is they are being let down, and let down hard. I seem to recall an article about an increase in the number of suicides due to poor living conditions and loss, and it's heart-breaking. Going to be a tough winter, and I hope they can hang in and get the help they need and deserve.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Got an idea: Rebuild real houses in densely populated area around japan.

This project will take awhile but if it is done. I think the relocated people will appreciate it.

Since it's hard to move them to another city. I would just find a big forest area cut the forest down use the wood to rebuild the house and relocate these people to Kyushu, and Honshu's densely populated area.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Samantha, thank you for your kind words. However, I haven't done much, I've just done what I can. There are many who have done more than me. Incidentally, I met a French girl, who was living in Scotland and decided to come here to help. She deserves more credit than I do.

I've been involved in the Aid relief since March. I've seen things that I'll never unsee. I've seen the military going through debris looking for bodies, I've seen the utter joy on children's faces when we've delivered a box of carrots - the first they'd seen for a month and I've felt the raw emotion of the elderly lady last week who was struggling to hold back the tears as she thanked us. I've also felt the amazing warmth of the people as they insisted we came in from the cold and have a cup of coffee. These, and other memories, I will take to my grave.

But I will not accept anyone making light comments on the people's suffering. There was nothing amusing in March. And there's nothing amusing now. That's not to say that when we are there it's all sombre, because it isn't. Communities ARE being rebuilt and life is being reborn.

But it's not a joking matter, especially from someone sat in the comfort of their own room however many kilometers away from what was a disaster zone, and what is now a recovery zone. And if people want to give me negative ratings for that point of view then so be it. I know that I can look myself in the mirror and think I did my bit.

As I said, communities are being rebuilt and will continue to be so. This is worth watching if you haven't already seen it, and you may want to have a box of tissues with you when you do... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpFroWi1lP0

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@Heda_Madness,

Thank you very much for sharing your experience and the link. Friend of mine used to live in Ishinomaki, the same apartment that Miss.Taylor lived. He lost his job after 3.11 and had to leave there. I hope he will be able to go back someday because he always says he loves it there.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Heda_Madness: "imagine you're a fisherman from a whaling community. You've lost everything. Then you see members of the Sea Shepherd harassing your 'colleagues'. What do you think that would do to their psyche? I think that these people have been through way more than any of us can imagine and IF this prevents them from suffering further then it's worth it."

Not a bad post, but easily rebuttable. Imagine your from a community that doesn't whale and are suffering all the moreso for the $30 US given to put the Japanese coast guard clearly off the coast. Should we dismiss the suffering of those people because it might make a few people in a town that clearly canNOT benefit from the loss of money feel better in spirit while they suffer from the cold? The idea that the diversion of funds actually helps these people, when so much is dependent on money vs. suffering, is ludicrous. How about if the whalers and government promise ALL money from scientific research go towards whaling towns? Nah... might get in the way of profit.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

As I said THIS isn't the place to discuss this but let's put it this way. Do you know how many towns and communities were destroyed by the tsunami. Do you know how many people were affected. Do you know what percentage of the additional money is being allocated to each person or each town. Do you know the difference between the amount awarded to Rikuzentakata in Iwate to the amount awarded to Ishinomaki in Miyagi. Do you know the answer to all of these questions? If the answer is no then your rebuttal is meaningless.

The point is that despite what members of this board will have you believe it's not black and white.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Cricky and others

Calm down. People don't have to actually tell the authorities they are temporarily moving elsewhere. That may well be the reason there isn't info about the 20,000 families because most have moved away without announcing it. The others are toughing it out because their homes weren't as badly damaged as others (as the article mentions) but, to be honest, this article seems to try to incite anger and some of the comments above reflect that.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

20% sounds low, although you may well be correct. From what I read or heard some time back it wasn't only that, though, but that some were covered for one thing but not the other, and insurance companies were exploiting it because they cannot afford the mass payouts. For example, I would imagine quite a large number of people have earthquake insurance, but the insurance may not cover a tsunami. Anyone who's house was swept away in the tsunami can't very well prove the house was first destroyed in the quake.

This was addressed smith. If you have an earthquake insurance, the damages caused by tsunami are covered. This requirement is also specified by law. In addition, any payout amount exceeding 1.925 trillion yen is 95% covered by the central government. Further more, instead of inspecting each and every house damaged by tsunami, the insurance companies declared and mapped certain regions to be "tsunami damaged"全損地域 whereby individual inspections were not required. ALL OF THIS WAS COVERED IN THE NEWS EXTENSIVELY.

And Heda_Maddness nailed it. Let's put it this way. Should the Fishery Agency not allocate funds to the oyster community because the other coastal towns don't harvest oysters? How about seaweed community? The mere fact that you are singling out the whaling community only goes to show your narrow and biased perspective of this disaster.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Do you mean Second Harvest? I've worked with them both on my early, individual, runs where they were giving us a ton plus of food/supplies as well as the recent stuff I've been doing with a more organised group.

One day I'll do a fundraiser for them. And we won't raise anywhere near as much as they deserve.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Cricky..... I agree big time. The government had ample of time to trace them if they were not busy politicking , lieing, and pointing fingers. In the age of japan's high technology, they can easily find their wherabouts. But the problem is, did they even try using their hi tech knowledge to search.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

30 million dollars in funds that could have been used to help these survivors has instead been diverted to an internationally prohibited industry (whaling) for the benefit of amakudari and their business partners.

The people of Japan should demand an apology from the government for its corrupt dealings and failure to provide all available resources to help the victims of this tragedy.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

nigelboy: "This was addressed smith. If you have an earthquake insurance, the damages caused by tsunami are covered. This requirement is also specified by law. In addition, any payout amount exceeding 1.925 trillion yen is 95% covered by the central government. Further more, instead of inspecting each and every house damaged by tsunami, the insurance companies declared and mapped certain regions to be "tsunami damaged"全損地域 whereby individual inspections were not required. ALL OF THIS WAS COVERED IN THE NEWS EXTENSIVELY."

Sorry... your response was too long for me to bother a full reply, given that you failed to address when some companies did not fully compensate. Ah well.

"Should the Fishery Agency not allocate funds to the oyster community because the other coastal towns don't harvest oysters?"

Do they harvest those oysters in whale sanctuaries outside Australia? I won't expect you to answer this question, as you usually can't address questions, but since you brought in the comparison...?

"How about seaweed community? The mere fact that you are singling out the whaling community only goes to show your narrow and biased perspective of this disaster."

So how are these people being helped, is what I'm asking.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Sorry... your response was too long for me to bother a full reply, given that you failed to address when some companies did not fully compensate. Ah well.

You mean to tell me that there were insurance companies that didn't pay for tsunami damages even though the policyholder had earthquake rider? I'd like to see some proof of that.

Do they harvest those oysters in whale sanctuaries outside Australia? I won't expect you to answer this question, as you usually can't address questions, but since you brought in the comparison...?

No. Why is that even remotely relevant?

So how are these people being helped, is what I'm asking... but yet again you fail to answer. You must clearly be up and helping the people!

http://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/yosan/23/pdf/mokuji-18_2.pdf

2 ( +2 / -0 )

So how are these people being helped, is what I'm asking

Since it will probably take decades to understand what's written(drawn with pictures I might add) what I linked, I'll summarize it for you. The amount allocated for whaling is chump change compared to what the other industry/efforts are going to receive.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

As I was trying to say in another thread it is amazing how some many Japanese can ignore what is in front of them. Americans on the other hand have a lot more compassion and empathy. It is the one gift I picked up with my close association with Bob san the retired Marine Sergeant Major. I am worried people will die but the town officials will deny knowing but it was impossible for them not to know. They drive to work each day but do not bother to look around or visit the members of the community. What they want is Plausible deniability, so sorry those people died but it was not my responsibility. Shakes head sadly, these officials need to be held accountable for their inaction.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Heda_Madness has knocked the nail on the head. Just because the Tsunami didn't hit the Kanto or Kansai doesn't mean that there wasn't a lot of damage. There was an awful lot of damage, and it will take many years to undo - and that's simply in the areas that were doing well. Some settements were already struggling to survive because of a declining population and/or declining job opportunities. The tragedy may well have pushed some of these places over the edge. The authorities have a lot on their hands.

But more importantly, we don't know that 20,000 are being left to fend for themselves. I'm sure that those who need help are getting it in some form. Indeed the article fails to quote a single person who thinks they'll be going hungry or will freeze during the colder weather.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yuri, what do you think the people see when they drive to work? Booming communities? Children playing freely? Businesses booming? Because they don't.

As I've tried to explain above, they don't know what the 20,000 are doing because they've either not asked the right people or it's simply not there responsibility.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yeah Zichi, second harvest are great. Can't speak highly enough. There are a lot of NPOs/small groups that have done an amazing job in delivering aid etc. And still continue to do so.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

YuriOtani, I hear you. and I hope those officials develop a conscience.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Okay, so let's talk about these officials without a 'conscience'. These are the officials who were in charge on March 11. These are the officials who were responsible for feeding the town, for housing the town and for supporting the town. These same officials live in the town. Now, where do you suppose they live?

They either live in the temporary houses like the majority of the residents because their houses were also washed away. Or they live in their own house which wasn't badly damaged, so they are part of the '20,000'.

So these officials have had to manage as best as they possibly can, the biggest disaster to have fallen on their community for a generation. They have suffered in the way that the other residents have suffered. They have lost family and they have lost friends.

And you think they should develop a conscience?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

CVHuan: "For a 1st world, technologically advanced rich country like Japan, how can you not provide adequate means to care for 20,000 families during winter? This is a 21st Century Japan."

Japan can be an interesting contradiction, private company buildings are extremely high tech and well built, but most public schools and offices still require the use of gas heaters (which you have to open the window for in light of the fumes), are poorly lit, badly maintained, not earthquake-safe, and require the kids/workers to clean themselves. It should be no surprise that instead of helping people out more than they are doing the money is being diverted to useless public works projects, fighter jets, and whaling, etc. Imagine how much they could actually improve these people's lives with that money.

smithinjapanDec. 30, 2011 - 05:47PM JST

CH-AN-GE!

Change from Old Economic Model to New Economic Model

Japan needs to change old ineffective economic model driven by export, public unnecessary expenditure spendings to stimulate economy to a new model of Domestic Consumer Spending Model to catch up with the world. Japanese mainstream working poor people has been given a deceptive message by the government that they are in middle class while their quality of life has been declining for recent years. CHANGE!!! Simple!.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think part of the tragedy is the absolute inability, or is it unwillingness, of the Japanese to construct housing (temporary or permanent) that is providing any kind of modern insulation against climate. I live in a 2011 mansion, providing all kinds of amenities, but the windows are absolute trash. Thin single pane glass, which should be out of fashion since 30 years; Shoddy construction of the frame, allowing the cold wind to enter. The Japanese solution to put more electric heaters up and put Kairos on their clothing strikes me as borderline crazy. To hear that even the government thinks this way is heartbreaking. Before putting up more heaters and heated toilet seats, it should be a priority to insulate the housing. This would be cheaper and solve the problem of limited energy availability. As long as it remains common sense to rather wrap themselves in heated blankets come winter and spend their money on huge TVs and washlets instead of proper housing, it is hard to take Japan seriously as a 21st century country. When this kind of wastful thinking becomes life-threatening like in Tohoku now, it is a shame.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That's very true Zichi. The mayor of Rikuzentakata became Mayor at the end of February, his wife's body was discovered in June.

Presumably there are some on here who thinks he also needs to find a conscience as well.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan needs to be BOLD in domestic spending (Domestic Consumer Spending Model) as I have mentioned above for the Tohoku Restration to stimulate economy. I do not understand why JGov cannot seem to understand this.

Japan needs to take care of its own people first before taking care of other issues. No more flip/flop on this issue as these people deserve better. How many more "Gambare" and "Gaman" do they have to do?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@heda - thank you for all you are doing up there. Not sure if I have misinterpreted some of your comments, but as Sam said, please note that some of us would love to come up and join you, but are simply not able to because of responsibilities wherever we are. I even asked my MIL to help watch the children for a few days over a long weekend so I could go and help the NPO I have been working with here in Tokyo and take a trip up there for myself - but she refused! My husband refused to take the Monday off work (his busiest day apparently) so it was just impossible for me to go and help.

@Yuri - really wish I could disagree with you on that one, but sadly my experience is that what you have said is very true. Not being able to go up there myself, I coordinated here in Tokyo with an NPO to collect together what they needed. In the early days, the first thing they needed was rice, so I held a "rice-a-thon" to collect money to buy the rice to send up there. I was getting donations of 10,000 and 20,000 yen from people in the UK and US who were delighted the money was going directly towards helping the people who really needed it. From Japanese we know around us we were getting 200 yen here, 500 yen there! I kept a spreadsheet of every donor and amount so we could write and personally thank them and the general difference was pretty stark to be honest. I was really surprised about that and discreetly asked some people what was going on. They gave me the reason that Japanese prefer to only help people that they know, whereas westerners will give whether they know the person or not, and are happier giving to an organisation where they know the money wont be wasted.

A little later we had a bicycle drive to replace some of the bikes up there that were washed away. I ended up having to personally check the bikes before accepting the donations as we were being offered rust-heaps and broken bikes that people couldnt be bothered to fix or didnt want to pay to chuck away. It was shameful quite frankly.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Nicky, you may have misinterpreted my comments (and an earlier one has been deleted) so let me try another way. I've driven about a dozen trucks to Tohoku, in total we've delivered well over 30 tons on those trips that I have personally been on. Without donations of money, of food and supplies we'd have had empty trucks. We cannot possibly do it alone and there have been literally thousands of people either directly or indirectly supporting us.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If that's the case why has Japan given food aid to other countries in times of it's own crisis? Unless what Cricky say is correct and officials just ignore the obvious. Local officials have the ear of the people and it's Govt and should report their finding accordingly. Humane living conditions ( temporary housing and food ) should be provided by J Govt in times of crisis whether the person or people are eligible or not. With all the monetary donations provided to the red cross who built the temporary housing, should have also paid for the rent in said housing. eligibility should not be an issue.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I've driven about a dozen trucks to Tohoku, in total we've delivered well over 30 tons on those trips that I have personally been on. Without donations of money, of food and supplies we'd have had empty trucks

Thanks for your help I periodically go back and check all interesting topics and I found your great post. Your hard work has been appreciated by me. I, myself was there on 3/22 for rescue mission. I understand what you had to go through. It was tough.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I, myself was there on 3/22 for rescue mission.

I have heard lots of volunteers (on CNN iReport) came all the way from USA and other countries to Tohoku. (not to mention US military) I cannot thank you enough. My husband is Japan Coast Guard man. When natural disasters happen overseas, he sometimes goes there as 国際緊急援助隊 (international disaster relief teams) for SAR mission. It's a little sad that Heda_Madness was called hypocrite in another thread and the Police officers' SAR mission in no-go zone was only a show. I believe they are all extremely generous and caring people.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I'm grateful for all that Heda and others have done, it's commendable!

You mean to tell me that there were insurance companies that didn't pay for tsunami damages even though the policyholder had earthquake rider? I'd like to see some proof of that.

Things may have changed, but in Kobe in '95 many insurance companies wouldn't pay on earthquake insurance in the case where houses in Nagata burned...they insisted the houses were lost to fire, not the earthquake, even though it was the earthquake that toppled gas and electric heaters.

I really do hope the same thing wasn't pulled in Tohoku.

'9 months on, and still..' Only 9 months. 9 months since one of the biggest disasters in history. Kobe was on a smaller scale, and it took just this area at least 5 years to start to look normal. The enormity of the tragedy in Tohoku is nearly unimaginable.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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