02/04 New civil servants have big task

The Yomiuri Shimbun

While much of the nation has been enveloped in a mood of self-restraint since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the governments of some of the hardest-hit municipalities proudly conducted welcome ceremonies for new employees Friday, the first day of the fiscal year.

In many parts of the country, companies and public entities did not mark the first day of fiscal 2011 with ceremonies for newcomers, citing increased work pressure related to the disaster or a feeling they should hold back in light of the grave crisis the nation is facing.

But in several towns that suffered immense damage in the tsunami, new municipal employees declared their resolve to do their best to revive their communities during ceremonies held to welcome them into their new workplaces.

A welcome ceremony held by the government of Otsuchicho, Iwate Prefecture, greeted 12 new faces Friday morning at the town's central community center, which is serving as both a temporary town office and a shelter for disaster victims. Thirty-three local officials, including the town mayor, are dead or still missing due to the disaster that also destroyed the city hall.

Deputy Mayor Masaaki Tobai, now serving as acting mayor, told the newcomers during the ceremony, "I hope you will do your utmost to help rebuild our town."

New employee So Uchikanezaki, 30, told The Yomiuri Shimbun: "I took the town government entrance exam last autumn. I worked for companies in Tokyo and elsewhere after finishing university, but I felt like doing something beneficial for people in my hometown."

But before he could start his new career, the earthquake and tsunami struck and swept away his home, although all his family members were safe, he said.

While living in the shelter at the community center, Uchikanezaki started helping out with the relief effort even before formally joining the town government.

"I can feel the people of Otsuchicho have placed their hopes in me for the future of the town," he said. "I don't want to see anybody leave this town so I'm determined to help people rebuild their lives."

In the hard-hit municipality of Minami-Sanrikucho, Miyagi Prefecture, where about 9,500 residents are living in shelters, four new town employees were handed written appointments in a ceremony at the temporary town hall.

Yuna Miura, 18, read out a declaration on behalf of the newcomers. Miura, who said she wanted to help promote tourism in Sanrikucho, said, "I'd like to play a part in rebuilding our town so we can draw as many travelers as before."

In contrast, Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the troubled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, did not hold a welcome ceremony for the firm's 1,077 new employees. This was the first time TEPCO had canceled its new employee welcome ceremony. The utility said it was too busy dealing with the crisis at the Fukushima plant to hold the ceremony.

Corporate giants Mizuho Financial Group. Inc., Japan Post and Japan Tobacco Inc. also were among the businesses that did not hold entrance ceremonies for new employees Friday.

(Apr. 2, 2011)