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| By Natascha Rosenberg |
Dear Friends Around the World,
The earthquake and tsunami that ravaged northern Japan on March 11, 2011 brought back chilling memories...the memories of the Kobe Earthquake that devastated my hometown in 1995. Back then I was in high school and our family was living far from Kobe, in the U.S. I still remember to this day, the image of my parents frantically calling home trying to get through the busy signal, and the unreal feeling of watching on CNN, my hometown engulfed in flames, buildings and highways collapsed to the ground. I prayed that my grandmother, my friends, our home were all right. Eventually we did find out that everyone we knew of were fine. Later on, my friends wrote me describing their life without running water, how they had to rebuild their home, about attending classes in a temporary shelter… I felt terribly sorry for them, but at that time I don’t think I really grasped the gravity of the situation or the difficulty they faced. All I could say to them was “Ganbattene (Hang in there)...” I couldn’t...or didn’t do anything else.
So, this is the second time being away while my country faces a crisis. Though shocked and saddened by what this unprecedented scale of natural disaster has brought upon the people of northern Japan, at the same time I found myself feeling a twinge of guilt. I don’t have strong ties to the affected regions, like I did with Kobe. But even still... I couldn’t help but feel this strange emotion. However this time, I knew I wanted to do more than just pray or hope for the people to be okay. I wanted to do something.
While I was trying to figure out what I could do, my best friend Nanase called me up on Skype and told me her brilliant concept—-her ideas for the Smile Japan 311 Project.
[Smile + Photography = Positive Energy]
Image is a powerful tool. Multiply that times ten, a hundred, a thousand... That is some serious energy.
As with Nanase, I too have received many warm words of concern from friends and acquaintances. Even from a customer service representative I happened to talk to when I called about my subway card. Or from a person I’ve never met but know only from a couple email correspondences. I hope the love and support we have received will also be felt by the Japanese people through the images on the website. And I hope YOU too can be part of it.
March 21, 2011 4:18am from New York City
Asuka
（日本語メッセージ作成中！）
（日本語メッセージ作成中！）
