I need your help

As most of you know by now, my home country was hit by a catastrophic natural disaster on March 11th. At this point after 11 days, the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami was raised to 8,649, with 13,262 more still missing.

I have a friend here in NYC, who is originally from the Sendai coastal area, which was closest to the quake epicenter. Miyagi prefecture, which Sendai is a part of, was worst hit, with a confirmed death toll of 4,882 and sadly, they are expecting many more. Tsunami demolished her hometown of Natori under water. Last weekend, it took a couple of days to confirm that her family members are alive. Words simply fail me to describe how we feel with such complex layers of emotions.

Over 360,000 people have been displaced from their homes and have taken shelter in evacuation facilities. If you can, put yourself there for a second. Living with many other strangers in an open space with bare minimal necessities or not even with no privacy and with limited access to shower or bath. Knowing your family has passed and there is no home to go home to. Or not knowing where your family members are and when you can get out of the shelter.

My friend, Miki Takahashi, I mentioned above has set up a site where your money will go directly toward helping Miyagi prefecture through NY Miyagi Kenjinkai (group of New Yorkers from Miyagi prefecture), her hometown of Natori city, Takahashi Family and shelters with children who lost their family. I'm sure you have made your donations to various organizations already, but I ask you to extend your support if you can. Any amount is deeply heartfelt.

www.help311jp.bbnow.org

Thank you so much for all of your continuous support and prayers.

Japan Earthquake

I've been meaning to update my blog, but to be honest, I have so much on my mind right now and don't know where to start. I'm not ready to untangle and articulate my thoughts and put them in writing. I'm feeling devastated and heartbroken beyond words with what's going on in my home country. There's also that guilt of being away from it all, I'd much rather be there to have shared this tragedy with my family and friends. But when I made a choice to live in the US on my own almost two decades ago, I knew this would be a part of the consequences. Although this particular event has been something I've feared ever since I was a little girl, as I'm sure with many other Japanese people, a part of me thought it would never come true in my lifetime. It's very easy to let the negative thoughts and ideas take over my mind and indulge in them. Then there's that indifference that I witness which I try not to take personally. I look back at some of the events that happened in other parts of the world, and think I too must have acted indifferently to them. The whole events have put things in perspective for me, I don't feel that I'm quite the same person.

I'm denying myself from all things negative, including fear, worries and anger, and focusing on God's grace and love. Although I do feel helpless, I also sincerely believe in the power of prayers. So please join me in praying for people in Japan, it does make a difference. Also if you see anyone from Japan, ask them if their family is OK or let them know that you're praying for them. Even small gestures like that make a tremendous difference. I for one can tell you that, from all the warm and kind messages and prayers that I have received in the past couple of days.


Here's how you can help along with praying and sending love.

American Red Cross  - Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami
https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=0&df_id=5054&5054.donation=form1&s_affiliatecode=13302&set.custom.Chapter_Affiliate_Code=13302

Japan Society – Japan Earthquake Relief Fund
https://www.japansociety.org/japan_earthquake_relief_fund

Six Ways You Can Help Earthquake and Tsunami Victims in Japan
http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/11/five-ways-you-can-help-earthquake-and-tsunami-victims-in-japan/

Mount Fuji

Ema at a temple in Kyoto. People put the wishes and hang them.

Geisha siting in Kyoto.

Anime wall at Takadanobaba.

Shinjuku, near my hometown.

Kyoto temple