This is one of my favorite pictures from Japan last year. All the sakura in Kawagoe bloomed in early April. Seeing all the sakura blooming here in Salem reminds me of Japan.
March 11, 2013.
Today marks two years after the 東日本大震災 (Northeastern Japan Great Earthquake) that struck off the northeastern coast of Japan, setting off a tsunami that devastated the coastline.
These are pictures I took in November 2011 when I went to volunteer in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture (north of Fukushima). I volunteered with the non-profit organization HANDs and learned a lot from the experience. I was able to volunteer with HANDs again in February 2012 and both experiences were extremely moving and emotional.
Although many think that since the earthquake happened two years ago the area has already recovered, that is false. There are still many people living in temporary housing shelters and some plots of land still remain barren or covered in debris that must be cleaned up.
Although progress is clearly apparent in the area, there is still a lot more work that must be done until the area fully recovers.
Please do not forget March 11. All the lives lost. All the families torn apart. All the volunteers who helped and continue to help in the recovery.
Sunflower. Kawagoe, Japan. Summer 2011.
I know it’s not origami, baking, mizuhiki, or Hawai`i, but I think I’m going to start posting my pictures from Japan since I have so many that I want to share. (But I found an origami artist I really like recently, so expect new origami soon!)
Although this is just a sunflower, it was the first time I saw large sunflowers growing in the field! I rode my bike to school every day past this field, which was so beautiful on sunny days.
Japanese monkey. 日本猿。
I made manju the other day. :3




