A touching lesson from a 9-year-old Japanese boy

Ever since the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that swept Northern Japan and killed close to 20,000 people, we’ve heard many reports about this natural disaster, which continues to plague us because of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant’s radiation leaks. But amidst all that destruction great stories are emerging about how the Japanese people are coping up with this disaster. There are lessons for us Filipinos to learn from the Japanese in dealing with total chaos and horror in a natural disaster.

No doubt, the Internet is a great way of getting those stories out to the world, so hopefully those lessons on human behavior especially in times of such severe crisis can help us cope if and when disaster strikes us. Mind you, these lessons are not just for Filipinos, but for Americans as well as we too saw how the residents of New Orleans behaved so badly when Hurricane “Katrina” struck Louisiana in 2005.

One of the stories I picked up from the Internet was so touching; allow me to share this with our readers. This letter was written by a Vietnamese immigrant, Mr. 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 is 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.” 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 nine 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 nine-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.”

I submit that I shed a tear upon reading this story, which is why I am sharing it with our readers. That a nine-year-old Japanese boy can teach us how to behave when we are all in dire straits.

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