Sleepless in Kumamoto People are experiencing normal lives and emergency situations at the same time

By Shige Higashi

I visited Kumamoto from April 29 – May 3 to find the fact of the earth- quake aftermath. I met more than 20 people in four days, and all people I met except one case told that they slept in their cars at least a few nights after May 2016 the major quakes. My impression was that more people chose to sleep in their cars than to go to Kumamoto native Toshihiro Iida, left, shows shelters. Appreciating Japanese traditions Cultural News editor Shige Higashi around disaster Please turn to page 7 sites on May 1. (Cultural News Photi)

Kumamoto Castle viewed from the Ninomaru Ground. The sign of “Announcement. Off Limit. Due to Devastated stone walls of the Kumamoto Castle, viewed from the Ninomaru Ground. (May 1, 2016. Earthquake” is displayed. (May 1, 2016. Cultural News Photo) Cultural News Photo) Kumamoto in one month after quake: over 10,000 in shelters Two major earthquakes in Kuma- earmarking funds for an additional With the coordination of industrial rates of local business were 99% for moto, center of Kuryu region, on April 800 units. associations such as electricity, gas, convenience stores, 88% for supermar- 14 and 16 forced over 180,000 people After the Eastern Japan Great Earth- and departments of water, repair stuff kets, and 92% for gas stations. for seeking shelters and left a total of quake in 2011, the national government of life lines were dispatched from all Despite near 100 departments of 49 people dead. and local municipalities set up emer- over Japan. By these relief efforts, the water has sent personnel to the disaster As of May 15, roughly 87,000 build- gency plans to send staff and equipment electricity shortage was resolved com- areas, numerous houses are not sup- ings had been recorded as damaged to damaged municipalities in case of pletely by the end of April, and gas plied with water yet. and or destroy, with some 10,000 peo- disaster. supply has been recovered to nearly (Source: Kyodo News, The Japan ple having yet to return home. In The National Police Agency coordi- 80% by the same time. As of April 28 Times, and other Japanese daily papers) Kumamoto prefecture, over 14,000 nated to send 1100 policemen from 18 in Kumamoto prefecture, the operating buildings were declared as unsafe to prefectural police agencies on April 15 enter, and numerous people stay over and other 1300 policemen on April 16. nights at their own cars due to fears of At the end of April, 500 policemen Call for 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Donations the aftershock which has been recorded were dispatched from 30 prefectural more than 1,400 times for one month. police agencies as a supplement force The Government of Kumamoto Pre- responsibility. For those who require a More people died after the second to the 2,200 personnel of the Kuma- fecture is currently taking donations to receipt for the donation, the following quake on April 16 with a magnitude-7.3 moto Prefectural Police Agency. help those affected by the earthquakes information is asked to send Kumamoto than the first quake on April 14 with a The City of Kumamoto has partici- that started on April 14. Donations will Prefecture: name of group or individual, magnitude-6.5 because many people pated in the 20-member Major be accepted until June 30. postal mailing address, date of transfer, returned home from shelters on April 15. Municipalities Association of Japan amount of transfer The National Meteorological Agency which prepared emergency plans to Kumamoto Earthquake Relirf Account The above information should be had initially downplayed the chances help member cities. On April 15, this email to: [email protected] of another major quake striking the emergency plan was activated. Cities Bank Name: The Higo Bank, Ltd The subject line of email should be same area within three days of April of Hiroshima, Okayama, Kitakyushu SWIFT Code/BIC Code: HIGOJPJT spelled as “Call for 2016 Kumamoto 15. It said the odds of this occurring and Fukuoka sent their stuff to Kuma- Branch Name: Kencho Branch Earthquake Donation Receipt.” were just 20 percent. moto to set up the field headquarters. Transfer Account Number: 1639261 The international earthquake donation Construction of more than 1,000 Eventually 19-member cities have sent Account Holder: Kumamotojishingienkin campaign is handled by International temporary dwellings has already began, over 200 stuffs every day for over one Affair Division, Kumamoto Prefectur- with the Government of Kumamoto month to assist administration of evac- No fee will be occurred on receiving al Government, 6-18-1, Suizenji, Prefecture securing a budget for 2,100 uation centers, building safety checks, side of the Higo Bank, however, transfer Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Zip 862- units and local municipalities separately and issuing disaster documents. fee at sending side will be sender’s 8570, Japan. Phone, +81-96-333-2159. 8 Cultural News May 2016 The Getty Center, Los Angeles Japanese garden in Pasadena chosen home of Cave Temples of Dunhuang: Buddhist Art on China’s Silk Road Hiroshima Camellia Exhibition The Storrier Stearns Japa- May 7 – September 4, 2016 nese Garden in Pasadena has Related Events been chosen as the home of a sapling that descended from May 19, 7 pm one of the trees considered Dunhuang as Nexus of Silk Road during the lost after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Middle Ages. Lecture by Victor H. Mair When an atomic bomb de- May 20-21 stroyed the city of Hiroshima Symposium / Cave Temples of Dunhuang: on August 6, 1945, it was History, Art, and Materiality predicted that nothing would May 20, 9 am – 5:30 pm at Getty Center A wall painting from Dunhuang Cave Temples grow in the ruins of Hiroshima (Courtesy of the Getty) for 75 years. May 21, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm at UCLA The trees were scarred Over 100 guests honor a sapling planting ceremony at Storrier Stearn garden on May 8. (Photo by Richard Fukuhara) May 20, 7:30 pm July 17, 5 pm and blackened, like all of the Concert / East and West of Dunhuang: Music Duhuang Inspired: An Evening with Tan Dun landscape in and around Hiroshima. the U.S. — the Storrier Stearns garden Carried on the Wind When green shoots were found on the joins other ambassadors around the July 24, 4 pm burned trunks of some 170 trees, the world in the hope that everyone who June 5, 4 pm The World in the Year 1000: The View from people were encouraged beyond mea- learns of the Hiroshima Camellia and The Diamond Sutra: A Story of Printing, Piety, Dunhuang. Lecture by Valerie Hansen sure, gaining hope and strength for its history will be inspired to promote and Preservation on the Silk Road. Lecture by recovery. its message of peace. Susan Whitfeld Aug. 10, 7 pm Green Legacy Hiroshima, in partner- On May 8, over 100 guests at the Dunhuang Cave Art: Hidden Illumination in ship with the Rotary Club of Tokyo Storrier Stearns garden celebrated a June 11, 10 am – 5 pm Dark Times and Secret Ambrosia of Great Yoneyama Yuai, is taking this inspiration sapling planting ceremony of Hiroshima Family Festival celebrating the Silk Road Compassion. A conversation with Peter Sellars beyond Hiroshima by spreading the Camellia with tea ceremonies and a and Robert Thurman seeds and saplings of the “Hibaku Ju- remark of 88-year old Mr. Jiro Kawatsuma June 19, 11 am moku” or “A-bombed trees” throughout who witnessed the aftermath of the Storytelling and Book Signing / Cornelia Aug. 24, 7:30 pm the world. bombing in two days later. Funke’s Voyage into the Cave of the Thousand Film / The Cave of the Silken Web (1927) Already growing in 27 countries, On the last Sunday, May 29, visitors Buddhas they represent the resiliency of the hu- will receive camellia seeds to plant in Aug 28, 4 pm man spirit and offer a powerful message their own gardens. Reservations for June 26, 4 pm The Care of Time and the Dimensions of of peace and symbiosis. Open Day may be made on the website Heaven and Hell on the Silk Road. Lecture by Conservation at Mogao Grottoes. Lecture by As the home of a Hiroshima Camellia at: John Keischnick Neville Agnew — one of only two A-bombed trees in www.japanesegardenpasadena.com

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