With Little Sign Of Destruction In Most Cities Life Goes On As Normal For Most of Japan's Citizens

ChicoER Gate ^ | 3/16/11 | Chuck Wolk

[OneVike]

When disasters strike somewhere in the world, those of us not effected will most likely watch the news or even see videos and pictures online to see what happened. When we're finished watching, we will either turn off the television or change the channel, those who surf will eventually log off the internet and shutdown our computers as we continue our normal uninterrupted lives. However, unless we ourselves have gone through similar disasters, we can never truly understand fully what the people are going through. I guess that's why it's so easy to forget about others who are suffering as we live our lives as before. Well, just like you and me, there are many Japanese people who do the same thing. Believe it or not, right now there are millions of Japanese citizens who's lives go on as before, because they don't live in the areas devastated and to be quite honest many of them may not even have friends and relatives who do.

Don't get me wrong, I do believe that the Japanese people as a whole are hurting today and will for some time. Just like Americans who watched the events unfold before our eyes over 9 years ago on 911, they too have just witnessed their own countrymen go through a similar tragedy. They realize that amidst the total carnage they see on television, that many hundreds of thousands of their countrymen in cities like Sendai, Yamada, Minami, Natori, and others must count on the shelter of any building still standing as they are given a bowl of rice and maybe a bottle of fresh water for their meal. Their bed will be a hard floor with a blanket to keep them warm, because their only possession left may be the cloths they are wearing. Cloths that are drenched in mud, blood, sweat, and tears clinging to their body as tightly as they cling to their loved ones to comfort each other. If they even have loved that survived the multiple disaster.

Not so in Tokyo, where children a right now riding their bikes as little girls scream with joy in the afternoon sun on the schoolyard playground. In cities like Chiba, there are workers who are putting out the fresh vegetables for the customers coming to shop. Then there is the couple who are spending the afternoon together as they sit on a park bench as they watch an entertainer perform tricks for them. There is also the business man who talks on his cell phone as he eats a sandwich at a corner cafe, and the Ramen shop worker who cheerfully greets customers as they enter his business to purchase lunch before heading back to work. Life, as these people know it goes on as before. For many in the cities unaffected by the disaster, they may as well live in America for how much their lives have been interrupted.

Well, that is what I offer below, some photos I found which were taken in the last few days in Tokyo, Chiba, and Shinagawa. It's been five days since the earthquake that triggered a massive tsunami, and crippled a power plant that could trigger a possible nuclear meltdown. However, life still goes on for millions of Japanese citizens as it did before. Check out the pictures and be comforted to know that while their country may suffer the consequences of the historic earthquake for years to come, the people still do what they must. Just as we did after 911and Katrina. That is what we all must do to keep from going insane, continue and persevere the best way we know how. One day at a time. For those who know Christ, life is always easier to continue, because we know this world is just temporary. We know, that which He has promised will be forever.


Life still goes on with work, shopping, eating, &
 visiting.(Tokyo)



A stocked convenience store and ATM stand
ready to serve. (Tokyo)



Beer and package deliveries go on as normal.
(Tokyo)



A family picnics and plays in Yoyogi Park. (Tokyo)



Restaurants serve. People eat.(Tokyo)



Shibuya Crossing's famous screens have gone
dark to save power, but there's still life below
them. (Tokyo)



Ramen shop staff greet customers.(Tokyo)



While there's a noticeable decrease in prepared
food, there's still enough in stock, and this guy
has a seemingly infinite choice of beverages
to wash it down. (Tokyo)



A performer captivates his small, but
mesmerized audience.(Tokyo)



Choices of what to eat, not when will you eat
are on this persons mind. (Tokyo)



Oblivious to the possibility of causing another
quake, these kids jump rope in Yoyogi Park.
(Tokyo)



Takeshita Street in Harajuku is generally open,
with even a bit of bustle.(Tokyo)



The situation is never so bad you can't tease
your brother.(Tokyo)



While millions suffer the loss of loved ones,
love blossoms for this couple.(Tokyo)



A couple buys crêpes and enjoys the day.
(Tokyo)



Kids play in the park (Chiba)



Vegetable may be scarce for those in the
devestated parts of Japan, but they are plentiful
in this shop (Chiba)



Park staff smile while inspecting the grounds,
as a woman navigates around one of the few
signs that a historic earthquake hit her country
just a few days ago. (Chiba)



While it seems strange to relax with all those
suffering, that is what these customers do as
they sit in a cafe friends (Chiba)



Schedules continue as people still must get to
work or home for dinner, while those in the
devastated areas have no job because the
businesses are gone and they have no place
to go home to. (Chiba)



Children still play in the schoolyard, as they
always do.(Chiba)



Construction unrelated to the earthquake
continues at it's usual, leisurely pace. (Chiba)



Hair is cut and curled, because in Chiba,
appearances still matter. (Chiba)



A couple browses for a vacation
to Hawaii. (good timing) (Chiba)



Those living in the cities spared the devastation
must still walk their dogs.(Shinagawa)

[OneVike]

Truth be told, there are very few places on the earth like New Orleans, or Los Angele's where the people riot and blame the government for every natural disaster. The Japanese have been here before and like then they still hold their heads up with self respect in the way they go about picking up the paces. Maybe Obama and his people could learn a lesson. Some how I doubt they ever will, at least not until they look to different leaders anyway.

[allmost]

It’s a few big islands.

[television is just wrong]

AND NO LOOTING!

[OneVike]

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We sometimes forget that when a disaster strikes, it really is but a portion of the society that is directly effected. For millions in Japan, life continues with nothing more then a pause. These pictures put things into perspective as you will see how many are going about their daily business. For a vast portion of Japan's population they are like us, the tragedy is brought to them via photos and television, but it did happen elsewhere and their lives were not disrupted much at all.

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[chrisinoc]

Our Tokyo office has reported no panic in the city.

[Brad’s Gramma]

This is very nice, OneVike...thank you.

[OneVike]

You are most welcome. Not everything needs to be negative. Sometimes we need to look for the good, but when we do we will fond that it really is right before our eyes.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Sometimes we need to look for the good....

Got THAT right!!! :)

[ThomasThomas]

http://articles.latimes.com/1994-02-06/opinion/op-19644_1_northridge-earthquake

After the 1994 Northridge earthquake in LA there was very little looting.

[danamco]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2690058/posts?page=6#6

[television is just wrong]

I pray for their safety over there.

[Kirkwood]

You have an overactive imagination. There has been no riot in NOLA since 1900. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_riots

[rahbert]

do Japanese made guys control the building trades?

They are going to love the boom times ahead.

[TheOldLady]

Ah, it’s nice to see a pleasant counterpoint to the lying, lame-stream media’s hysteria and doom predicting.

[arderkrag]

Good to know. I’m getting really tired of all the hysteria and panic mongering. I’ve even seen some of it here.

[brytlea]

But, if you watch the news, it looks like the entire country is on fire and under water.... And yet EVERY SINGLE contact I have in Japan has checked in and said they are fine and life is pretty normal for them. None of them have family in the affected area. I don’t know a lot of people there, but I do have several internet friends and my best friend’s mother is Japanese and still has family there.
Of course, where things are bad they are bad. However, it’s like when we watched the news after 9/11. The whole country was not a pile of rubble. It was an awful thing, but most of us went about our normal lives, prayerfully to be sure, but the media magnifies everything 1000 times.

[OneVike]

And yet EVERY SINGLE contact I have in Japan has checked in and said they are fine and life is pretty normal for them.

I keep hearing the same from those I know that have friends or relatives in japan.

Now we are to believe that the American West coast is in grave danger from radiation leaking from the reactors. Fact of the matter is the Pacific Ocean is so HUGE, that it will more than dissipate any radiation that goes over it in the atmosphere long before it ever gets to American air space.

All these Chicken Littles on the left who have been educating Americans the last 40 years have done a great job at indoctrinating the people to the point that many are as stupid as them. God help us all, because we are in trouble, but not because of the nuclear reactor problems in Japan, but from the inept education of the American citizens who pretty much believe most of what they are told.

[brytlea]

Amen. When people who have not been ginning up fear of nuclear reactors for years or have nothing to gain from fear mongering about them begin to be concerned, I will be concerned. Until then, I remain skeptical.

[GILTN1stborn]

I received this message in reply to one I sent to a contact in Japan:

Thank you for your kind message. My family are alright. My hometown is no damage. But northern east of Japan is big damage. As one of the people to represent the country of Japan, I would like to show my gratitude toward everyone in the United States and the government of the United States, who has been helping Japan with encouraging message and tremendous support. I appreciate all the people around the world who are kindly praying for Japan. Thank you very much for your concern.

Yes, there are many here that could learn much from these people.

[brytlea]

Thank you for sharing that. All of the messages I have gotten from people have been supportive of the US. They do appreciate even kind words, prayers and thoughts. Of course, donations are even better. We donate thru Samaritan’s Purse.