Whereabouts unknown

[azamiryou]

I feel silly posting this, but I have to let it out.

From 2007 to 2009, I lived in Kitakami City, in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Along with Miyagi Prefecture, Iwate's coast suffered terribly in the tsunamis from the March 11 earthquake. Several towns are reported as "wiped" off the map.

Kitakami is inland, so my friends there should all be safe (as long as they were not traveling to worse-struck areas). I have heard from many of them, and the news has all been good.

But.

I have not heard from all of them. What's more, I have several friends who live in Miyako, one of the coastal towns that was devastated by the tsunami. Naturally, they are among the friends I have not heard from.

The massive destruction of communication infrastructure gives me hope that they escaped, and are simply unable to contact anyone. Certainly, there are many thousands of people for whom this is true. But I can't help worrying, and it's eating me up and I can't stop reloading the news sites and watching videos and hoping to catch a glimpse of a familiar face.

Here is a photo from a visit to Miyako in 2008.

As I said, I feel silly posting this. As painful as it is to watch places I know and love destroyed, I know that hundreds of thousands of people have lost so much more than I can even imagine. And that aside from trying to locate missing loved ones, they are facing food shortages, power failures, continuing winter, and destroyed infrastructure.

 

[Mack C.]

I feel silly posting this, but I have to let it out.

From 2007 to 2009, I lived in Kitakami City, in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Along with Miyagi Prefecture, Iwate's coast suffered terribly in the tsunamis from the March 11 earthquake. Several towns are reported as "wiped" off the map.

Kitakami is inland, so my friends there should all be safe (as long as they were not traveling to worse-struck areas). I have heard from many of them, and the news has all been good.

As I said, I feel silly posting this.

Hi Matthew; You have nothing to feel silly about posting this. I'm certain all of us have no idea of the tremendous devastation that has beset the Japanese people. I for one am wondering if worse is yet to come.

I have visions of the entire islands of Japan sinking below the waters of the ocean and being lost forever!

GOD bless those thousands of people that have perished, and help those are left behind in their sorrow and hardship!

 

[jaywood1207]

As Mack said there is no need to feel silly. We have 2 plants that were in the hardest hit area. We have heard from everyone except 2 associates and continue to try to locate them. Unfortunately a lot of our associates lost many family members. Our head office is in Toyota city which is far enough away they were not affected and they continue to work hard sending supplies and helping any way they can. The only problem is the trucks are having a hard time getting to where the supplies are needed most. We started a fundraising drive at work today and will hopefully be able to help in some small way with the money we raise.

 

[chriselle]

I feel silly posting this, but I have to let it out.

From 2007 to 2009, I lived in Kitakami City, in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Along with Miyagi Prefecture, Iwate's coast suffered terribly in the tsunamis from the March 11 earthquake. Several towns are reported as "wiped" off the map.

Kitakami is inland, so my friends there should all be safe (as long as they were not traveling to worse-struck areas). I have heard from many of them, and the news has all been good.

As I said, I feel silly posting this.

Hi Matthew; You have nothing to feel silly about posting this. I'm certain all of us have no idea of the tremendous devastation that has beset the Japanese people. I for one am wondering if worse is yet to come.

I have visions of the entire islands of Japan sinking below the waters of the ocean and being lost forever!

GOD bless those thousands of people that have perished, and help those are left behind in their sorrow and hardship!

Now, now Mac....let's not go there. Especially considering I'd be the first one to be sinking. My house is right on the water.:wink:

Azamiryou, I hope you find good news. We are still waiting for word of friends and relatives in Sendai. All we can do right now is stay out of the way of the pros and be ready to jump in when needed. It is really frustrating being so close yet so far away. Hang tight.

Chris

 

[azamiryou]

Thank you for your comments.

Chris, I hope you hear soon from those you haven't heard. I don't think the island will sink (!), but I heard it did move about 8 feet (2.4 m). I guess they have to re-do all the GPS navigation databases now!

This morning I had news that my two friends from Miyako and another friend from the coast of Miyagi near Sendai are all okay.

There are other friends I still have not heard any news about, but they all live inland and are almost certainly okay.

So, I'm able to breathe a huge sigh of relief. I can only hope everyone gets such great news about the people they are looking for.

 

[chriselle]

My wife heard from all of our friends and relatives. Everyone is just fine. One friend lost his house but he was at work and was safe. Good news.

 

[leehljp]

I understand your feelings. I spent over 25 years in Japan and have many many friends throughout the land. My greatest fear is from the nuclear problems which can cause far more economic and health/life problems for Japan than that of the earthquake and tsunami combined.

My family and I were in Osaka when the Hanshin quake hit on Jan. 17, 1995. Its severity 7.1 was not nearly what was experienced in Sendai but still 6000+ lost their lives then. It was rough for a while. Lost friends in that quake.

As to posting, one of the greatest helps is to find someone to listen to your stories and feelings. We are listening. That is what friends are for.

 

[azamiryou]

Chris, I'm so glad everyone is okay!

Hank, thank you for listening. I'm sure you have many friends in harm's way now, and I hope they all turn up safe and sound.