To keep the memory alive, to pass on lessons

Today is the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. 

Where were you at 5:46 a.m. on January 17th, 1995?  I was suddenly woken up by long, violent tremors, the biggest one I had experienced in my life, at my home  in Nara City about 80km from my home town Kobe City. Until then, I had never imagined such a catastrophic earthquake would strike Kobe and Hanshin area and how devastating the result was. Kobe people were totally unprepared. Little by little the horrible, shocking scenes appeared on TV screen – collapsed buildings and highways, derailed trains, and fires. Fires were like inferno uncontrolled due to the broken water pipes. I was watching  at the burning Kobe under the hazy shade of winter on the TV screen with the feeling of helplessness.

One of the heart-warming things was people's attitude to help one another, to try their best to move forward, and to stand together to restore the shattered community while tolerating inconveniences.  The destroyed Meriken wharf was restored in less than 2 years. In nearly 10 years, Kobe revitalized like a phoenix from the ashes.

One part of Meriken warf has been preserved as Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park.

With many lessons learned from all the past big earthquakes since 1995, we've been preparing for safety in a Nankai Megathrust Earthquake forecasted in about 30 years.

I ask myself if I'm not just letting the days go by. Our lives could change next day. Isn’t it a miracle when we can live rather in peace amid all the heart-breaking incidents all over this planet?  

Now I’m thinking of those who are affected by the LA fires, firefighters working hard frantically risking their lives, and many other people deeply committed to help.  

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