Times goes by but some things never pass

Radiation hot spots were recorded outside 26 schools in Koriyama city, Japan, the same area of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, on May 7; READ MORE ON WORLD NEWS, HERE.

Time goes by quickly, and things in the world and our lives move forward, but it is scary to see the seeds that had been planted in the past start creeping in with worst possible outcomes; In this German news piece the Japanese lady in a Kimono says, her friend in Iwaki just recently died of myocardial infarction, and that more and more people living in those highly contaminated area are dying because of cesium(in the video only German or Japanese were spoken, no English translation). 

There come a time in our lives when we absolutely have no choice but to take our stand against something. Japanese culture and way of thinking though, are the rare ones that would make us stop looking outward to affix blame, but rather to look inward to mend. It may appear as being submissive. But when we realize that we have also contributed to allow others to get to this point, then we know we must reach outward to change the course of our our lives. 

With this in mind, being submissive may not be necessarily due to weakness, 
but could be due to the strength where real power resides.
I was very moved to see especially these young people stand up enthusiastically to once and for all stop this madness of nuclear power plants! 
They are angry, and it is simply powerful.

But every cloud has a silver lining. Let me share with you a very touching short essay entitled 'ONIGIRI and OMISOSHIRU' by a 10 year-old elementary school girl who is a refugee from Fukushima to Saitama prefecture ever since the day Tsunami hit(translated by me!).

This essay was awarded as 'The Best Essay about Food and Culture by Elementary School Students' in Saitama prefecture this year.

*** FYI 'ONIGIRI' is a rice ball, the most common casual food snack for Japanese, which is equivalent to a turkey or peanut butter&jelly sandwich for Americans. And 'OMISOSHIRU' is a miso soup, again our necessity to go with rice or rice ball, kind of like soda or coke for Americans, only it is extremely healthy. Inside, the rice ball contains some dried fish or seaweed, but the most common thing also is 'UMEBOSHI', a pickled plum. And if they can have 'OKAZU', a main dish to add to it, such as grilled fish or sauteed meat with assorted boiled veggies or something like that, it will complete a perfect dinner meal for a typical happy Japanese family. 

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ONIGIRI and  OMISOSHIRU

One small onigiri and omisoshiru with no ingredients inside have become something very special in my hear that I cannot forget.

That was the meal I used to eat every day while living in a shelter after North East Japan Earthquake. 

But prior to that, I would always eat snacks between meals and have lots of entrees on our dinner table with even some desserts after meals, not realizing how fortunate we were, until we had to suddenly evacuate and live in a shelter.

There we had to eat onigiri and omisoshiru every day, but in a strange way I did not crave anything more than what we had. I was just simply happy to be able to eat when I was hungry. 

One day the rice ball was upgraded from nothing inside to umeboshi inside, and I was ecstatic.

When we moved up form the shelter to Tokyo, we ate a meal with an entree for the first time in a long time. My little brother looked at those vegetables and asked, "Is it OK for me to eat this?" He looked very happy.

We have still been far a way from home, but we are blessed enough to have the food we like on our table, and even seasonal fruits.

I will never want to forget those times we spent at the shelter where we had no tables, and ate small onigiri and omisoshiru with no ingredients inside every day, and the kindness of the people who made onigiri and omisoshiru for us.

I couldn't laugh much at that time, but now I am smiling when I eat.

I was scared, and it was not easy living there, but I am thankful for those experiences because it made me appreciate the simple things like being able to eat, sleep and taking a bath.

And I will cherish every meal and eat with a smile for the rest of my life.

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This blog was written by TOMOKO, and edited by Daron K.Harris.

For more info about the author, HERE.

For TOMOKO's blog about music&life, HERE.

It was one year ago.

I started this blog to write about Japan
in attempt to show not only the great qualities of the nation
but also to expose the dark sides as well,
as we all possess both good and bad.

It is a heavy subject.
It seems like there may be too many problems
that are too big to handle right now.

 

I have many negative emotions coursing through me
associated with it;
feeling helpless, overwhelmed, devastated, sad, angry...
especially when I think of the ongoing nuclear

 and radiation problems.

I treated my song 'PROMISE' as a tribute to Japan,
for I wrote about my own struggle
and keeping the faith in tough times.

I can go on and on and rattle 

about shoul've, could've, would've,
or should, could, would.
But for today, I would rather focus on the brighter side,
and say THANK YOU!
= ARIGATOU = 有難う。
Because of you, they say they can go on.

This blog is written by TOMOKO, edited by Daron K. Harris.

For more info on TOMOKO, here.

Her blog about music&life, here.

The 1st anniversary for the 3/11 tragedy in Japan is just around the corner.

The 1st anniversary for the 3/11 tragedy in Japan is just around the corner. 

I could not stop crying while watching these videos.

As much as the Japanese authorities have ashamedly disappointed us, I am extremely proud of those who have been standing up and fighting.

Please watch this performance by the Japanese rapper, Frying Dutchman, (with English captions) speaking about the inconvenient bare truth and how matters have ended up here!!

(I recognized right away that this footage was shot by the river in Kyoto where I spent my college days. It is right next to my hometown Osaka, and it is one of the most traditional and beautiful sites in Japan). 

We can all participate from anywhere globally to support this Human Error event on 3/11 here.

Here are the English lyrics of the song for your review here.

Now please watch this older Japanese brave guy speak!
He lives right in the most contaminated area in Fukushima is so brave, he risks his life by staying there to show the world what is really happening, here.

I was never a type that would participate in any rallies or movements because I did not believe it would change anything.

But since 3/11, something has changed inside of me, and my angels whispered to me to stand up for whatever I believe in, in any way.|

I know at times we feel helpless, and it feels almost too painful to see. There are still many people who choose to keep their eyes shut and remain nonchalant. 

Here are the quotes from my hero, the great Martin Luther King Jr., who has shown us how powerful and precious it is to stand up and die for what we believe in.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”  

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”  

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”  

“The time is always right to do the right thing”  

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

I would like to believe that Japan is destined to be the leading country in sustaining renewable energy without nuclear power, and I know we owe ourselves and the world that much.

I am elated that the former Prime Minister, Suga, after resigning only 5 months since the 3/11 disaster, is now focusing on his energy just to do that, as if a withered flower came back to life by a sudden squall - just like the former U.S. Vice President, Al Gore, took the opportunity to refocus his energy after losing the  presidential race.

Though it is sarcastic, but the fact of the matter is, it seems like that it is almost impossible to serve people when you are in an elected position to serve them, due to so many conflicts of interests.

A curse is a blessing, and a blessing is a curse… we just do not know the bigger picture.

Watch Mr. Suga speak of his new passion, here.

This is the latest news about Post-Fukushima reactor checks being ‘insufficient' from the

article ‘Bloomberg’ by Yuriy Humber - Jan 27, 2012, here.

It is time to stand up and come together!!!


This article was written by TOMOKO, edited by Daron K. Harris.
For more info about the author, here.
To read her other blog about music&life, here.

Why do we need to wake up and smell the coffee?

Why is Japan's 3.11 not just another disaster

 that happened far away?

Did you know that the debris from 

japan earthquake and tsunami 

floating towards U.S. West Coast??

Check the article.

If you are in NYC tomorrow, 

PLEASE DO NOT MISS THIS RARE OPPORTUNITY

to learn about the truth and the facts 

of our current situation on nuclear energy.

This is the project that is dear to me.

Please RSVP now at: learnfrom311@yahoo.co.jp!

You will go home with valuable 

life-changing information, guaranteed,

hearing from the exquisite experts and professionals.

On Facebook.

More about the author of this blog, TOMOKO.
Read her another blog about music&life, here.

Save the children of Japan!

I have to bring this to your attention again and again, wherever you are-

Do you know that 30,000 children are still trapped in the most contaminated area in Fukushima still even though it is now 7 months after the disaster on 3.11.11?

The Japanese government still refuses to help.

That is why the women from Fukushima started this sit-in.

Watch them in action.

Some New Yorkers were not going to be silent either, they also did a sit-in to show solidarity in front of the Japanese Consulate in NYC! Watch them in action.

  

- Below is the message from the global web movement community ‘AVAAZ’ (AVAAZ means 'voice' or 'song' in many languages) -

Our petition is exploding -- over 100,000 signers in 48 hours! Let's get to 150,000 now -- Send this to everyone! 

Right now, the government is failing to provide evacuation assistance to hundreds of vulnerable children still trapped in highly contaminated Fukushima City. But, a group of brave mothers have taken to the streets, demanding their leaders get the children out of the disaster zone. In 2 days the government will hold an emergency meeting on the issue -- let's support the Fukushima children:  Sign the Petition, here.

Thousands of local residents are still trapped in the highly contaminated areas in and around Fukushima City. With black rain falling from the sky and local crops poisoned, children in families left destitute by the tsunami can’t afford to get out-- and the government is failing to help them.

But a group of brave mothers have taken to the streets to ensure their children are helped out of the disaster zone. Hundreds of supporters from around the country have gathered for a sit-in outside the Ministry of Economy in Tokyo demanding that Prime Minister Noda grant their children the opportunity to evacuate. We can stand with them.

This is, literally, the fight of their lives. Children, sitting in the midst of radioactive contamination, don’t have a day to lose. In just 24 hours, the government will decide whether to act at an emergency meeting -- let's build a giant outcry for a healthy future for Fukushima children. Sign the urgent petition below and forward this email widely -- it will be delivered directly to the Prime Minister's office before the meeting. 

Right now our country has a clear choice. We can embrace family values, and rebuild our nation to give all our children a future, or we can continue to ignore those who are facing hardship and neglect. Fukushima's families don’t have a moment to lose -- every day exposed to radiation massively increases the chances of serious health problems. 

We know that the grueling effects of long-term radiation-exposure passes through generations, impacting the health of not only today’s children, but their children’s children. In the aftermath of Chernobyl, the Soviet Union evacuated people from land which had considerably less radiation than some of the areas in question in Japan. The children of Fukushima City, trapped in a radioactive environment, will not be able to extricate themselves from this severe threat to their health without government support for voluntary evacuation. Yet the government won’t trigger evacuation until contamination in an area reaches a level that is four times greater than the threshold the Soviets set for mandatory evacuation after Chernobyl, 25 years ago.

If tens of thousands of Japanese citizens raise the alarm now, we could tip the balanceand bring hope to hundreds of families. Together let’s build a giant public outcry to show Prime Minister Noda that our country's honour is at stake and urge him to stand up and save lives. The government meeting is in 2 days – sign now then forward this email to everyone. 

Japan was rocked on March 11th and we’re still coming to terms with the scale of the destruction. But out of the devastation comes a chance to rebuild -- our country is united more than ever, people are ready to act to make things better for all Japanese citizens. Right now, we can begin to lay the foundation for a healthy future for Japan's children and children's children.

With hope,

Luis, Dalia, Iain, Kya and the rest of Avaaz team.

***More information***
Fukushima women demand better protection for children exposed to radiation, here.
Fukushima disaster: it's not over yet (The Guardian), here.

Women stage sit-in protest against nuclear policy, meet with Nuclear Safety Commission (28/10), here.
Women’s Anti-Nuke Demonstration (Nippon News), here.
Seven months on, Japan yet to set evacuation plans (Reuters), here.

Avaaz.org is a 10-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages.

To contact Avaaz, write to us at www.avaaz.org/en/contact or call us at:1-888-922-8229 (US)

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This blog was written by TOMOKO, and edited by D.K. Harris.
More info on the author, here.

Her blog on Music&Life, here.

Learn from 3・11 Project!

I am a member of the project ‘Learn from 3.11’ Team founded by Kiyoko Horvath from Osaka, Japan, the well-established wedding photographer from Kiro Studio, also the founder of ‘New York Women’s Network.

This is our mission:

We must begin by knowing the facts.
What should we learn from the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster?

The level of the tragedy that struck Tohoku Japan on March 11, 2011 was unprecedented in many ways.
With hundreds of thousands of victims confirmed, many were forced to live in shelters underneath the constant fear of ongoing aftershocks, followed by the Fukushima nuclear power explosion.
Due to the complexity and massive scale of these disasters, a long-term plan of active support and aid are indispensable for rebuilding and recovery.

There have been many charities and fund raising activities to help Japan from all over the world since the disaster struck.
However, the momentum is gradually being lost as time goes by before real help can actually reach those who are still in desperate need.

How can we deepen our consciousness and reinvigorate the sense of urgency about what really needs to be done?
We must deliberately take into consideration the true needs of the survivors, instead of operating only upon our assumptions.
The Fukushima meltdown has taught us that it is not just a Japanese but a global problem that requires a whole-hearted approach to protect our earth, and that it is essential for us to keep seeking correlative support and growth.
As a New Yorker, we cannot afford to avoid staring down the cold facts of the danger and impact of nuclear power stations, while Indian Point Energy Center, a three-unit nuclear power plant station is located just 38 miles north of New York City!
But how many of us have ever taken a serious look?

First we must begin by knowing the facts.
Without knowing the facts, we cannot argue the pros and cons, and certainly not be of service.
We cannot stay nonchalantly ignorant once we have learned the truth.

That is why we have launched the ‘Learn from 3.11’ Project.
Our mission is to create an opportunity for us to study together by periodically holding seminars, hearings, panel discussions, and screenings about the actual situations in the disaster-stricken area, and the related radiation problems.
We intend to connect with all of l the local and global organizations, groups and individuals who share an aim to help and work together to expand and spread the word.
Please join us in this movement. We need each one of you.
This is not just an effort by and for Japan, but it is one for all nations and cultures who care.

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Our first event will be held for Japanese-speaking people on Thursday October 27.

If you could understand this flyer in Japanese below, then please join us! lol
I will be also singing my tribute to Japan ‘PROMISE’ as the special performance.

詳細はこちらです。

入場料は下記の団体へ寄付されます。

予約制ですので、早めに下記のメールへお願いします。

Coincidently, starting on the same day in Tokyo Japan, women will break this silence once and for all and carry out one-week sit-in to protest demanding the help of evacuating the children in Fukushima war zone, and to stop restart of nuclear power plants across Japan.

If you have any friends in Japan, please let them know about this protest!!

I am going to share with you the letter I have received from Kaori Izumi, the director of ‘Shut Tomari’ and co-director of ‘Save Fukushima Children-Hokkaido’, also co-director of ‘Red Ribbon Hokkaido Africa Support Group’ whom I had the privilege of meeting in person at the event organized by Beyond Nuclear back in September(the details of this event and the farmers and women who came from Fukushima to NYC is here).

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Dear everyone,

3 October it was reported that it was found irregularities in the throid among the 10 out of 130 children from Fukushima who had been tested while they were on holiday (evacuated) in Nagano.

On our way back to Japan on the plane, Sachiko told me that Fukushima women were planning a sit-in in front of METI, Tokyo between 27 and 29 October.

I then thought that we women from outside Fukushima should also organise a sit-in from 30 October to 5 November to continue their initiative in solidarity.

There are too issues at stake here.

1) secure the rights for evacuation for all Fukushima children

2) stop resumption of all nuclear power plant which are currently under regular check ups

We are calling for the women in the world to join our action during the period to demonstrate your solidarity to Fukushima women. 

You may deliver your petition to Japanese embassy, or directly send it to METI or Prime Minister Noda, you may demonstrate in front of embassy. 

It is up to you what action you may take. 

What we want is conformation on your action and information on your action which we could inform our women in Fukushima. 

Women in Fukushima are totally exhausted mentally and physically, but your support will revive them.

Indeed, with 54 nuclear power plants from north to south in Japan, there is no 100% secure evacuation place for Fukushima children unless all the plants are shut down and kept under control.

Government has lifted designated evacuation areas, while some of the areas calling people back home, while in an area called Watari from where no evacuation is recommended, 30,000Bq/km

high level cesium was measured by a civil group.

Best,

Kaori

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To read ‘Fukushima and the Battle for Truth’ - Large sectors of the Japanese population are accumulating significant levels of internal contamination by Paul Zimmerman, here.

This blog was written by TOMOKO.

More info on the author, here.

Her blog on Music&Life, here.

What we can learn from 3/11

It has been more than six months since one of the biggest Tsunami and earthquakes hit Japan, and still there is so much left to do to rebuild and repair.

One of the most pressing problems we now face is that we must stop the threat of deadly massive nuclear power and related weapons before destroying both ourselves and the earth.

We cannot repeat Fukushima, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, Hiroshima or Nagasaki.

We cannot afford to allow suffering in vain.

We must wake up and see the reality, and say enough is enough.

We can develop the attitude and discipline to seek, study and sustain alternative natural energy that has been available to us all along, and I feel very strongly it is now or never.

The actress and activist, Susan Sarandon says, “Nuclear power in all its forms is a weapon of mass destruction that must be abolished.”

What I can do as a Japanese living in NY, and as a musician, is to raise awareness of the conditions we now live under and  how dangerous and urgent they have become, and consequently how important it is for us to be united and work together.

New York is a powerful and perfect place to spread the word, and MUSIC is a powerful tool.

And me being Japanese is a powerful thing to get the message out, so I’ve got the triple threat going on here!

The way I plan to help is a three front approach:  

1) To raise money to help and aid those who still remain in Fukushima, including young children and women, to evacuate immediately.

2) To create or join the anti-nuclear movement to help raise global awareness.

3) To inspire through music, and also accomplish the first two tasks by doing so.

Last week I had the privilege of hearing directly from a family from Fukushima and other activists at the assembly organized by the group ‘Beyond Nuclear’.

I was shocked to know that the reason they came all the way from Japan was to lobby to the U.S. government because they cannot trust their(our) own government any longer - on who keeps lying and is not willing to take any action to help and save its own people. 

The testimony from the farmer from Fukushima who traveled to Washington D.C. and NY with her two children was desperate, sincere and unspeakably powerful.

She was able to evacuate her own children right away, but over 30,000 children still remain in the most dangerous contaminated area, and meanwhile, the authorities keep raising the safety level of the radiation threat, giving everyone the impression that things are getting better and safer.

Her teenage children say they do not understand why the government is taking the side of the electric company, and  they are saddened by the fact that money is more important to them than the citizen’s lives.

I still cannot erase the image of their deeply saddened eyes from off of my mind.

Japanese people are famous for being nice. They are nice, but the government isn’t.

Some journalist referred to this state as ‘Kitty Fascis'.

You all get the idea- the cute-looking innocent people controlled by dictatorship.

The trickiest thing about this whole thing is that the effect is not visible immediately.
Yet those who have been exposed to radiation could suffer severe health problems in years to come.

We must learn from this lesson.

They cannot keep us in a deceived and blinded state forever.

As ‘Beyond Nuclear’ states, “The verdict is in on nuclear power. It is DIRTY, DANGEROUS and EXPENSIVE. Nuclear power can and should be phased out and replaced with clean, safe, and economically sustainable energy alternatives.”

I ask you to please join us in the movement of establishing the world of PEACE, LOVE and HUMANITY that we deserve.

To read the story about the Fukushima farmer and her family’s plea, here.

Or you can also watch it on YouTube for one hour! 

To learn how nuclear power is based on falsity and real dangers, here.

Another great site about the facts on nuclear, here.

For the Realization of De-nuclearization and a Society Focused on Natural Energy, please sign the petition here. You can do it either in Japanese, English or Italian, here.

This blog was written by TOMOKO, edited by D.K. Harris

More info on the author, here.
Her blog on Music&Life, here.