Learning how to behave from a Japanese boy

One of my favorite games shows is entitled “Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?” and there is no doubt that a lot of adult folks lose out against 5th grade questions. The latest one was a US astronaut who was in the final million-dollar question on math and he struck out. Thus, we should never look down on 5th graders because they just might be smarter than you!

Since the Mar.11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that swept northern Japan and killed more than 20,000 people, this disaster is still going on, thanks to the radiation leak from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. However despite all that destruction, great stories are emerging on how the Japanese people are coping with this disaster.

We’ve been getting a ton of information from the Internet on how the Japanese people have been coping with this disaster, and a couple of weeks ago, we even printed a letter sent to me and my sister Adela Kono from Fr. Jack Serate of the Saitama Prefecture on how they were faring in this crisis. There was one story I picked up from my sister Adela that was so touching, so allow me to share this with my readers with the hope that we Filipinos and most of the people of the world would learn these lessons from the Japanese people.

This letter was written by a Vietnamese immigrant Ha Minh Thanh working in Fukushima as a policeman that he sent to his friend in Vietnam. This letter was posted on New America Media (NAM) on March 19th. It was a testimonial to the strength of the Japanese spirit, and an interesting slice of life near the epicenter of Japan’s crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. This was translated by NAM editor Andrew Lam, author of “East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres.” And Shanghai Daily condensed it.

“Brother, How are you and your family? These last few days, everything was in chaos. When I close my eyes, I see dead bodies. When I open my eyes, I also see dead bodies. Each one of us must work 20 hours a day, yet I wish there were 48 hours in the day, so that we could continue helping and rescuing folks.

We are without water and electricity, and food rations are near zero. We barely manage to move refugees before there are new orders to move them elsewhere. I am currently in Fukushima, about 25 kilometers away from the nuclear power plant. I have so much to tell you that if I could write it all down, it would surely turn into a novel about human relationships and behaviors during times of crisis.

People remain calm—their sense of dignity and proper behavior are very good—so things aren’t as bad as they could be. But given another week, I can’t guarantee that things won’t get to a point where we can no longer provide proper protection and order. They are humans after all, and when hunger and thirst override dignity, well, they will do whatever they have to do. The government is trying to provide supplies by air, bringing in food and medicine, but it’s like dropping a little salt into the ocean.

Brother, there was a really moving incident. It involves a little Japanese boy who taught an adult like me a lesson on how to behave like a human being. Last night, I was sent to a little grammar school to help a charity organization distribute food to the refugees. It was a long line that snaked this way and that and I saw a little boy around 9-years old. He was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts. It was getting very cold and the boy was at the very end of the line. I was worried that by the time his turn came there wouldn’t be any food left.

So I spoke to him. He said he was at school when the earthquake happened. His father worked nearby and was driving to the school. The boy was on the third floor balcony when he saw the tsunami sweep his father’s car away. I asked him about his mother. He said his house is right by the beach and that his mother and little sister probably didn’t make it. He turned his head and wiped his tears when I asked about his relatives.

The boy was shivering so I took off my police jacket and put it on him. That’s when my bag of food ration fell out. I picked it up and gave it to him. “When it comes to your turn, they might run out of food. So here’s my portion. I already ate. Why don’t you eat it?” The boy took my food and bowed. I thought he would eat it right away, but he didn’t. He took the bag of food, went up to where the line ended and put it where all the food was waiting to be distributed.

I was shocked. I asked him why he didn’t eat it and instead added it to the food pile? He answered, “Because I see a lot more people hungrier than I am. If I put it here, then they will distribute the food equally.” When I heard that, I turned away so that people wouldn’t see me cry.

A society that can produce a 9-year old who understands the concept of sacrifice for the greater good must be a great society, a great people. Well, a few lines to send you and your family. My warm wishes. The hours of my shift have begun again. Ha Minh Thanh.” A very touching, tear-rending letter indeed.

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