Opinion News Analysis by Maria Wehbe, Staff Writer

April 4th, 2021

On March 11th, 2011, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan’s history took place: an 8.9 magnitude earthquake that would forever leave its footprint on Japanese citizens. Indeed, earthquakes are quite common in Japan due to its geographical location, however, this one was like nothing ever seen before. 

This earthquake had set off a tsunami that swept far inland and destroyed towns, which led to meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. 

This was the sixth largest earthquake ever recorded since 1900, and until this day, people are still mourning the lives that were lost. Approximately more than 20,000 people were killed, mostly because of the tsunami and another 500,000 people were displaced as the region had suffered from the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. 

10 years later: what happened? 

Not long ago, on February 13th, 2021, Japan was struck by another powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake. About 150 people were injured and 950,000 homes were left without electricity after the quake. 

Most recently, another 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Japan on March 20th, 2021. The strong temblor led to a temporary blackout in some areas. Japan’s Meteorological Agency had issued a tsunami warning, one that could go up to 1 meter in height, and this warning was lifted 90 minutes later. There wasn’t any major damage and only a few people suffered from minor injuries. 

Nonetheless, these earthquakes could be a trigger for the people that endured the 2011 quake, and the feelings of anxiety and fright would resurface, every single time. One should not overlook the gravity of this situation, as Japan had to undergo two powerful earthquakes in the span of a month or so, not even four months into 2021. The infrastructural damage might not have been too extreme, however, what about the damage done to the citizens? How much more will they be able to undergo before they crack?                

What are the psychological implications of these disasters? 

 March 11th, 2021 marked the 10-year anniversary of the disastrous earthquake that took place in 2011. At exactly 2:46 p.m., residents of the areas that were severely affected by the quake shared a moment of silence in remembrance of the fallen victims. The citizens were praying, crying, reliving the moment over and over again. There were allocated places where people could go and lay flowers, while others stood by the sea, hand in hand, in unison, and shared a prayer. “A lot of precious lives were lost that day, and that can never be forgotten. But I have also learned the warmness of people,” said Rie Sato, a 44-year old citizen who lost her younger sister, Ikumi to the tsunami. Indeed, Japanese citizens had always stuck by each other’s side, one earthquake after the other. 

“My heart aches. I also consider it important to heal emotional scars and watch over the mental and physical health of those afflicted, including the elderly and children,” expressed the Japanese Emperor, Naruhito. Nobody can understand the pain and suffering that has been inflicted on the Japanese people. This kind of pain and aching is one that will never fade, because these recurring earthquakes that take place every now and then are a constant reminder that everything could go wrong and that your life could flash before your eyes in a split second. Earthquakes in Japan have become the ‘norm’, and nobody seems to talk about it anymore, and that should not be the case. 

“Even though 10 years have passed, the wounds in the heart remain”, expressed an 81-year old man who lost his grandson. The pain will never fade, especially for the families who still have missing loved ones, that they still haven’t found up until this day.

The excruciating pain and suffering that these people have to endure on a daily basis can sometimes be too much to handle. There are so many testimonies of people expressing their ache after having lost their daughters, sisters, husbands, or friends. These people have fallen victim to circumstances that are out of their control, and they are paying the price with their lives. 

Keep talking about Japan!

We should not stop talking about what the Japanese citizens go through on a daily basis, simply because it is seen as the ‘norm’. These citizens deserve to be supported, and even though they have learned how to face such calamitous natural disasters, this does not mean that it frightens them any less each time it happens, but quite the contrary. They will never be able to move on, because there is always going to be a constant reminder for them, and one that is bound to happen. At this point, it seems that they are just waiting for it to happen again. It is our duty to raise awareness about this, and we should be there to support them: the international community should feel concerned about this issue, because when it affects one part of the world, it should affect all other parts as well.