Fenix Blog

3 Month Japan Update

by Jillian Pfund on June 22, 2011

It has been three months since the devastating earthquakes and tsunami hit Japan. Many Japanese companies, including Toyota Motor Corp, have recovered since the earthquake. However, some towns are recovering at a slower pace due to delays in allocation for money by centralized government.

Locals have been expressing their frustration as they await plans for reconstruction, including business owner Keiko Tsukamoto and the town’s mayor,Yoshio Watanabe. In the still above, Tsukamoto stands in front of all that is left of her barbershop business and awaits recovery funds, not knowing what to do next. Mayor Watanabe lived in his office for forty days because his home had been destroyed. He wishes the centralized government would fund Shichigahama’s recovery and allow those affected to decide how to instill the recovery process, claiming that this would make the process move faster. To find out more, view the short film above created by Chris Noble for MarketWatch.

While there are issues with allocating funds, Japan still needs our help. This could come in the way of on-site volunteers. If you're interested in physically lending a hand, you can donate your time and help to an organization such as Second Harvast Japan, to whom we have donated ReadySets thanks to your donations (they post often on their Twitter asking for volunteers), All Hands Volunteers (who is currently looking for volunteers) or a similar organization that you've researched. You can still also donate funds to Second Harvast Japan or other organizations making a difference in Japan.

Sources Tsunami-hit Japan town faces recovery frustration, Japan disaster recovery confronts funding dilemma

Categories: Social Change, Fenix