A Friend in Need: help to rehabilitate Japan

On behalf of my compatriots who suffered a lot because of the disaster of 11 March, I cannot thank enough for the warm help extended by many people, organizations, and governments of the world.

The Rehabilitation of the hard-hit areas will take many years. Continued help will be necessary and appreciated.

I shouldn't compare the immediate relief helps given to my distressed countrymen by the governments of the world because each was precious and valuable. However, I still cannot help mentioning the outstanding "Operation Tomodachi" by the US government that ended on 15 April. That reminded me of the famous proverb "A friend in need is a friend indeed". I am convinced that the Americans have succeeded in impressing many Japanese that the Americans are friends indeed. As a result, I predict that the Americans will continue to see for the coming, at least, one-generation period (20 years), the effects of this operation.

From now on, Japan needs to rehabilitate itself very rapidly, that means, to come back to the normal life of the days before 11 March, when the top newspaper article for many days was the cheating in entrance exam for universities done by a young boy.

What can the world do to help Japan rehabilitate? The answer is very simple. That is to treat Japan just as a normal country.

In this respect, the worst behavior by an individual or a government is to treat Japan and the Japanese as if they were untouchables. For example, checking incoming Japanese tourists with a Geiger counter and with a negligible count, taking them into a hospital. Or, stopping imported industrial products in fear of radiation those machines might contain. Or continuing advising its citizens not to visit Japan. Such hysteric behaviors are caused by excessive fear of radiation not based on scientific knowledge. Whatever the reason for such behavior be, it will be remembered by the Japanese for the coming, at least, one-generation period to form their attitude to that country.

So to help Japan and create pro-your-country Japanese, now is a very crucial moment. And let me tell you that one way to help Japan is to lift restrictions or governmental advice to discourage people to visit Japan.

A few pieces of good news have arrived. By 19 April, Denmark, UK, Sweden, Korea, Australia, Canada, USA, France, Austria, Russia, Hong Kong have lifted their advice not to visit Japan, except for the immediate areas surrounding the problematic Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant.

Very impressive and encouraging comment was from the Russian government that says the levels of radiation in the air in Tokyo is about half of those in Moscow.

I want to hug any Russian who I may encounter in the street in Tokyo.