Empty instant noodle shelves in a supermarket in Tokyo due to logistic stack and buyout on 16 March 2011, 5 days after the 2011 Sendai earthquake. By Kellykaneshiro (Own work. Taken by Kellykaneshiro.) (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons

Note: I met Hiro during my travel overseas to Taiwan last April. I’m glad he’s safe and we will get to share another round of Gao Liang together sometime soon! Ok, maybe not Gao Liang, just Taiwan Beer.

I appreciate him sharing his thoughts and opinions on what’s going on in Tokyo.

–

Hiro was at work in Tokyo when the earthquake first struck.

He thought it might be the “long predicted big earthquake”. While no stranger to earthquakes, this was his first experience in a major quake.

“Everyone in the office noticed the difference and got a bit upset,” said Hiro. “At the same time, they didn’t think it would be serious in Tokyo.”

One of his first concerns was of his parents and younger brother living in in Tokyo. His house was over 50 years old and made of wood. He noted that there are many houses of that kind in Tokyo, and that such houses aren’t made to withstand earthquakes.

“This time, I underestimated the house my grandparents built,” quipped Hiro with a “LOL” in his email reply. “Now I’m proud of them.”

I hear/see lots of foreigners are leaving Japan.

No wonder.

But they are leaving without any recognizable troubles. Amazing thing.

~ Hiro

Having to make a four hour hike home that day, it wasn’t until later on that he learned about the tsunami. He was worried about a friend in the affected region and left the friend a message on Facebook.

While the world is focused on Japan’s tsunami victims and nuclear power, life goes on for the people of Tokyo, including Hiro.

“Most of us except for epicenter are working as usual to cope with the aftermath of earthquake,” said Hiro.

“Lots of lives are lost and lots of people are still suffering. Now it’s hard to think of anything but earthquake-related troubles but I see people fighting with fears to keep their normal lives going on.”

Employers are sympathetic to the train situation in Japan, as it struggles with electricity shortages caused by the crisis with the nuclear reactors. Whether by taxi or by foot, his company pays for the extra cost incurred by earthquakes. Punctuality is also excused.

He feels there is a mixed feeling of fear, irritation, confusion and anxiety around the city. Those emotions are also met with composure and a sense of relief that “life level is the same as before”.

“It’s not fantastic to keep our usual life with the fear of radioactive matters and big afterquakes”, said Hiro. “None of them has reached Tokyo, but both have got into most people’s minds.”

Aside from transportation, Hiro feels there is little to be worried about in the aftermath of the earthquake.

“I see no problems in food. Just that some grocery/convenience stores are out of such necessities as water, paper, batteries,” he said. “This is because the anxious people bought them out.”

He is, however, a little surprised to see people working in their usual orderly fashion with not much confusion caused by the power outage and train chaos.

As western media highlights the struggle between the difference between American and Japanese assessments of the nuclear crisis, Hiro feels anxious and stressed.

He feels that the country needs to review all policies and measures on the earthquakes and nuclear facilities, “no matter how much it costs”.

“About time we’d update and reinforce our ideas about them,” said Hiro. “We cannot say “it’s done” until we’ve done this.”

As for the evacuation of foreigners, Hiro is amused.

“I hear/see lots of foreigners are leaving Japan. No wonder. But they are leaving without any recognizable troubles. Amazing thing.”