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“It was unpredictable, irreversible, and it has passed. We have choices to make and we choose to realize our hope for a better Japan. We decided to move forward,” was the casual answer given when asked how the Japanese found the strength to rebuild japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The unnamed speaker was talking at the UNI Apro Commerce Committee gathering and dinner with union leaders and members from UI ZENSEN and JSD in Sendai, Japan on 1st July, 2012.



The speaker is a trade union leader from Sendai working in the commerce industry whose house had been swept away by the tsunami, leaving his family of three children and two aged parents homeless. He now stays in a container specially designed and provided by the government but it will be available only for three years. The speaker must find alternative shelter for his family before the deadline.



The plot of land where his house previously stood is completely worthless now and has been designated as ‘kaimetsu‘, which means ‘total destruction’ or ‘annihilation zone.’ (name) is still servicing his housing loan and he has no hope of owning a place for his family in the near future.



The speaker recalls being at work in a retail store when the earthquake hit. His family was also caught unguarded when the tsunami waves came but was fortunately rescued to safety with the help of their neighbours. The community bonded and assisted each other; there was no panic, only a sense of need to provide support to each other. He and his family have a lot to thank for.



Many people outside Japan were unaware that it was winter in Japan and that Japan was also hit by a snow storm unusual to that time of year when the earthquake hit. Workers and shoppers in Sendai City felt the earthquake’s strong tremors before the electricity was cut off. Emergency lights were only available for 30 minutes and store representatives had to evict the building and ensure that everyone was in the designated safe spot in an open space within the tight time frame. Glass panels broke and showered glass onto the pavements. Many people stood in the freezing cold without a coat for more than two hours before they were allowed to retrieve their coats from the buildings. The buildings were still unsafe despite their structures staying intact.



Trains and public transport were not functional and communications were cut, leaving many people stranded on the streets. Electricity was not restored until the next day and in certain areas for up to a week. Shops around these areas provided free food and drinks. Some departmental stores decided to open up to shelter the stranded people that night, providing blankets and any necessities available to make them comfortable. Many walked many kilometres home in the snow.



While telecommunications system was not working with electricity down from a day to several days in some districts, the internet was functioning and that provided the much needed relief to find out whether their love ones are safe… until the phone batteries ran out.

From a very young age, Japanese are taught to be ‘prepared’ as earth quakes were considered common and while tsunami was rare, they were drilled to how to save themselves but the scale of this earth quake and tsunami was something they were not prepared for. However lessons were learned, documented, researched and policies are being reviewed to put in place an updated version of crisis management in the country, community and union.

So many stories of bravery and show of mental strength that was shared with us, all told as it was ’normal’ … ordinary people with extraordinary exceptional response to a crisis, showing the world how community can bond together to achieve what one cannot do alone. Christopher Ng, UNI Apro Regional Secretary was right when he commented that the Japanese people just gelled together and as a coordinated effort did much more possible than if they had acted individually. Solid solidarity!

We were told that tomorrow, they will share with us on the crisis management system and show us the affected areas. These will be reported in two other web posting under “Ganbare Nippon - a trade union respond to crisis management” and “Stay Strong ‘Ganbappe’ Ishinomaki”

During the one day spend in Sendai, the UNI Apro Commerce delegation spoke to the local trade union leaders and members not only on their personal experience during that time but to learn about the crisis management in such a situation which will be shared via a manual or guideline, being able to go into the tsunami hit areas and see the rebuilding exercises as well as to hear about the trade union response in the post tsunami revival of the economic in areas which includes UI ZENSEN’s “cotton” project. Soil that cannot grow its traditional food due to the salt content are now grown with cotton trees as a way to revitalize the soil and provide some income for the farmers. The 35,000 trade unionists that act as volunteers to the community during that time reinforce that unions are very much part of the society. We are proud to know that certain pockets of volunteers will still be continuing their services to the community.

The commerce union members in Sendai were very happy to receive the UNI Apro Commerce delegates as they had felt the international solidarity when faced with the challenge after the incidents. They were grateful that we cared enough to assist in rebuilding and being in Sendai with them, sharing a meal and being physically there has meant a lot to them.

What has struck a chord with the UNI Apro delegation was the unselfish and optimistic attitude of the people we met during the gathering on from JSD and UI ZENSEN. They were extremely considerate about other people’s needs and sharing whatever little they have, seems to be normal for them, lessons learned from the relief work, in the rebuilding exercises and reconstruction is documented and improved upon to make it safer not only for Japan but to be shared with others to make this world a safer place for all…. For this, we thank you!

UNI APRO COMMERCE COMMITTEE MEETING IN TOKYO & SENDAI, JAPAN.