The problem with getting help there is complex and multi-faceted, and that alone is beyond the concept of "outsiders". And most of the slowness is strictly on the shoulders of the culture and government there.
1. Leadership problems at the beginning of major crisis - which is a strong cultural trait that is built upon consultation and consensus before reacting:
Japan is still a closed country when it comes to crisis. Going back to the 747 crash in 1985, the US military was ready with rescue helicopters to get there within a couple of hours, but Japan refused and chose to wait until the next morning only to find that earlier help would have possibly saved some lives. The 1995 Kobe quake that killed 6000 - it took two days for the government to react and get basic help in there. The Japanese mafia and religious organizations were in with soup kitchens before the government responded.
They are much faster in response now and it showed this time.
2. Infrastructure to the area is down: Getting into and out of the area. Japan is primarily mountainous. When two or three major road corridors go down and rail corridors go down, the only way in is by ship or by helicopter for several days to several weeks. If rescue units want to get in, they better take their own helicopters.
This was part of the problem in the Kobe Quake. I lived about 20 miles from the epicenter and was able to get into and out simply because I had a small scooter and could negotiate cracks, crevices and bridges that had a foot gap in them. I hauled in water from outside and small amounts of candy. This was while a couple of major streets were being repaired with emergency measures to allow major transportation.
CNN and News people are being allowed specific access by the government simply because CNN is already established in the country. CNN did not really show how they got into and out of the area as a part of their presentation, leading to the idea that anyone or any organization can get there.
3. Language/communication: Outside help is not as prepared as they think. Japan is NOT a land of English speakers as much as outside people think. A simple translator is not enough. Translation is much slower than one would think as an outsider. I can't state strongly enough how many times visitors would be perplexed because they couldn't find Japanese who could talk to them in English. Bottom line is that they usually thought that because Japan companies and organizations put up lots of English web sites that 50% to 90% of the Japanese can speak English. Effective English communication by Japanese is probably at about 3% to 5%.
FOR a foreigner or foreign organization to go in, especially in areas outside of Tokyo or Kyoto, the vast majority of written material and signs are in Japanese Kanji and kana.
Our organization has a detailed crisis contingency plan in place for every worker including locations and GPS coordinates of hospitals, parks and rescue/emergency centers within a few kilometer radius. When they requested the addresses in a certain format, I told them it would not help as Japanese will not re-write signs, streets, locations and maps for the benefit of our organization. It would take someone with the ability to read and translate for everything. Japan is probably the most Non-English friendly country in Asia. They are friendly, but communication is just are not written or spoken in English (unless you are around US military bases or Embassy locations.)
A major portion of communication is hidden, between the lines and silence. This is often the most important part, culturally. If one cannot do this, then major problems will arise, even in medical situations. I also knew and wrote to some friends - from reading between the lines from news events last Saturday night and Sunday - that the nuclear problem was much worse than presented to the news. A medical and health personnel must read between the lines in crisis situations in order to properly treat people. In truth, a veterinarian often would be more practical in situations like this.
4. Culture and Laws: Japan is VERY paranoid about drugs. Medical personnel will not be allowed simply because of the Rules and laws in place in regard to medical issues. It sure hurts those in need but Japan government and police will not allow this. Japan will not allow outsiders to circumvent their laws. Even in emergency crisis, all outside medical personnel MUST pass or be certified BEFORE being allowed to help.
5. Fatalistic Culture: Japan leadership culture views outside help as a sign of their own weakness. This attitude does not exist among the majority of Japanese in my opinion, but the more in leadership one climbs, the more they feel responsible to be in control. If outside help IS accepted, they (leadership within the culture) view it as their not being able to handle it.
If they break down and accept help, there will be strong criticism from opposing leadership. (Sounds so political, and it is) To get around this, consensus is the primary form of moving forward with major crisis events. But too many die while this is happening. WHICH brings us to the part: Fatalistism. I can't tell you how many doctors I visited for my self or with family over the years that took a fatalistic approach to medicine - whether in Tokyo, Osaka/Kobe or Nagoya area. So to leadership, the fatalistic cultural background is totally accepted for those that die while decisions are being reached.
6. Historical Culture: Since the early 1600's and the Tokugawa clan closed Japan to outsiders and killed over a half a million that became Christian under Francis Xavier. Japanese, in country, still have a subconcious "outsider" exclusion mentality, even in crisis. I know people that accepted us well as individuals. but were afraid of outside things that they did not know. This fear had its deep roots in old cultural events.
7. Outsider mentality and cultural differences. Outsiders consider the goal and purpose as primary (and I agree in crisis situations.) They (we) also think in terms of making individual decisions. However, Japanese overall will consider "relationship" over purpose, group thinking and consensus over individual decisions. Passive and indirect talking and suggesting is the way of communicating while foreigners think "direct" and to the point. This last part is EXTREMELY rude in their culture. Most foreigners don't give a thought to this process. And this is a part of the reason that government and laws are the way that they are - to keep rude outsiders out.
Don't get me wrong, I have had many folks tell me that my wife and I were included as "insiders" in events and situations that they had not seen from other "outsiders". We did not overly placate or patronize but we did understand, respect and follow within their cultural context when we worked there. We were often included in events in which "outsiders" were not invited.
It breaks my heart to see all that is going on, but I also knew before hand that the Japanese red tape would prevent outside help (in the way of personnel) from getting in. The ONLY way outside help will get into Japan is if they already have an established organization there and work through them.
