Compassion seen on all sides after Japan's disasters
U.S. rescue teams dispatched to the tsunami-ravaged Iwate Prefecture cities of Ofunato and Kamaishi were taken aback by the devastating scene in front of them. But what they found more striking were their encounters with the locals.
"I haven't got much," said a woman whose shop had been reduced to rubble, as she offered rice crackers to the workers.
Likewise, a member of a Chinese rescue team in Ofunato recalls being thanked by local passersby for traveling such a long way to help, receiving candy and snacks from them. Another worker who tried to buy food at a convenience store said payment was refused when the shop staff realized the customer was helping in relief efforts. The worker ended up being given instant noodles and rice balls for free.
Such acts of compassion among the Japanese in the face of hardship have touched the hearts of many overseas, but those in other countries have been showing plenty of compassion themselves.
Present and former residents of an orphanage in Malaysia, for example, raised money through a donation drive. The money, along with a message of encouragement, was delivered to the Japanese Embassy in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, 40 Pakistani children with thalassemia, a blood disease also known as Mediterranean anemia, and the head of a welfare organization donated 10 soccer balls to a Japanese Consulate for Japanese children in the disaster areas.
Japan has received words of gratitude and encouragement as well as monetary donations from developing countries in Asia grateful for the support Japan has provided them in the past, both during normal times and after disasters have struck.
Elsewhere, poor students living in Brazil's impoverished regions have offered change they collected in empty cans, while an 8-year-old from Sweden was talking about wanting to use allowance money to send water to Japan. There was also a taxi driver in Poland who refused to accept fare from Japanese passengers, and a Russian gentleman who disappeared after dropping off a massive amount of money and wishing Japan well.
In the post-earthquake days, people's kindness and compassion have been seen in small acts everywhere. We hope that with these acts, the sadness enveloping the areas affected by the earthquake, tsunami and other crises will be healed. ("Yoroku," a front-page column in the Mainichi Shimbun)
(Mainichi Japan) April 1, 2011
余録：やさしさの輪
岩手県の大船渡と釜石に入った米救援隊の消防士はその惨状に驚く。それにもまして印象深かったのは倒壊したある店の女性主人だった。その人は「何もありませんが」とせんべいを差し出したのだ▲同じく大船渡市で捜索活動をした中国の援助隊員は、通りがかりの住民に「遠くからわざわざありがとう」と声をかけられ、アメや菓子を手渡された。別の隊員は現地コンビニで「援助隊なら」と代金の受け取りを拒まれ、カップ麺やおにぎりの提供を受けたという▲苦境にあっても思いやりを失わぬ被災者の姿は外国人に感銘を与えた。だが、外国の人々も負けてはいない。マレーシアのある孤児院では孤児が修道女らに働きかけて被災地への募金活動を始め、自分らと卒業生の分も含む義援金と激励の言葉を日本大使館に寄せた▲パキスタンの地中海性貧血を患う子供たち４０人は福祉団体代表と共に日本の領事館へ被災地の子供たちにとサッカーボール１０個を寄贈した。アジアの途上国からは過去の日本の援助や災害支援への感謝と共に寄せられる義援金やお見舞いのメッセージが相次いでいる▲空き缶に小銭を集めたブラジルの貧しい地区の生徒たち、お小遣いで被災者に水を送りたいというスウェーデンの８歳の子、日本人からは代金を取れないと言ったポーランドのタクシー運転手、巨額の金と「がんばって」との一言だけを残していったロシアの紳士－－▲人へのやさしさや思いやりが地球のあちこちで小さな奇跡を起こし続けている「３・１１」後である。今は被災地を覆う深い悲しみも、いつかはこの奇跡の輪の中でいやされる日が来るよう祈る。
英訳
毎日新聞 2011年4月1日 0時22分
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