Cultural Finds

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WONDERFUL SOUNDS OF LAUGHTER (Fall 2015, Vol 43 The Center Newsletter)

-BY DIANE MATSUDA

Two times a month, you can hear the sounds of heartfelt laughter coming from the community room within the Koike Harahata No. 2 temporary housing complex located in Minami-Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture. There, Sueko Hoshi is gently and patiently teaching a group of women residing at that temporary housing complex how to weave a basket. She is a staff member of AAR, the Association for Aid and Relief, Japan - an organization that has been implementing relief and reconstruction activities in the Fukushima area soon after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 3-11- 11, and will continue to run operations there until they feel their services are no longer needed. Hoshi san had been a resident of a temporary housing complex in Soma City since she lost her house in the tsunami caused by the earthquake. She moved to a permanent house a few months ago and has been sharing her craft skills with these women twice a month. For some of these ladies, it is the only time they leave their very small units to socialize with others. Although there are visible signs of reconstruction and recovery in other parts of the Tohoku region that were greatly affected by the 3-11-11 Great East Japan Earthquake, Tsunami and nuclear disaster, Fukushima Prefecture, including those towns very close to the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, have yet to have their needs and services fully met by the government. Atsushi Naoe, a fellow staff person with AAR shared that there are still more than 61,000 people living in temporary housing in Fukushima Prefecture and over 14,000 of them live in Shinchi Town, Soma City, and Minami-Soma City where the Koike Harahata facility is located. However, for many people living in these temporary quarters, moving to a more permanent facility is met with mixed feelings. For over four and a half years, these individuals have been living side by side sharing their common challenges, worries and fears. Depending on how close their former residence was to the nuclear power station, their chance of ever returning home may not be a possibility. Others continue to wait and wait to see what the government decides. The level of compensation from the government also varies; those closer to the power station receive a higher amount of compensation even though those residing a few miles away but still unable to return to their homes receive less. This has caused a certain level of tension within the temporary housing community. But there is no tension within the circle of ladies who meet two times a month. The bond of friendship and commonality of those attending Hoshi san’s class is clearly evident. These ladies have been able to resolve any type of difference that may have initially existed and just enjoy their time together even if it is for a few hours a month. Thus, having to move to a permanent housing unit will cause them to separate. I felt very honored and privileged to have been invited to participate in this special gathering. Since I lack any type of craft skills, each member came over to help, and spoke in their native Fukushima dialect which made me feel welcome and included. What touched me most was that one lady who grew eggplants and cucumbers in front of her unit made tsukemono for me. It will forever be the best tsukemono I will ever have. Special thanks to AAR members Atsushi Naoe, Takumi Takagi, Shinichiro Ohara and Sueko Hoshi for allowing all of us the opportunity to understand and appreciate that there is still work and support to be done.

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