Chapter 4
The Great East Japan Earthquake

On March 11th, 2011, an unprecedented disaster struck Japan. In addition to the natural disaster, what one might call an artificial disaster, the nuclear reactor core meltdown at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, occurred, completely overwhelming the superficial intellect of mankind. The Cabinet of the Prime Minister held the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster Reconstruction Council in April, one month after the earthquake struck.
A special consultant to the planning session was philosopher Takeshi Umehara, who offered the following words:

This disaster is a natural disaster. It is also a man-made disaster. However, it is not only that; I believe that it is also a disaster of civilization. Our civilization has met with disaster. We have made use of nuclear power to enrich and improve the lives of our people. Naturally, that kind of civilization has met with disaster. Now, our civilization is being judged. What kind of response will we give to this judgement? With the energy problem, perhaps at the same time as pioneering in the areas of solar power or wind power, our human civilization much change. We must change to a culture of altruism and harmony, as Prince Shotoku envisioned. (From the April 11th minutes of the Reconstruction Council)

Even now, at the site of the nuclear power plant, there are workers applying themselves to the repair work without a thought for their own personal safety. There are some truly great people among the Japanese. With this spirit, everyone must join to build a new nation. If a new Japan sets the example, the rest of the world may also change.
Now is the time to build a nation that gives an example to the world, not only of economic power, but of a new value system.
(From Toyo Keizai Online, April 5th)

At a time when we were shown prosperity built on sand, and heard only about the speed of the government's response, these words saved me.