Today is March 11.
That means, 8 years have passed since 東日本大震災, or "the Great East Japan Earthquake."
I wrote about the earthquake last March, too: "Remember 3.11"
The earthquake happened at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2011, so I prayed silently at the time today, like I did last year.
Well, I still have many things to mention, such as nuclear power plants, Fukushima, renewable energy, one of the reasons why I want Shinjiro Koizumi to be the Prime Minister of Japan in the future ...
But I don't have enough time today. So, I'll put pictures I took last summer when I visited Miyagi Prefecture in Tohoku region, the place where tunami hit on March 11, 2011. You know, sometimes photos are more powerful than words. On top of that, some don't read or understand English.
On the other hand, some pictures need explaination, so I'll write about what I learned and felt then some other time.
These are from "Make A wish☆," a blog post I wrote last summer after I went to Miyagi.
I visited several places then.
荒浜慈悲聖観, or "Arahama Mercy Avalokiteśvara."
Tunami occurred on 3.11, 2011.
震災機構 仙台市立荒浜小学校 has been in the area where Arahama Mercy Avalokiteśvara was built after the earthquake as the memorial to the victims. I guess I walked around 15 minitues or so from her to the school.
These two are written in English:
Brochure about Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake; Sendai Arahama Elementary School
It seems students and teachers wrote these in the black board before they were rescued and moved from the place.
I went to せんだい３．１１メモリアル交流館 as well. Its official website is not available in English, unfortunately.
"Our March 11th."
It asks; "On that day, where were you and what did you do? And then, what happened? ..."
I went there while the Sendai Star Festival, or Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, was held. That's why they were displaying "Tanzaku," on which we write wishes, and Tanabata decorations called "Fukinagashi."
A rose survived the earthquake. She's named "Sｔrawberry Ice Sachiko."
The house itself is located near the Sendai Airport.
Pray for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. And don't forget 3.11.