NOTE FROM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Visiting the JICC’s exhibit, Recapturing Happiness: The Enduring Spirit of Ishinomaki, had special meaning for Globalize DC. For six years, we participated in the TOMODACHI US-Japan Youth Exchange Program, which allowed dozens of DC public high school students from across the city to visit Tohoku, and to meet many Japanese residents, young and old, who generously shared their stories and engaged with our youth. We’re happy to share a reflection from one of these TOMODACHI alumni, now a college graduate, who joined us on our visit to the JICC.
By Jeffrey (JJ) Jenkins
The JICC exhibit reminded me why I chose to pursue a career in International relations. It reminded me of the enduring spirit that the people from Tohoku possess in times of hardship and their passion for peace. The exhibit took me back to a time when I spoke with survivors of the 2011 Minamisanriku earthquake and tsunami, and I could not help but recall their stories shared with me. Tales of how they gave back to their community when they had little to offer, tales of rebuilding from nothing, and their love for life. Despite losing a lot they continued to give their all, not only for themselves but those who were lost during the disaster. It reminded me of how important cherishing the memories of others is and the unrivaled strength that comes with them. The exhibit made me grateful for my experiences and the connections I have built with people around the globe.
On March 11th, some Japanese Plus colleagues and I visited the “Recapturing Happiness: The Enduring Spirit of Ishinomaki”exhibit at the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC). The JICC holds events free to the public to learn more about Japan, Japanese culture, and Japan relations. I was informed that the exhibit was about 3/11, the earthquake that caused a tsunami in Tohoku, Japan in 2011.
When entering the exhibit I was shocked to see a lot of happy photos. Before coming to the exhibit I expected to see sad photos about the damages that were done and a small section of how they’ve rebuilt. But to my surprise that was not the case. A lot of the exhibit was different stories about how people overcame the tragedy and how they are continuing to have hope and resilience despite the damages that were done, and how they cope.
A story that stood out to me was about a couple that lost their three children. They built a playground and commemorated them in different seasons and the photos captured the bright colors to remember them in different seasons and weather conditions. They related rainbows to the spirits of the children and every time they saw a rainbow it reminded them of their children. After speaking with Ms. Shanti (Shoji) she explained further that the couple is tired of news teams interviewing them and sadly talking about their kids. They rather people realize of course they miss their kids, and see how they are doing well and see the positive side of things and that is exactly what the photographer captures in the photos. The bright colors help us see the brighter side of the story and see the happiness and progress.
I enjoyed the exhibit and seeing the happy memories within the stories, but also commemorating loved ones. The exhibition was meant to show the happiness and recovery from the tragedy and not dwell on the past.
Zion Daodu
On 11 March 2011, at 14:46 JST, an undersea earthquake occurred 72 km east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region in Japan. The earthquake was followed by a tsunami. In Japan, this is referred to as the “Great East Japan Earthquake.” The impact was catastrophic, resulting in widespread destruction of infrastructure, homes, and communities, and claiming the lives of over 18,000 people. Many families were torn apart while also faced with unimaginable loss and displacement, as entire towns were swept away by the tsunami’s powerful waves.
The JICC organized an exhibit titled: Recapturing Happiness: The Enduring Spirit of Ishinomaki, featuring photographs by Mr. Keisuke Hirai. It is an exhibition that conveys the resilience of the human spirit, the joy of community, and the moments of happiness that persisted in Ishinomaki following the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Photographer Keisuke Hirai (center) with staff from exhibit sponsors Japan Information and Culture Center and Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
Of the many people featured in the exhibit, the Amano family, and woodworkers Shinichi and Ryoko Endo, among others, stuck out to me, because of their incredible journey and how they overcame it. Following the tragedy, survivors faced a lengthy and difficult healing process as they attempted to come to terms with their loss, their trauma, and the major undertaking of starting over. After the tragedy, families that had been split apart have been gradually reestablishing their ties and seeking comfort and support in one another’s company. But these brittle reunions were cut short when the COVID epidemic struck, leaving many families to face a fresh round of uncertainty and loneliness. As the eldest son of the Amano family wrote, they were not always close but after the earthquake and their mother‘s death in 2020 they began to cherish the memories they were creating with each other.
The inability to be together during the pandemic brought an additional layer of grief and frustration for those who had already lost loved ones or were still looking for missing relatives from the 2011 disaster, adding to the emotional toll of both tragedies. Family members found it difficult, if not impossible, to continue their efforts to physically gather due to travel limitations, lockdowns, and health issues, but woodworkers Shinichi and Ryoko Endo made the 480-km drive from Tokyo to take their long-awaited photo with their daughter and her husband in front of the Ishinomori Manga Museum.
A source of strength, families were reminded of their ties and the value of helping one another through hardship by their common experiences of resiliency and survival following the Tōhoku tragedy. Even though there were clearly challenges brought about by the pandemic, it also brought to light the families’ steadfast endurance and inspired a fresh appreciation for the times they were able to spend together, whether in person or virtually.
Zitlaly Hernandez
When I first entered the exhibit I was kind of nervous because there were important people around and I’m not good at socializing. As I walked around I noticed before and after photos, photos from the past or the present or both depending on the story.
One story that really got to me was one about an older sister and how she had missed the times when she would spend with her sister. It also got to me because her story touched on how she was grateful for her family and how she was thankful for all the things they’ve done for her. This resonated with me because I’m really close with my family and although it’s small, we love big. This is something that Kokoro, the author of the story I’m talking about, illustrated in her story.
Felipe Lemos
What I enjoyed most about the exhibit at the JICC was the fact that it focused more on the stories of the people and how they recovered over time rather than the tragedy itself. Some of the exhibits had pictures from the time of the disaster that were taken in the same spot 10 years later. Some of the exhibits told stories of the changes and improvements in people’s lives, all of which occurred after the disaster. But the shared message that I took away is that the world didn’t end after the earthquake. People’s lives went on and they were able to create stories and memories that were passed on through the exhibit.
One of my favorites was the story of a family who took a photo of themselves in 2012 shortly after the earthquake, and then went back to the same place to take a family picture again. Seeing the people who aged, the children who were now adults, the new members of the family, the background behind them changing to be a clean, new building, it all adds to this sentiment that pushing through adversity and having a positive mindset can lead to happiness long term.
Special thanks to the staff of the JICC for offering extended viewing hours so our students could visit this moving exhibit after school. It’s wonderful to be so warmly greeted.Dinner afterwards at Donburi in the neighborhood. It was great to be joined by Takahashi-sensei and Nishant Annu (who both lived and worked in Tohoku) and local TOMODACHI alumni Jeffrey Jenkins and Tenaj Gueory.
Photo from our 2018 TOMODACHI US-Japan Youth Exchange Program in Tohoku.
NOTE FROM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR: On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck the Tohoku region of Japan, causing tremendous loss of life and widespread destruction of homes and communities. For six years Globalize DC was privileged to participate in the TOMODACHI US-Japan Youth Exchange Program, which allowed DC high school students to visit towns and cities directly affected by the earthquake, and to meet and engage with their Japanese peers in the region. These experiences have been deeply affecting and informative to all of us. So each year we take a few moments to recall the events of 3-11, to learn, and to reflect. This year our Japanese Plus students watched the emotionally riveting film, The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom, which vividly documents the events of that day and the aftermath. These are some of our students’ reflections after viewing the film.
Chamiya
It was hard to watch the film about the tsunami that hit Tohoku on 3-11. Watching people lose their lives and witnessing survivors lose hope after experiencing a devastating tragedy was devastating to me. One guy said that he doesn’t want clothes or home, or anything material. He wanted his friend back, and that is something that I relate to. I admire these people for finding hope in the cherry blossoms. Finding something to look forward to, as something as small as watching the cherry blossoms bloom is admirable.
Zitlaly
It was hard to hear of the tragedies and how everyone had to accept the fact that the tsunami changed everything. Despite the fact that many lost what they would consider their lives/reason for living, they still continued to stay positive, to have some type of hope. I admire Japan for persevering and finding something or someone to hold onto during this hard and excruciating experience for so many. Also, I admire that many looked at the blooming of the cherry blossoms as a form of a new beginning, a remembrance, “rebirth,” hope, and a push to keep on going. Despite that, some felt envy for the blooming.
PS. May those who have not been found find serenity.
Felipe
One thing that stood out to me in the film was the man who lost his best friend. At the beginning he was distraught and at one point said that he had lost the meaning of his life and everything that was a part of it. However, once reflecting on the cherry blossoms and what they represented, he realized everybody was trying to bounce back because they were still alive and they shouldn’t give up. Another thing I found inspiring was what the woman at the end of the film was saying. She said she would photograph how the town was rebuilding but she also mentioned how the yearly blossoming of the cherry trees was giving her hope for the future. She said that the next time the trees blossomed, the town would be more rebuilt and the year after that even more. This made me reflect on how time is continuous and things will improve over time if you keep looking forward.
Mai
For many people in Tohoku they couldn’t believe that a tsunami was actually happening right before their eyes.
How easy it was for the tsunami to destroy and swallow their homes and loved ones. They could only watch, not being able to help.
“Nature is filled with beauty and terror but sometimes we forget about the terrors.”
The cherry blossoms have different meanings depending on how we feel and what memories we associate with them. They are goodbyes and new beginnings.
There was a tree that has lived for more than 80 years. When the Tohoku people saw the cherry blossoms, they felt healed, allowing them to have hope and motivation to rebuild their homes.
Cherry blossom trees have steps of growth: ichibu-zaki (which is the first step of the cherry blossoms growing) and maichiru (when the cherry blossom flowers begin to fall).
Sakura are yuuga (beautiful but not too showy). The Japanese people have a kanji for the concept of yuuga: 優雅
Jennifer
Although the cherry blossom trees also suffered the tsunami, they managed to strive to be alive. It became a hope to most and a reflection to those who survived. The tsunami hit them hard. Some grew from it, some resented it. The cherry blossoms give a sort of reflection on how they feel about the tsunami and what they feel about the future.
Elias
I noticed the destruction which caused the deaths of many friends and families who mourned for them after the disaster. Going through something as traumatizing as a tsunami taking your home and friends and families led people to lose everything, giving them a sense of emptiness from their tragic losses.
D’Amonie Armstrong
I believe that going through something like this is absolutely devastating and will have long-lasting impact on the people of Tohoku. To see visual evidence of such disaster and watching as people tried to get to a safe haven was very disheartening. The people showed extreme bravery for abandoning or deciding to try to salvage their belongings. Many people suffered badly. However, during this time, the cherry blossoms were also almost in bloom, and that was used to bring hope for a better future. Every year that they bloom around that time, it is seen as a reason to keep going and how with each passing year, the rebuilding gets better and better.
Zion
It was heartbreaking to see the people holding out hope that their families were still alive. Children having to watch their parents get swept away. The people that just watched knowing they could not do anything to save them. The people that were just coming out of their homes, the ones that could have died if they had waited just one second longer and the many other stories of the people who had relatives that died or were missing. I could not imagine going through what they went through and I hope that the people featured in the documentary are still alive.
Margarita
It was interesting to see how much cherry blossoms are integrated into Japanese culture and life. Many people in the film mentioned how they grew up alongside the cherry blossoms. The cherry blossoms were viewed as hope when they start blooming, not long after the disaster of March 11. The film showed how the family of one of the victims had planted their own cherry tree before the tsunami, which had started to bloom afterwards. The difference between showing solidarity compared to America is also very interesting. Unlike in Japan when natural disasters happen or any kind of devastation, in the United States the news and solidarity usually remains local. Across all of Japan people were grieving, which shows just how devastating the event was. I can’t imagine how traumatizing it must have been for everyone affected.
GLOBALIZE DC: JAPAN 