Telling our

story.

UCLA Luskin

Japan Trip 2013

Telling our story.

UCLA Luskin Japan Trip 2013

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

March 11, 2014

in commemoration of the third anniversary of the 3.11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami

March 2013 3

EDITORS

Vicente Romero, UCLA Department of Urban Planning[Design]

Elizabeth Schaper, UCLA Department of Social Welfare[Content]

Keitaro Tsuji, UCLA Department of Public Policy[Concept]

PARTICIPANTS

Gabriela Cardozo [US]Dustin Foster [US]Jeremy Fuller [US]Malocca Hawkins [US]Ika Anindya Putri [Indonesia]Jae Lee [South Korea]Izhar Manzoor [US]Lisa Merin [US]Nicolas Mihojevich [US]Keitaro Tsuji [ Japan]Weiyi Zhang [China] UCLA Department of Public Policy

Elizabeth Schaper [US]Jennifer Zelaya [US] UCLA Department of Social Welfare

Lila Burgos [US]Lucia Fischer [US]Sindre Fredsvik [Norway]Linda Khamoushian [US]Manuel Lopez [US]Dennis Maravilla [US]Vicente Romero [Spain]Hugo Sarmiento [US]Zachary Zabel [US] UCLA Department of Urban Planning

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This trip was made possible by the generous support of Dr. Paul I. Terasaki, Dean Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr., and the UCLA Departments of Public Policy and Social Welfare.

ABOUT THE UCLA LUSKIN JAPAN TRIP

The aim of the UCLA Luskin Japan Trip is to introduce Public Policy, Urban Planning, and Social Welfare masters students to Japanese culture and policy through participant observation over the course of one week, during Spring Break. Originally launched in 2012 by Luskin students Masashi Sato, Masaaki Kishi, and Nobuko Goto (MPP 2013), the trip’s primary theme is observing reconstruction efforts after the tsunami, earthquake, and nuclear disaster primarily affecting the northeast region of Japan in March 2011. The Japan Trip 2013 was sponsored by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the Terasaki Foundation, and organized by Luskin student volunteers Keitaro Tsuji, MPP 2014, Lisa Merin, MPP 2014, and Elizabeth Schaper, MSW 2013. This anthology is a collection of the academic and personal impressions of its participants.

Gabriela Cardozo: Challenges Faced in Helping Victims of Disaster Area

Dustin Foster & Keitaro Tsuji: The Role of Non-Governmental

Organizations in the Aftermath of 3/11

Malocca Hawkins & Hugo Sarmiento: Labor Relations and Post 3/11

Recovery in Japan

Izhar Manzoor: Disaster Policy In Effect

Nicolas Mihojevich: Solving the Wrong Problem: Disaster Recovery

in Japan after 3/11

Sindre Fredsvik: Understanding Interactions Between Local and

National Governments after Disaster in Tohoku Area

Jeremy Fuller: Assessment of What Policy Challenges Local and

National Government Face

Vicente Romero: Local vs. National. A Bottom-Up Relationship after

Disaster in Tohoku

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contents

[section one] introduction

[executive summary]

[trip itinerary]

policy[section two]

A Comparative Study of the United States and Japan: “Bottom Up” Individualism versus “Top Down” Collectivism

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08

March 2013 5

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48

52

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62

64

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planning

socio-cultural observations

[section three]

[section four]

[section five]

Manuel Lopez: Comparative Institutional Planning Differences

Between the US and Japan

Zachary Zabel: Planning Differences Between the US and Japan

Lila Burgos: What Can the US Learn from Japanese Institutional

Planning?

Lucia Fischer: Land Use Implications of 3/11

Jennifer Zelaya: A Public Health Perspective

Jae Lee: The Challenge of Being Korean and Visiting Japan

Weiyi Zhang: Challenges Faced By The Local Government

Linda Khamoushian: A Memorable Moment

Dennis Maravilla: Japan as Sakura

Elizabeth Schaper: A New Understanding of “Community Mental

Health”: Challenges to the Western Lens

Lisa Merin: A Week in Japan

Ika Anindya Putri: The Beauty and Resilience

Keitaro Tsuji: Personal Reflection as a Japanese and Trip Organizer conclusion

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 earthquake and subse-quent 124-foot tsunami took an estimated 15,884 lives in the northeast region of Japan – Tohoku1. 12.5 million additional lives, nation-wide, would never be the same. The survivors endured not just physical wounds, but tremendous economic losses, structural failures, and the emotional challenges of grief and loss.

From March 23rd through March 31st, 2013, 22 UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs students re-presenting all three school disciplines traveled within Japan to learn the public policy, planning, and social welfare practices already in place before and those implemented in response to the disaster, with spe-cial consideration toward what could be shared with stakeholders in Los Angeles, which is susceptible to similar disasters.

1 National Police Agency of Japan, Damage Situation and Police Counter-measures associated with 2011 Tohoku district off the Pacific Ocean Earthquake. Jan 10, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.npa.go.jp/archive/keibi/biki/higaijokyo_e.pdf.

This anthology is a collection of our academic observations and personal reflections. It is intended to facilitate recording the Tohoku regions’ reconstruc-tion over time and to preserve our experiences for the benefit of other future policy, planning, and social work professionals.

As the reader will observe, many authors address topics outside of their dedicated academic fields. This demonstrates both the special value of such integra-ted study experiences and the strength of the multi-disciplinary lens. Yet, there is one salient theme across the authors’ observations: the comparison of Japa-nese “top down” collectivism and American “bottom up” individualism. Our observations lie generally within the following four areas: reconstruction policy, urban and regional planning pre-and post-disaster, socio-cultural similarities and differences, and personal reflections.

A Comparative Study of the United States and Japan: “Bottom Up” Individualism versus “Top Down” Collectivism

executive summary

March 2013 7

Reconstruction Policy

This chapter features descriptions of the pro-cesses by which Tohoku reconstruction efforts are organized, managed, and financed. In it the authors explore both local and national reconstruction poli-cies and the challenges that have emerged to effective partnership between local and national governments. An emergent problem is the assumed general ineffi-ciency in response by the national government to municipalities. The authors describe how some natio-nal government ministries are moving toward a more “bottom up” approach - allowing for more power and independence among the municipalities most damaged by the disaster.

Urban and Regional Planning

Dovetailing with the problems in efficient and efficacious partnership between municipal and natio-nal government, especially in regard to construction approvals, this chapter highlights comparative plan-ning differences between the United States and Japan, particularly that planning in Japan takes more of a “top down” collectivist approach. In describing this approach the authors highlight specialized planning strategies such as regions designated by the national government for “Urbanization Promotion” and those for “Urbanization Control”. The authors discuss the necessity of such different approaches between the two countries, including differing amounts and types of space and population density.

Socio-cultural Observations

In this section authors take a “bottom up” pers-pective toward comparative culture as participant observers. The authors describe differences between their own and Japanese culture, discussing a range of topics from cuisine to religion. Ultimately, explo-ring a new culture proved an excellent way to better understand one’s own. In this chapter, the recurrent exploration of Japanese collectivism versus American individualism takes the most micro perspective.

Personal Reflections

Each author chose a specific academic topic upon which to focus before leaving for Japan. In addition to this special topic, each author reflects upon his or her individual experiences in Japan and discusses how these experiences impacted him or her on a personal level. All of them seemed to coincide on the cultural (dis)similarities that characterize Japan and the US that ultimately will influence the policy, planning, and social welfare areas. These reflections provide insight into what future participant observers may experien-ce and explicate specific inspirations for the authors’ potential future professional endeavors.

We, the authors, made promises to our sponsors and hosts to never forget Tohoku, and sharing our academic observations and personal experiences here not only immortalizes them but makes them accessible to those who cannot travel to the region themselves. It is our hope that this body of work will not only help us achieve our promise to increase this region’s global visibility, but to ensure that the lessons Japan has learned through this process will be shared for the benefit of other regions around the world. We thank you for your interest and encourage you to share what you learn here with others, as well.

Elizabeth Schaper, MSW 2013

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262728293031

Welcome Gathering

Ministry of Environment Ministry of Infrastructure

Reconstruction Agency

Tsukiji Fish Market and AsakusaShinkansen to Sendai

Sun-sun Kan, guest houseMochi (rice-cake) making Taiko Drum Performance

Rikuzen-takata City HallMinami-sanriku Tour

Volunteering with NPOShitamichi-so, guest house

Ishinomaki City HallDo-gen-in Temple

Ishinomaki Senshu University Ishinomaki Tour with NPO

Higashi-matsushima City Hall Devastated Area & New Housing

Shinkansen to TokyoUCLA Alumni Gathering

Akihabara District, TokyoTokyo University Student Outreach

Farewell

march

Kyoto

Hiroshima

Nagasaki

March 2013 9

Sendai

Fukushima

Nagano

Tokyo

1

5 4

2

3

Rikuzen-takata

Minami-sanriku

Ishinomaki Higashi-matsushima

Sendai

trip itinerary

Google Maps, 2014

Sapporo

10 mi

March 2013 11

[section one]

introduction

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Tohoku area of Japan and triggered a massive tsunami that devastated the entire region. The tsunami had waves that were up to 25 meters high, submerging entire cities underwater. Consequently, the aftermath of the disaster was astounding. Over 15,800 people were confirmed dead, with about 3,200 more still missing. Undoubtedly, these missing are now also deceased, their bodies washed away by the tsunami and never identified. Overall, about 320,000 people were affected by the tsunami, with most being evacuees unable to return to their homes. For many, there were no homes to return to. The tsunami turned what were once vibrant communities, with houses, businesses, schools and hospitals into giant piles of debris and rubble. Now, two years later, much of this debris has been cleared away, yet the government still faces many challenges in helping the survivors of the tsunami.

Through the visits the UCLA Luskin students made to the devastated areas, it is evident that there is still much work to be done to help tsunami victims, both in the physical and emotional sense. Overall, Japan as a nation must figure out how to reconcile moving on with their daily life without forgetting those who perished and those who are still suffering the repercussions of the disaster. The city of Higashi-matsushima’s motto for tsunami recons-truction aptly demonstrates the dilemma the Japanese face: “Towards the future together without forgetting that day”. It is evident that the Japanese people must continue coping with the aftermath of the disaster for many years to come, attempting to heal emotionally and rebuild their communi-ties.

It is clear that the government’s priority was providing relief to victims and cleaning up the debris left behind by the disaster. The Japanese government spent millions of dollars in clean-up efforts. The only evidence of the des-truction caused is the piles of rubble waiting to be burned in waste disposal sites, and the occasional and memorial left standing. With clean-up efforts largely completed, Japan must now think of ways to rebuild houses and commu-

By: Gabriela Cardozo

Challenges Faced in Helping

Victims of Disaster Area

March 2013 13

Tsunami damage, Ishinomaki

nities. In addition, for the affected victims themselves, short-term relief aid is no longer required. Though some evacuees have gone to live with family in other regions of Japan and others into temporary housing supplied by the central government, it is evident that victims now need long-term support to move on with daily life.

Many questions remain unanswered regarding the reconstruction process in the post-tsunami Tohoku region. Where will they rebuild? Who will live in the reconstruc-ted areas? What will be done with the cleared, empty spaces that were once cities and towns?

The issue of where to rebuild is a very complex one that must be handled delicately by the Japanese gover-nment. Following the tsunami, the government declared many areas to be too dangerous for reconstruction. In most cases, people do not want to return to these areas

anyway. Both the public and the government is afraid of ‘lightning striking twice’, and another devastating tsunami producing similar destruction. On the other hand, many of the coastal cities affected by the tsunami relied heavily on their proximity to the ocean for their businesses and entire livelihoods. As seen in the reconstruction zone of the city of Higashi-matsushima, many cities have chosen to begin projects close to the mountains, where there is less danger of tsunami damage. Rebuilding entirely new cities, however, is a lengthy and expensive process.

However, who will live in these reconstructed areas? Many survivors left the Tohoku region altogether, driven by painful memories and fear of another disaster. For those who stayed and reside in temporary housing, building new homes is an expensive and daunting task. Many survivors have little or no resources to buy newly constructed pro-perty, let alone basic household furnishings.

Gabriela in kimono at Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo

March 2013 15

Finally, survivors struggle emotionally and psychologi-cally with the death and devastation caused by the tsunami. Unlike Americans, the Japanese do not openly discuss their feelings, so it is difficult to know how to help them with their trauma. However, the Japanese culture also greatly emphasizes the importance of community and helping others, so perhaps the government can find a way to build on this cultural strength to help victims process what has happened and begin to recover. Some victims, especially the elderly, having lost all their possessions and loved ones, find it hard to go on living. However, a strong sense of commu-nity and serving others can be a great source of motivation and purpose for those who are struggling. In my opinion, it is evident that for the victims in Tohoku to heal they must simultaneously move on but hold the disaster in their memories so they can avoid future disasters. The Tohoku victims must move “towards the future together without forgetting that day”.

Tsunami Memorial, marker of tsunami height, Ishinomaki

March 2013 17

[section two]

policy

In the aftermath of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and over 25 meter high (82 feet) tsunami that devastated a 300 kilometer stretch of coastal cities and towns in northern Japan, the international response from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – organizations not directly ope-rated by the government, nor private non-profit groups – was quite influential. Only a year after that tragic day, do-nations to the area totaled around $4.1 billion (520 billion yen), and 930,000 volunteers came from around the world to support the recovery effort. Much of this was contribu-ted by NGO’s around the world. The influence of this aid

cannot be overstated, although there is still much work to be done. While on our trip, we met with several NGO’s to find out their role in the devastated area; this includes the Do-Gen In Temple in Ishinomaki City, the Ishinomaki Sen-shu University, and the Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo. We also worked with Fumbaro Eastern Japan, spending time with children in two temporary housing units in Minami-sanriku. In this paper, we will discuss the role these organizations played in the recovery effort, and their effect on disaster management policy, when appropriate.

The Role of Non-GovernmentalOrganizations in the

Aftermath of3/11

By: Dustin Foster and Keitaro Tsuji

Debris mountain, Minami-sanriku

March 2013 19

Fumbaro Eastern Japan

We visited two temporary housing units at the town of Minami-sanriku and played with children there. One of the tsunami-support non-profit organizations, Fumbaro Eastern Japan, kindly organized our volunteer work. They did a great job organizing our time with the children and we sincerely appreciated their efforts. It was very rewar-ding to meet with these children and bring a smile to their faces while we were there.

However, Fumbaro Eastern Japan is a community-based small NGO and it is clear that they can hardly have an influence on reconstruction policy on its own. On the trip, we also visited three of the ministries and agencies in Tok-yo and two devastated municipalities in Tohoku. From these experiences, we learned that Japanese political institutions are very centralized. There is almost no room for NGO’s to be involved in the policy making process. The major reason is a lack of donations. Most NGO’s in Japan do not receive enough donations, because of government policy. In Japan, there is a tax break for donation toward NGO’s, but the number of designated NGO’s is too few. In order to expand the amount of donations and to spark a ‘donation culture’ in Japan, as well as share the role of the public with NGO’s, government policy should be reformed.

Do-Gen-In Temple

After meeting the Head Priest of the Do-Gen-In Temple, Onosaki-sama, and engaging in Zen Buddhist me-ditation and prayer rituals, he gave a lecture explaining the many ways in which his temple has aided Ishinomaki in the aftermath of the tsunami. Immediately after the tsunami the temple welcomed 400 displaced victims for five mon-ths until they could move into temporary housing.

Unfortunately, the Do-Gen-In Temple was the only temple in the region (which houses 42 temples in all) to offer support to disaster victims, as all the other temples were destroyed. However, the Head Priest at the Senso-Ji Temple in Tokyo informed our group that his temple was working on expanding Buddhist traditions to chil-dren which he believes will help not only the devastated area, but society in general. These two examples provide an interesting paradigm shift for temples in Japan. This is because temples normally have a smaller influence, and less presence in Japanese society, when compared to churches in the United States. After 3/11, most Japanese people have realized the importance of community, an integral part of society which they had been lacking. The challenges these two temples face are the preface of a changing society. Also, the lack of a ‘donation culture’ in Japan, however, seems to be changing after 3/11, and the work of these two temples is evidence of these changes in Japanese society. Echoing the work of these religious establishments, religious groups in the United States, such as the Jewish Federation of North America, United Methodist Committee on Relief, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Samaritan’s Purse, and others, have offered substantial relief. The cha-rity of religious groups around the world proves to be an impactful intervention in the aftermath of disaster.

Keitaro (Left) & Dustin (Right), wearing a Tohoku Rakuten Eagles’s jersey at Sendai Station

Miki Onosaki, the wife of Head Priest Onosaki-sama, wrote a book called “Warm Hands”, in which she chronicled the five month period. During this time, she became a matriarchical fi-gure, inspiring and uplifting the victims suffering from depression and post-trau-matic stress. This book and other items were sold by the temple in the attempt to raise $2 million to construct a child day care center.

Ishinomaki Senshu University

The UCLA Luskin group had a chance to meet with the President of Ishinomaki Senshu University, a small private university which became a headquarters for the disaster relief efforts in Ishinomaki. The university’s loca-tion in the northern part of the city protected it from the tsunami. The President gave an eloquent speech about the needs of the city, the needs of the affected students, and his university’s immediate response to the tsunami. Concer-ning disaster management policy, he made it clear that as a private individual, it was very easy for him to be a “dicta-tor” in the sense that he was able to contribute mightily to the recovery without having to wait for bureaucratic pro-cesses. As we will discuss in the next section, government workers at local townships did not have the autonomy that the President had in effecting university policy changes. For instance, the university was able to lift the tuition fee for the students affected; house 1,000 disaster victims and 200 students; offer power from the 3 generators on campus to those displaced; accommodate a volunteer center; and host a nursing school whose campus was destroyed.

The volunteer center itself was also the location of the Council to Support Reconstruction, organizing the work of 200 local NGO’s and the city. Operating as a middle man between these two different institutions, the council was effective in simplifying the information transfers between the many recovery and reconstruction organizations. The President described the work that these 200 NGO’s did in two stages; the first stage consisted of the physical remo-val of damage, debris, and unblocking the roads, while the second stage involved social, psychological, cultural, and financial support for the victims. The 200 students housed at the university became volunteers themselves, aiding efforts around the town and caring for the 1000 displaced victims who were staying at the university. Other functions the university have offered were a survey of the temporary houses for the needs of those living there; transportation for the victims who need to run errands; creating jobs; and building models that study the restoration. In addition, one University professor whose car was caught in the tsunami had to break the window of his car and swim to safety; be-cause of his experience, he has developed a safety kit that will be distributed and placed in vehicles in the areas most likely to be affected by future tsunamis.

Corporate Response to the Disaster

The role of private corporations is also essential to rebuild. Their role is not just to make profit but to improve society in their efforts to make profit. However, it is ob-vious that making profit is difficult in devastated areas. Ne-vertheless, corporations are not the enemy. Instead, once they can establish new profitable business models at the devastated areas such sustainable economic activity will be valuable support for the devastated area. The most impor-tant contribution from businesses is corporate responsibili-ty; “one time” donations, like AT&T’s offering of conditional free phone calls from the US to Japan for twenty days after 3/11, is not the sustainable support that affected cities and towns need to thrive.

March 2013 21

Conclusion: Bureaucratic Reform and Disaster Management Policy Responses

Amya Miller, a dual Japanese and American citizen who operates as the Global Public Relations Director for the city of Rikuzen-takata, echoed a common theme found throughout the devastated area: the bureaucratic pa-perwork and delays are quite detrimental to the recovery and reconstruction efforts. This complaint was also uttered by the Head Priest of the Do-Gen-In temple. It is clear that the Japanese central government has a very tight bu-reaucratic structure that resists changes from NGOs and smaller levels of government. However, as discussed by the President of the Ishinomaki Senshu University, in the after-math of such disaster, response must be swift and flexible. Because of this, the Japanese government and governments around the world should consider alternate bureaucratic processes to go into effect in the wake of natural disasters.

In the wake of the tsunami, many humanitarian orga-nizations across the world donated generous amounts of money to the recovery effort, including several national chapters of the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, Mercy Relief, and Music for Relief. These funds are very important, but are only one-time payments. A more sustainable model for relief, as mentioned above, would involve continual su-pport for several years, or even decades, after the disaster occurs. Because of this, continual contributions to chari-table organizations operating in the affected areas would stimulate necessary developmental and economic growth. Although this policy is not utilized as generously in Japan as it is in the United States, reform could possibly bring about necessary changes that create a more donation-oriented culture in Japan.

Cemetery at Do-gen-in Temple, overlooking Ishinomaki

IntroductionAs we traveled through the Tohoku region of Japan we

gained a sense of the immense devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. The destruction to the infrastructure – entire neighborhoods, small towns and sections of cities wiped away – was obvious, however, we learned of the human cost from local government offi-cials and nonprofit organization representatives. We also observed large numbers of temporary housing units for both displaced residents and reconstruction workers. Not too far away were the tractors, cranes, and other construc-tion equipment still processing debris and, in some cases, rebuilding. As we learned from reconstruction agencies and urban planners of the debates surrounding rebuilding on higher ground and reorganizing zoning schemes to better

protect residents, we wondered who are the people doing all of this work? Are they public or private sector workers? Are they adequately trained, protected and compensated for working in these hazardous environments? This line of inquiry led us to ask broader questions regarding the state of labor relations in Japan.

Present Labor Relations

The present state of labor in Japan is similar to that of mThe present state of labor in Japan is similar to that of most other industrial nations. Currently, approximately 19% of all laborers are organized, a steep decline from what was once 55%. There are several factors contributing

By: Malocca Hawkins and Hugo Sarmiento

Labor Relations and Post 3/11 Recovery in Japan

In the Shinkansen on the way to Sendai

March 2013 23

to this decline that can be explained in economic terms. The Japanese eco-nomy is estimated to be the third largest in the world and remains strong despite being in its second decade of deflation. The reduction of both available currency and credit are direct causes of Japan’s reduction in wages, which have been reduced 4% annually on average. Japanese labor unions are torn between negotiating for job security and higher wages. As seen with the recent negotiations for Toyota, one of Japan’s largest automobile manufactures, […unions are more frequently opting for employment security in favor of higher wages]. This trend has only been magnified since the 3/11 tsunami….

Globalization has presented another source of com-promise for today’s Japanese labor unions. It has broadened the access to available materials and goods not only for Japan but also for its export partners. In order for Japan to maintain its position in the global market it must keep trade prices for export goods competitive. Maintaining competitive prices has come in the form of wage reduc-tion passed from manufacturers to employees. …Workers displaced by the tsunami are especially vulnerable and are often forced to accept [these] reduced wages to secure employment.

In this context, government officials, such as Japan’s Minister of the Environment, and the president of Senshu University, explained that in the initial recovery efforts

cities relied heavily on vo-lunteers. It was only later in the reconstruction phase that paid workers were brought in

to help. Even then, many were paid less than what construc-

tion workers typically earn as the government argued these were special

circumstances that should be treated with urgency. We asked the head of urban planning

in Higashi-matsushima City if the radiation fallout from Fukushima, which affected recovery workers in that location, had affected their recovery efforts. He reluctantly addressed the question and simply stated it had not.

Challenges Facing Labor

Unions in Japan face several unique challenges. One such challenge is Japan’s aging population. The population of Japanese over 65 years of age has reached an all-time high -more than 60% of its total population. Conversely, another source of shortage in labor stems from the overall population decline. As the senior population increases, the nation’s birthrate continues to fall. More seniors aging out of the workforce without being replaced presents challen-ges for unions.

With the number of seniors far exceeding the number of younger people in the workforce, one solution is for immigrants to close the labor gap. However, historically, Japan’s strict immigration policies have largely restricted immigrant workers from entering the country. And, to the extent immigrant workers have penetrated the Japanese labor market, they tend to be kept largely invisible to the

Mari san, our guide in Tohoku

‘Never Say Never’, Higashi-matsushima City Hall

Taiko Drum performer

general public. At the Japanese Ministry of Infrastructure an urban planner discussed how immigrant workers had par-ticipated in the recovery efforts. He explained that migrant workers had arrived in the most heavily affected regions, but only as temporary volunteers or to teach English.

Another solution to close the labor gap is the increa-sed demand for irregular workers, which essentially serve as contractors. These workers are hired for a specific task or specific duration of time, however, they are not conside-red full-time employees. Negotiating wages and benefits for these employees is extremely difficult for unions because most of these employees do not belong to unions. Though we were not able to get the specifics about these types of worker’s participation in the recovery efforts, based on our understanding of the government’s priorities, we suspect they have played an important role in these recovery efforts.

Ultimately, there must maintain a balance in labor between keeping offers enticing to immigrants and irre-gular workers and maintaining workplace standards. Both innovation in extending labor opportunities to immigrant and irregular workers and safe working conditions are imperative to Japan’s successful reconstruction.

Opportunities for Unions

Despite facing many challenges, unions can use post-tsunami redevelopment as an opportunity to reinvent themselves. Unions can position themselves to be seen as active and important participants in the continued reco-very efforts post 3/11 in Japan. They can do so by becoming advocates for displaced employees who may be forced to change careers after the tsunami. Unions can also play an active role in retraining workers ensuring it is done equita-bly, with access to all. At the same time, unions can ensure active recovery workers are protected from wage rights violations and from working with inadequate protections in hazardous environments.

In order to combat the decline in membership, unions can launch an organizing campaign for irregular workers. Organizing irregular employees will set standards for wages and hours in smaller jobs where labor violations are likely to occur.

Conclusion

Our experience in Japan taught us the challenges wor-kers in the post 3/11 recovery efforts face with weake-ned union representation. These challenges can be better understood within the broader context of labor relations in Japan which are characterized by a slow economy, an aging population and a drive to maintain competitiveness in the global economy by reducing the cost of labor. However, post 3/11 recovery work is also an opportunity for Japane-se unions and labor organizations to reinvent and esta-blish themselves. They have the opportunity to be seen as important participants in the recovery efforts by ensuring workers’ wages are protected and subsequently ensuring that they continue to make meaningful investments in local economies. By ensuring that workers receive the training and support they need labor can build a new and strong foundation for Japan’s future.

Hugo (left) and Linda (right), Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo

Malocca (right) and traditional kimono dresser, Asakusa, Tokyo

March 2013 25

Izhar in a traditional kimono, Asakusa, Tokyo

The March 2011 Tsunami was a disaster that the people of Japan had not witnessed before because of the sheer scale. The government had taken precautionary mea-sures to address possible tsunamis of up to ten feet but the tsunami they faced measured over eighty two feet at certain places. It lead to the deaths of 15,800 people, inju-ries to 6,000, and, at the time of this writing, 3,200 people are still unaccounted for. This tragic event has led to the creation of the Ministry of Reconstruction, the branch of the central government in charge of the tsunami recovery efforts.

Before March 2011, the paperwork necessary to get funding for a local project was extremely long and tedious. In talking with the deputy director of the reconstruction agency, we were told that some of those restrictions would be lifted in order to stream line the process. This is an

important step in funding for disaster victims because of the age of some of the survivors. The people that tend to stay in the smaller cities most affected by the disaster are older and more traditional while the youth are attracted to the bigger cities, putting more stress on the victimes psychologically as well as financially. The government’s de-cision to make funding available more quickly will help the older, disadvantaged adults remaining get by in those cities hardest hit by disaster.

Higashi-matsushima and Minami-sanriku both had su-ffered greatly from the March 2011 tsunami but these two cities’ recovery efforts - and the government’s role in them - were very different. Higashi-matsushima’s recovery was on schedule. We were taken to the new town’s construc-tion site were able to ask specific questions about cons-truction progress. They were going to build 35 feet above sea level and, at the time of our visit, were already bringing in the dirt to raise the level. They plan to drain out the rest of the water covering the city’s former cite once they are done raising the level. They had a clear plan for reaching their construction goals and set a time frame of 5 years. They also had a special contact at the national government level who was able to get the funding approved more quickly under the Ministry of Reconstruction’s effort to be more responsive to the needs of the people.

In Minami-sanriku, the case was totally different. The majority of the people were still living in temporary housing or as the communications director very bluntly called “shacks”. The people of the area were older; most of the young people had left the area. The city was able to draw media immediately after the disaster but it was getting harder and harder to draw interest in the story as it aged. Contrary to Higashi-matsushima, there did not seem to be a clear plan or time frame for reconstruction and restoration. The one figure we heard was that over ten years the focus would first be initial trauma response, then construction, and finally restoration with an emphasis on precautionary measures against future disasters. In compa-ring Minami-sanriku and Higashi-matsushima, it was clear that Minami-sanriku was at a disadvantage. Not only does Higashi-matsushima have a special central government con-nection, but a larger original population, which might also have contributed largely to its restoration progress.

Disaster Policy in Effect By: Izhar Manzoor

In looking at these two examples we were able to see the successes and failures of national government policy in the reconstruction effort. Cities more willing to work with the national government seemed better off than cities that resisted central government efforts. The central govern-ment had a very straightforward national plan for disaster hit areas; collective household relocation and land read-justment for people who were unwilling to move from the disaster prone areas. If victims were willing to move they would be given the value of their land, which would then be converted for agricultural use, minimizing the number of people affected by potential future disasters.

Izhar at Sun-Sun-Kan, Minami-sanriku

Luskin students with Mr. Kobayashi, Head of the City Planning Division, visiting the Nobiru reconstruction project, Higashi-matsushima

March 2013 27

For one of the most advanced and respectable countrFor one of the most advanced countries in the world, Japan’s ongoing recovery from the 3/11 earthquake and tsunami has unnecessarily suffered due to inefficien-cies in the disaster management process. These problems result from both a need for cultural reform in the re-cruitment or training of ministry officials and an elemen-tary information asymmetry problem between local and central government. The solution to the problems with the continuing recovery efforts in Japan lie in resolving some fundamental inefficiencies in the management aspects of the system, which no amount of additional funding or expertise can resolve. Central and local authorities in Ja-pan blame each other for missteps in the recovery process when both sides are actually performing their responsibili-ties adequately and the real problems lay within the system

Solving the Wrong Problem:Disaster Recovery in Japan after 3/11By: Nicolas Mihojevich

itself. A system which promotes an inflexible management culture prevents individual officials and agents in the bu-reaucracy bridging the two sides from facilitating the swift action required for optimal disaster recovery response.

The basic argument that reform is needed in how Japan manages any response to a major disaster was demonstrated in our trip by the often barely restrained contempt in which both sides, local and central, officials displayed for each other during our tours. The key issue of contention for the local officials and residents was that their expectations from the central government had been left severely wanting. There is a shortfall in redevelopment programs, such as housing, and therefore a lack of sustai-ned investment in the future viability of the area from the central government. Local officials and residents complai-

Devastation, Ishinomaki

ned bitterly that their ideas for reconstruction had been neglected in the central planning process and they had received very little real benefit from any programs authori-zed by central authorities.

However, central government officials made the case that their commitment to the recovery efforts was ge-nuine, evidenced by the enormous amount of funding set aside for the recovery effort and as well as by a long term plan developed for full recovery of the affected areas. The evidence for this commitment was communicated effecti-vely to us by the detailed and comprehensive plans drawn up by the government agencies for promoting the welfare of the devastated regions. Central officials criticized the locals for failing to take full advantage of their efforts and not appreciating the barriers the authorities had to over-come to initiate any action.

After hearing from both sides of the response efforts, it was evident that both sides had legitimate arguments. One thing that both sides wholeheartedly agreed upon was the unnecessary amount of bureaucracy involved in the recovery efforts. The amount of paperwork and

[ ]

Rikuzen-takata temporary City Hall, the original was washed away by the tsunami

processing time was the most salient evidence of the real culprit – inefficiency in the disaster management system. The middlemen responsible for communicating local pre-ferences and directing redevelopment efforts appeared to stand in the way of achieving better results in the national recovery process. Their role, according to both ends of the recovery effort appeared to contribute nothing to the process and served only to delay progress.

Both the central ministers and local politicians struck me as sincere and professional individuals who were committed to the same set of strategic goals but could not understand how their efforts resulted in so little real progress. As a result they choose to blame each other, the only visible characters they can identify in the process, for the perceived failures in the recovery efforts. However, between them stand innumerable invisible agents represen-ting both government and private interests. When pressed to name who such agencies and individuals are, both the ministries and local officials had difficulty identifying these parties. The ministries were more apt to suspect other mi-nistries who were obliquely involved and locals were more likely to hint at private business.

Both the central ministers and local politi-cians struck me as sincere and professio-nal individuals who were committed to the same set of strategic goals but could not understand how their efforts were creating so little real progress towards their goals...

...More than likely, some combination of ri-val ministries controlled by competing poli-tical interests and self-interested busines-ses are ultimately the ones truly to blame for any inefficiency in the recovery process.

March 2013 29

More than likely, some combination of rival ministries controlled by competing political interests and self-inter-ested businesses are ultimately the ones truly to blame for any inefficiency in the recovery process. Certainly these parties have the incentives to prevent a speedy and effi-cient recovery process because any funding which can be misdirected or delayed only serves to benefit their inter-ests. We see this same scenario playing out in other disas-ter recovery efforts such as after Hurricane Katrina in the US. Too many processes and institutions - whose supposed purpose is to increase democracy and accountability - can actually obscure the transparency of the process for the benefit of their own interests.

What Japan needs for the future is an alternative disas-ter response process. The process would, ideally, immedia-tely communicate information and more effectively funnel funding directly to the parties that have the incentive to do their best for the devastated areas. Accountability and democracy are worthwhile ideals but effective disaster ma-nagement demands swift decision making and limited trans-parency to heal afflicted regions before potential viability of the area is permanently lost. At most, a region appears to have a single year before critical people and businesses make the decision to move on, severely reducing future prospects.

The short time frame for fully effective recovery efforts demands a more flexible and expedited decision making process. While there are legitimate concerns about this in non-disastrous times, effective disaster management necessitates targeted and consolidated authority. In the US, top officials or specific agencies are given such blanket authority during times of crisis and other actors are expec-ted to back down or look the other way when normal rules or legal requirements would only get in the way of

Luskin students and UCLA Alumni, US Embassy Housing Complex, Roppongi, Tokyo

Nicolas (Left) with young government official, US Embassy Housing Complex

necessary action. However in Japan, it appears as if offi-cials are more concerned with achieving consensus at the expense of action, an acceptable tradeoff in some scenarios but not in times of disaster. Talking to officials at several levels of government, it appears one obstacle to any such attempts at reform towards this goal would require the retraining of multiple segments of the Japanese government in more flexible managerial culture and crisis response.

Tsukiji Fish Market, Tsukiji, Tokyo

Most Japanese officials we met expressed concerns about the obstinacy of the Japanese system to bending the rules in times of crisis. One official raised concern about why the system has resulted in so much delay, which is so distinctively unlike the Japanese cultural ideal of efficiency. He spoke of the lack of direction and specialized training the typical Japanese government official receives. Without knowledge of the “bigger picture” and a clear understan-ding of the strategic goals their respective agencies are trying to achieve, most bureaucrats are unable to perceive if or when the rules need to be relaxed. As a result, most Japanese agencies are filled with individuals who are blindly obedient to the isolated portion of the system under their purview and lack the knowledge of how to be flexible in times when swift action is required. Almost all Japanese officials we spoke with wished some other player involved in the process would look the other way once in a while or would expedite the paperwork process required to initiate action.

The problems the Japanese system has been set up to combat appear to be corruption at the expense of effi-ciency. Yet an outsider might question why the emphasis appears to be on a problem without reasonable priority in the Japanese system. Corruption, transparency and unpro-fessionalism appear to the very least of Japan’s worries while the lack of decisive action is seriously hurting current and future recovery efforts. What Japan requires is an al-ternative system of decision making reserved for times or crisis, perhaps similar to the “Czars” or the Federal disas-ter system employed in the US. One of the tools the Japa-nese redevelopment agency we spoke to is currently using to some degree of success was the relaxation of major requirements and regulation in redevelopment zones. Such reduction of formalities seems to be the most effective strategy the Japanese authorities can employ during times of crisis, but in order to make such an alternative more effective requires the retraining of large segments of Japan’s public sector about flexible management practices in times of crisis. Without such a complex bureaucracy obscuring the recovery process, middlemen and private interests would be less able to conceal any efforts to siphon off or delay progress for their individual gain.

March 2013 31

By: Sindre Fredsvik

It is overly ambitious to think that one can accurately understand how disasters affect human beings, unless he experiences one himself. The trauma felt cannot be expres-sed through words or sentences; it is simply not sufficient. It is often said that a picture conveys more than a thousand words, a statement I regard as true in the case of 3/11. I recollect compulsively watching the news coverage of this day and being entirely in awe of the immense force of nature, yet terrified of the destruction and suffering it left behind. The footage of people clinging to rooftops and running for higher ground to escape not only represented

the scale of the immediate disaster, but conveyed hints of the scale of the aftermath – the colossal efforts nee-ded in terms of reconstruction and human relief. Having previously visited the tsunami-affected areas of Southern Thailand, I knew precisely how exhaustive and time-consu-ming relief and reconstruction efforts could be. Four years had passed since the 2004 “Boxing Day” Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami struck, when I visited the Phi Phi islands and Khao Lak in 2008. While reconstruction efforts had been swift in certain areas, due to local dependency on tourism, other areas had been left untouched. Overgrown

Understanding Interactions Between

Local and National Govern-ments after Disaster in Tohoku Area

Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Garden, Tokyo

concrete foundations left a mere impression of the former residential area or hotel resort that once were there. With this knowledge and experience in mind, I traveled to Japan, expecting to discover similarities, but hoping for differen-ces.

I arrived in Japan with a multitude of feelings – I was excited to be able to discover the dense urban landscape of Tokyo, motivated to learn about disaster planning and relief efforts, and anxious about seeing distressing de-vastation and human suffering. The trip did, and rightfully so, evoke a range of emotions as the experiences were numerous and varied. I view traveling as immersing oneself in a new culture, learning cultural cues and behavior, and experiencing a place by trying to understand its history and significance.

Thus, visiting the tsunami-affected areas of Tohoku meant trying to unders-tand the suffering of its residents, what once had been, and the struggle toward restoring a sense of normalcy. Though difficult, it was vital to explore these emo-tions in order to foster a productive and respectful discussion with the local gover-nment agencies.

In hindsight I believe we, as a group, were successful in diving into the imminent issues of the current reconstruc-tion efforts through absorbing knowledge and questioning practices in a courteous and culturally sensitive manner.

As an emerging urban planner I found myself highly intrigued by the urban and rural built environment of Japan, as it is markedly different from the archetypical American city. The small details of architecture, placement, land use and site layout were intriguing, and I grew especially fond of the narrow pedestrian alleys in the Harajuku district of Tokyo. These quiet, narrow shopping streets hosted an array of uniquely designed store façades, distinctive ea-teries and independent stores, and functioned as a stark contrast to the bustling neighboring Shibuya district. The efficient use of space is a captivating facet of Tokyo and Japan in general, with its layered infrastructure and über-dense environment. I was mesmerized by the passing lands-cape was we drove along the elevated toll roads. Though seemingly chaotic at first glance, with a closer look one can see just how seamlessly these roads weaved into the urban landscape.

In the suburban and rural context, I yet again became intrigued by the efficiency of space and dense residential subdivisions. While American single-family homes often feature sizeable patios and backyards, the building footprint of Japanese homes nearly extend out to the lot line, lea-ving little or no space for outdoor living. Thus, these new subdivisions are exceptionally space efficient and dense for being chiefly single-family homes.

Ultimately, I would say the built envi-ronment of Japan contains a good dose of lessons for efficient space planning, and how to create functional dense living environments, utterly pertinent for our increasingly dense, urbanized globe.

Beyond strictly planning-related memories and ex-periences, the trip provided an excellent chance to bond with fellow Luskin students, taste the culinary specialties of the Japanese kitchen, explore the quintessentially Japanese mesh of traditional and modern living, as well the chance to admire the stunning beauty of the Hanami season, or cherry tree blossoming. Collectively, the aspects above made this trip an unforgettable experience that I will che-rish for a long time.

Sindre with Tokyo Metro map, Tokyo

March 2013 33

Understanding how the local and national governments have interacted to help communities and individuals after disaster in Tohoku area

An essential part of the trip was to understand the policies behind reconstruction efforts, both on a local and national level, and investigate its success through extensi-ve field observation and dialogues with local and national government agencies. The issues of disaster planning and aftermath response are highly pertinent for emerging planners in Los Angeles, as Southern California is, similarly to Japan, highly seismically active and prone to tsunamis. As a prelude to our Tohoku visit, we met with the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the newly formed Ministry of Recons-truction in order to learn about relief and reconstruction policy and efforts from a national standpoint, and to better understand the situation once in Tohoku.

The Ministry of Environment meeting focused largely on the efforts pertaining to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster, and the subsequent radiation issues that have left an entire 12-mile area around the plant uninhabitable. The government has moved the displaced residents from the numerous towns into new temporary housing, where residents may have to stay for upwards of 10 years. Many of the affected cities will never be repopulated, and the former residents are forced to uproot and start anew somewhere else. The city of Fukushima, located directly northwest of the evacuation zone, was never evacuated, due to its sheer size of 300,000 residents. To cope with the constant threat of radiation, the city has embarked on a

massive and costly task of cleaning the city through pres-sure washing rooftops and removing 2 inches of topsoil and lawn cover from every lot. Yet radioactive particles and dust blow into the city on a regular basis, causing wides-pread concern from local residents. To further raise radia-tion awareness, the city has equipped its school children with personal dosimeters, teaching them to self-monitor radiation levels and to seek shelter during spikes.

The severely affected coastal communities of north-central Tohoku were the focus area for our visit, with stops in Rikuzen-takata, Minami-sanriku, Higashi-matsushima and Ishinomaki. While the Ministry of Reconstruction’s explana-tion of the national plan and framework made the process of reconstruction sound rather straightforward, the local government officials in the affected cities told us otherwise. Accessing reconstruction funding is difficult at best, with a slow bureaucratic application process, significantly delaying reconstruction of basic public infrastructure, including schools and public housing. Permission for land clearing was taking up to 13 months for vital institutions such as fire, police and medical facilities. This slow improvement of infrastructure combined with a prolonged waiting time for permanent housing (often up to five years) causes seve-re frustration and, often depression among local citizens. Amya Miller, the Global Public Relations Director for the city of Rikuzen-takata, echoed this notion that the slow reconstruction process increased the already heightened level of trauma and depression in the area, with a sense of hopelessness being common. Although ambitious plans of land readjustments and residential relocation have been enacted, the bureaucratic process and the limited funds

Pedestrians’ promenade, Harajuku, Tokyo

‘Hanami’ cherry blossom viewing, Ueno Park, Tokyo

Hallway of Sun-sun Kan guest house, Minami-sanriku

available hinder swift action, adding further stress to these communities. The city of Higashi-matsushima, however, has managed to start construction on their relocation project - moving a large neighborhood uphill and away from flood-plains. While still at the land clearing stage, the simple fact that progress is being made is provides the citizens with hope and a sense of future for the city.

A disturbing news article was recently published in The Daily Beast shedding light on reconstruction fund misallo-cations. While communities continue to suffer from lack of investment and rehabilitation, funding initially earmarked for reconstruction has been spent on promoting tourism in Tokyo, a move illustrating the lack of attention given to these affected areas. While the current Minister of Recons-truction has apologized for the misuse of funding, and pro-mised a quicker process from now on, this level of neglect leaves local citizens feeling skeptical, with a grim outlook on the future of Tohoku. With misuse of funds and empty promises coming from the national level, combined with a slow rebuilding process, victims will have to be patient, as the reconstruction of Tohoku still seems to be in its early stages. Through perseverance and by capturing the atten-tion of international media, the communities of the Tohoku region may be able to pressure the national government to act more quickly and not forget about this precious coastal area and its citizens.

March 2013 35

Like many millions of others, I watched the news on March 11th, 2011 with a sense of detachment. The tsuna-mi we watched on television was something horrible and huge beyond reckoning, but in a way it was so huge and so overwhelming that it seemed unreal. In that mass of swirling water, it was difficult to comprehend that there had been actual towns beneath it, and that hundreds of thousands of people were losing their homes, jobs, and everything they owned as the wave washed over the land.

Visiting the devastated areas two years later really helped me to understand the extent of the damage. The most striking image, for me, was when we stopped at what had once been a coastal town. Where the town had been, there were acres upon acres of empty dirt lots, often with concrete foundations left to mark where houses had once stood. A few houses were still standing, scattered far and wide at random. In many of the empty lots, we found clo-thing, household goods, and even toys.

On a road outside one of the devastated areas, I saw two high school girls walking over a bridge. Until two years earlier, all the area around them had been their hometown. Now it resembled a desert. Their town was a temporary shopping center and temporary housing units. The only structures remaining had been set on hills and escaped damage by virtue of their elevation. These girls were coming home from school in their uniforms, and I realized that this was the everyday reality for them. Their old lives would never come back. Yet life went on, and by now they had adjusted, settling into something resembling their old routines.

The most memorable thing, to me, was the evidence of the strength of the human spirit. Midway through the trip we visited a hillside temple that had been converted into a shelter in the days and months following the tsunami. The disaster instantly turned thousands of the town’s residents into refugees with nowhere to live and no means to su-pport themselves. With nowhere to go, they streamed into the monastery by the hundreds. The head monk and his wife set up living quarters for them and arranged for food

to be brought in. The survivors offered each other support and reaffirmed each other’s dignity, helping those who had lost everything find reasons to endure.

Given our lack of proficiency in the language and lack of hard skills that could be applied to the ongoing pro-blems, it seems that we benefitted more from the trip than our hosts did. The trip was incredibly instructive in disaster management and reconstruction policy, but our opportuni-ties to offer help were limited. Our guides insisted that our mere presence was helpful, as it showed the survivors that the world had not forgotten them. In a time when horrible destruction and loss of life seems to happen almost every week, it is easy to forget the disasters that are no longer in the spotlight. Early on during our time in the disaster area, we split into two groups and visited a temporary housing unit. The men played sports games with the young boys, and the women engaged in various arts and crafts with the young girls. The children seemed to really enjoy our visit, and it felt good to be able to serve as a bright spot in their lives.

By: Jeremy Fuller

Assessment of What Policy Challenges Local and National

Government Face

Jeremy, Do-Gen-In Temple, Ishinomaki

Disaster Policy Reform

Two years after the disaster struck, thousands of people are still living in temporary shelters, and their old places of employment have not been rebuilt. This makes them largely dependent on the state and on communities for support. To effectively rebuild, Japan must create new jobs for these displaced adults. To this end, they can offer incentives to businesses to relocate to the area, or they can create jobs directly, such as through the construction of state-run factories. However, given the risks involved in locating capital-intensive businesses in coastal areas, will firms be willing to bring decent-paying jobs to the area?

A town’s economy is not built all at once, but grows over decades, even centuries. Trying to recreate the old economy is like trying to replant a rainforest after it has been cut down. Will Japan be able to bring in the right mix of jobs that will utilize the skills of the remaining popula-tion? If not, there could be a significant mismatch between available jobs and unemployed workers, which would present a challenge to the rebuilding process. This will be exacerbated by the need to place new structures on areas of higher elevation. Some towns may not have enough hillside areas that are ready for new construction, delaying the rebuilding process.

Further, if Tohoku is unable to provide economic opportunities for the displaced population, there is the risk that many people, especially the young, will relocate to larger cities even faster than they previously had. With the aging of the population, many of these coastal towns could be drastically depopulated over the next few decades, with the remaining population consisting mostly of aged adults. This could present significant problems in the delivery of healthcare and other services.

Tohoku must accommodate entrepreneurs who have workable plans to bring businesses back to the area. Addi-tionally, the country should continue to invest in rebuilding infrastructure, such as seaports, in order to facilitate trade through the region. What I saw of the reconstruction effort was very encouraging, with large teams of engineers deplo-yed to the area to aid in the rebuilding process. We passed by several factories that had been repaired and brought back online. However, there is still a large displaced popu-lation living in temporary housing, which is demoralizing. There is the risk that if permanent housing is not provided soon, these people may leave the area completely. Japan must do everything it can to speed up the construction of permanent housing for its displaced population.

‘Sun Sun’ Temporary Shopping Village, Minami-sanriku

Dustin (left) and Jeremy (right) with the Head Priest of the Do-Gen-In Temple

March 2013 37

It is difficult to express how a stranger feels when getting to know other people’s experiences. We all know the “put yourself in another’s shoes” saying. That was one of the main goals of our mission in Japan. However, that is impossible, unrealistic. One can listen to the people who lived through it and imagine the state of the place before that fateful event, but here are no words or images that can express all the physical and moral pain suffered by the people of Tohoku on 3/11/11.

It is hard to explain how I felt when passing through a flattened area on the way to Rikuzen-takata. I came to know that in that very place two years ago laid the city of Minami-sanriku. I didn’t know what to say or what to think. I was just astonished and remained open-mouthed during the whole route along that flat plain. Those badly asphalted roads we traveled on were once the arteries of a whole city full of small houses, shops, stores, schools, businesses, and temples. Everything was washed away by the water. It was like someone used the eraser function in any design software over Minami-sanriku. The only geographical references that remained were those broken roads and

the concrete foundations of some houses. There was just desolation. The only thing I could think in that moment was how the people living in Minami-sanriku experienced 3/11. Then I wondered, “ where are the people of Minami-sanriku now?”.

I felt very fortunate to visit the Tohoku region two years after the event, especially because I knew before-hand it was going to be special. It was special in that all 22 participants were graduate students with different interests and skills but all aimed to look at everything with “research eyes” – not as if we were traveling for pleasure alone. Faci-litating this, we were accompanied at all times by locals and experts who knew how to answer all of our questions ex-pertly. We were also provided privileged access to officials from the Ministries of the Environment and Infrastructure, and from the Reconstruction Agency. Finally, our experien-ce was a complete socio-cultural immersion. We came to better understand Japanese character over the 8 days and 7 nights’ trip through the small things, things such as not talking while on the subway, not eating while in a public space, having a public bath with friends and even strangers,

By: Vicente Romero

Local vs. National. A Bottom-Up Relationship after Disaster in Tohoku

View of Downtown Tokyo from the Imperial Palace

and being welcomed into shops with loud and suprising shouts of “irashaimas!e”. Coming to understand the small details proved vital to a fuller cultural understanding of the effects of the 3/11 disaster on the individual.

There are a lot of those small details that I will hold forever in my memory. First the extreme narrowness of streets shows the lack of space in Japan. Everything is small and reduced, but everything is well thought out and planned. Every space is intelligently used, regardless of its purpose or location. Second, I was struck by the mix of religions and the salient mutual respect among them. There are temples almost everywhere to show gratitude to not just the myriad of Shinto gods but to Buddha, as well. Third, nature is present in every corner of the city, in every nook, window, and door. It seems that advanced occiden-tal cultures have left aside nature in favor of development, but Japan has shown respect to it, becoming a first world power while maintaining respect for nature. As an example: the cherry blossoms in every street and the admiration that Japanese people show for them. Fourth, tradition is a rule that is evident everywhere. Especially admirable is the clever and appropriate mix of traditional and modern architecture: there is a wise gradient to spatial change in urban landscapes, from the simple nature in the forefront, then to the small traditional temples and houses, and finally to the high skyscrapers in the background. Finally, the food, though surprising (or even frightening) at first, was deli-cious and unforgettable at the end.

Visits to the Ministries of the Environment and In-frastructures, and the Reconstruction Agency, as well as to the four Tohoku cities (Minami-sanriku, Rikuzen-takata, Ishinomaki, and Higashi-matsushima) proved very helpful in understanding how the local and national government have interacted to help communities and individuals after the disaster in Tohoku.

First, the Ministry of the Environment took respon-sibility for the radioactivity decontamination around the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, located just south of the disaster epicenter and affecting thousands of residents living within a 20 km radius. One of the main tasks is to decontaminate the residential areas in and around forests. The priorities of the ministry are “to take advantage” of the disaster and to turn the region from a traditional agri-cultural area into a technologically advanced one by foste-ring renewable energy industries. In this sense, they would contribute to the CO2 reductions committed to in the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, and would preserve wildlife and biodiversity, as well as develop a more sustainable human environment. Another task is debris treatment at every community. Wood and cotton debris are just 6% of the to-tal and would be easily removed by burning. The most diffi-cult debris to remove are cement and ceramic, which are being treated in debris plants across the territory. Second, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism provided us with a very complete debriefing on the City Planning system in Japan. After 3/11, this ministry is taking

Vicente in a skyscraper in Shinjuku, Tokyo’s CBD

March 2013 39

responsibility for the region’s reconstruction, having even created a special “Reconstruction Agency”. Project costs are entirely borne by the central government.

The message we got from the ministries is that subsi-dies for reconstruction are obtained by a “straightforward application procedure”, but the reality we observed was that help and support, although present in the territory, have been delayed by the national government, especially because of the troublesome application procedure. Tempo-rary houses have been built along the affected coast, where people live while waiting for their new houses. However, this waiting time can vary from 3 to 5 years depending on the construction rate. The construction strategy is straightforward: to remove houses from coastal plains up to the mountain. The group visited one such construction site - the Nobiru project - a 562 dwelling plan in develop-ment from 2012 to 2017 in Higashi-matsushima City.

The reality at the local scale is rather different from what the national government presented to us. In fact, when visiting the cities, we could see with our own eyes that the disaster area continues being a disaster two years after the tsunami. People and businesses have not come back to the streets they occupied, nor even to their home towns. People are still living in temporary houses and businesses are still waiting for the permits and money to start over. Japan has always been able to overcome bad

situations, but it is incomprehensible how the people of Tohoku have been forgotten behind the nuclear meltdown in Fukushima. Like the whole country, the Tohoku region is a resilient area and they will recover, but they certainly need more urgent action from the national government to accelerate reconstruction.

Luskin students at Ishinomaki Senshu University

Ishinomaki devastaed area

March 2013 41

[section three]

planning

Part I: Reflections in Minami-sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture

When I look at our photos I cannot help but feel a little guilty. We had arrived at the Sun-sun-kan guesthouse surrounded by darkness. The bus trip itself was enjoyable, having had a both thought-provoking and fun talk with another student. I couldn’t tell exactly where we were, but I could tell that the ocean was not far off.

That night’s activities were the highlight of my trip. I helped make mochi, finding the right rhythm to bring down the mallet between the moments the woman working the dough darted in to knee. We sat down to a delicious meal and participated in a traditional taiko drum performance. I awoke in the early morning hours and looked outside my window. As a thick fog slowly drifted along the landscape I was struck by how beautiful it all was to me. However, I had a suspicion I was going to feel guilty for taking in all this beauty - I knew I was going to see some very tragic sights very soon.

As we drove down into the devastated area our guide told us this is where the housing and businesses used to be. I was so at a loss that I didn’t understand her state-ment. I wondered to myself “What does she mean? These

are open fields with some rocks strewn about. Where are the ruins of the homes and businesses?” I felt dumb to not understand so I remained quiet. Then we got closer to the sight and I saw that what I thought were rocks strewn about where actually the foundations of homes and I realized that this relatively empty field, populated mostly by work trucks, was in fact once a whole, vibrant neighborho-od.

Another guilty thought entered my head: “This area is almost peaceful and beautiful. I recall images of houses and buildings knocked over and even boats hundreds of yards inland.” And then I realized that I was guilty of what so many others, especially the media, are guilty of. Once the initial devastation is cleaned up and once the initial horror wears off a bit we start to separate ourselves from it. We make it less real over time and almost try to believe that it never happened. I understand that this is a coping mecha-nism that sometimes helps people not become overwhel-med by the dire situation they are in, but I want to learn from this experience and so I know that I must remember what I see. If I do not remember what I see and work to fix it I will see it again in real life instead of just in my head.

By: Manuel Lopez

Comparative Institutional Planning Differences Between the US and Japan

Tokyo Subway

March 2013 43

Part II: Comparative Institutional Planning Differences bet-ween the US and Japan

I have fallen into a common trap of feeling that the Japanese are always well-organized and efficient due to stereotypes. Even though these are considered positive characteristics I had to work to overcome them to see the situation as it actually is. The strong central Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Tourism sets the planning regula-tions for the entire country with some discretion given to local governments. I knew that Japan was divided up so-mewhat like the United States but also knew it was about the size of California. I figured that being divided up into nearly 50 prefectures must lend it to that fabled efficiency.

Before I become too critical of Japan’s system I would like to note that I do feel it is superior to that of the Uni-ted States. To Japan’s credit, 92% of the population lives in areas that are planned. A controlled urbanized area helps combat oversaturation of urbanization and maintains green areas. With such a high population density the government must make thankless decisions that always dissatisfy some segment of the population.

This being said, I believe Americans and Japanese have the same overall philosophy and that draws us into some of the same traps. The various arms of the Japanese gover-nment and the Japanese public cannot quite seem to agree on what to do with the area hit by the tsunami. Some want to rebuild - they feel that a tsunami of that size is such a rare occurrence that it is worth the trade-off of building on a hillside that is likely to encounter a land slide a couple of times per decade, and that a future tsunami can be dealt with through technological advances.

I liked the ideas of those who were thinking differently from simply rebuilding. There are some who are advocating for a park in the area. The land is valuable. Everyone knows that. But human life is even more valuable and a park can bring happiness and remembrance to the people and still provide a safety buffer zone.

I am not trying to offer up a solution to the problem. Spending 3 days in an area hit by the kind of tragedy I saw is not nearly enough to think I could do such a thing. I am simply stating my belief that the planners should consider a different land use that values the land in just as important a manner. In short, I feel that strong spirit and good planning use are not the same thing here.

One final observation on general urban planning in Japan: I was surprised by the lack of traffic on the city roads. I know that this is a relative surprise as many Japane-se would think I am crazy for perceiving the traffic as light. I took a taxi 3 or 4 times while in Japan and was never frustrated by the lack of progression even at rush hour in Kyoto. I had asked why Tokyo had developed into such a subway city (subways are a very expensive investment with huge environmental impacts). He responded that the land above ground was so expensive that it was actually che-aper to develop the subway underground. I didn’t truly buy that response at first, but when I considered the extensive shopping and service areas underground I discovered it was completely feasible that this was a good idea. Being from Los Angeles, I believe planners would be opposed to doing such a thing as building virtually underground cities because one of the greatest draws to LA is its weather and despite the reputation it is working hard to reduce smog. I’ve not been to NY or Chicago, but I think the three lar-gest cities in the US could take a lesson from the planning going on in the transit system of Tokyo.

Manuel (left) with traditional tattoo artist - “Let’s Reconstruct Japan”

Manuel in rickshaw, Asakusa, Tokyo

By: Zachary ZabelReflections of Tohoku

Because we arrived in Minami-sanriku under the cloak of night, my initial impressions from the bus the first mor-ning in the tsunami devastated area were that of bucolic country farms and misty wooded hills of tall pines. It wasn’t until we reached a lower elevation that the tranquil scenes gave way to armies of dump trucks and cranes. Having never been to these areas before it was hard to concep-tualize the true scale of the destruction upon view. It takes a few moments to realize that barren fields were actually whole neighborhoods that have been swept away. Hauntin-gly, many of the foundations in the towns we visited lay in-tact - the street grid remains visible but devoid of life. The most moving moments for me came in walking through these barren yet strangely peaceful expanses where homes once stood. In Minami-sanriku I stumbled upon a compu-ter CD eerily entitled “Earthquake: Contingency Measures Disaster Prevention Guide” a distance from the shell of the town’s disaster warning tower. In Ishinomaki, I was taken aback by a lone garage still standing in a field strewn with severed doll heads and broken kitchenware. Inside lay a bicycle standing perfectly upright as if someone had just returned home on it.

Admittedly, at first sight I found the scenes around Minami-sanriku and Rikuzen-takata to be underwhelming. I, as I assume so many who have been exposed to the vivid imagery of the tsunami, played out across the world’s me-dia, was expecting endless heaps of rubble, ocean worthy ships in people’s backyards, and mangled cars stacked to the sky. This is perhaps the greatest challenge, which now faces these communities. Because most of the rubble has been carted away and the resilience instilled in the Japane-se people has led to an illusion of normalcy, there is a se-rious risk that the disaster will dissipate from the agendas of policymakers and the media both in Japan and abroad.

Meetings, such as these with NGO workers and chil-dren in temporary housing, alerted me to the fact that the most challenging tasks of rebuilding from such a disaster transcend that of physical reconstruction. In Miyagi, where fishing is a key part of the economy, livelihoods have been lost indefinitely. In small villages where family structures have been torn apart, elderly men struggle with domestic tasks for the first time in their lives, alcoholism is pervasive,

Planning Differences Between the US and Japan

March 2013 45

Zach surveying tsunami damage, Ishinomaki

[ ]Because most of the rubble has been carted away and the resilience instilled in the Japa-nese people has led to an illusion of normalcy, there is a serious risk that the disaster will dissipate from the agendas of policymakers and the media both in Japan and abroad.

and youth who seek opportunity elsewhere are shunned for abandonment. For me these themes became reality upon playing baseball with children outside of Minami-sanriku. One boy was amazingly talented; he had the arm of a teenager and his throws stung when they hit my glove. He knew a decent amount of English and it was clear that if he lived somewhere like Tokyo or Osaka he would be a standout both in the classroom and on the baseball field; but what future did he have there?

Planning Differences Bet-ween the US and Japan

In many regards urban planning at an institutional level in Japan is not far re-moved from that the United States. Since 1968, planning in Japan has been based upon the City Planning Law, which dictates land use planning, development projects, and the provision of urban facili-ties. Integral in Japanese city planning is the zoning system, which mirrors that of many American cities. Different designations of residential, commercial, and industrial zones are coded and given the stipulations of what land uses they can accommodate. Although these guidelines are clearly laid out, the seemingly unplanned nature of Japanese cities as seen through a train window puts into question how firmly these regulations are implemented.

Where Japanese planning differs from the American model is in the Area Demar-cation System which dictates where urbanization should be encouraged or restrained through the creation of “Ur-banization Promotion Areas” and “Urbanization Control Areas.” This top down “plan-ner view” approach, which likely limits public participa-tion, is far more in line with my experiences of working Luskin students at Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo

March 2013 47

First and foremost, urbanization in Japan from the start of the 20th century until now has been defined by destruc-tion. In the aftermath of the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 as many as half of the buildings in Tokyo were destro-yed by fire. During the Second World War air raids, which affected more than two hundred cities nationwide, leveled whole metropolises. Due to the volatility of the natural environment and a history of rebuilding I feel that there is little room for permanence or embellishment in Japanese urban design.

Second, the Japanese inclination for utility over form further supports the assertion of improperly reactive construction. This is not to say that Japanese planners have failed; in my opinion the reality is quite the contrary. The beauty of a city like Tokyo lies within the labyrinth of its compact neighborhoods that in many other countries would have been razed by now for parking garages and freeways. Tokyo’s choice to allow private entities to deve-lop the world’s most comprehensive rail system over the automobile has allowed the city to achieve extraordinary density at a comparatively miniscule footprint. In doing so the haphazard nature of its neighborhoods has been preserved, fostering a megacity, which boasts a ubiquitous sense of “mixed-use” on a level unfathomable in the United States.

in a national planning office in Beijing than studying plan-ning in the United States. I was shocked to discover at the Ministry of Infrastructure that new town developments on greenfield sites, which dominates planning in other Asian nations like China and Singapore, is touted as an acceptable method of combating American style sprawl that has emer-ged in the post-war years.

Travelling with the eyes of a planner is a strange expe-rience in any country. While Japan is a nation with tremen-dous tradition and sweeping landscapes what captured my attention was not its ancient temples or cherry blossoms but what can only be described as the ugly built environ-ment of its cities. A train ride from Narita Airport (itself a result of rational over participatory planning) begins with rice fields and pagodas but quickly gives way to parking lots, megamalls, and single-family homes. As the density increases towards the center of Tokyo, so does the bruta-lity and utilitarian nature of the neighborhoods that pass by. From my two trips investigating the urban landscapes of Japan in the last year I have come up with two rationales for this phenomenon.

Playing with kids at temporary housing, Minami-sanriku

Part I: Reflections on Minami-sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture and Rikuzen-takata, Iwate Prefecture, Japan

Our group emerged from the guest house into an overcast, gray day with temperatures in the mid-thirties. Our breath was visible in the frigid morning air. Unaccus-tomed to the cold, our group posed for one last photo before scrambling onto the warm bus. The night before, we had entered Minami-sanriku in complete darkness. The winding mountain roads and fog-filled forest with tall pines were not what I had expected to see in an area devastated by a tsunami.

We entered what was left of the downtown area of Minami-sanriku. Within minutes, the mood in the bus grew somber as we all gawked out the windows at the apocalyp-tic scene below. It seemed unfathomable that a bustling city full of homes, shops, cars, and people once existed in these empty fields adjacent to the sea. The skeletal foundations of some buildings were all that remained of this one-time downtown area.

Dead, overgrown golden-tinted grass decorates the twisted, broken concrete and steel shells of buildings mangled by the wall of muck and water. Two years after the tsunami struck the northern coast of Japan, clean-up continues daily. Incinerators run twenty-four hours a day along the three hundred miles of coastline affected by the tsunami. As we drove to the first meeting of the day in Rikuzen-takata, armies of cranes and dump trucks were still breaking up, separating, and transporting the rubble left from the disaster site to its final destination of fire.

We arrived at our meeting with the Vice Deputy Mayor of Rikuzen-takata at a city hall made of temporary mobile structures. Before disembarking the bus, we were told that the mayor went on with his civic duty even though his wife was one of those who went missing after the tsunami struck. His wife was never found and is presumed decea-sed. This was just one of many stories we heard about loss and devastation before that day was over.

By: Lila E. BurgosWhat Can the US Learn from

Japanese Institutional Planning?

The Vice Deputy Mayor presented a timeline of events, interventions and rescues that ha-ppened right after the tsunami. He discussed the difficult bureaucratic process that local governments face in rebuilding - how it can take longer than a year to obtain permission to rebuild because of all the paperwork. Without expli-citly stating it, because it would be uncustomary to do so, he hinted at a disconnection between the national and local governments in the reconstruction process. Several students asked him questions be-fore he had to run out to another meeting. It was at this point that a Caucasian woman who had quietly been seated alongside him arose to speak.Lila (left) and Lucía (right) at Nakamise Street, Asakusa, Tokyo

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She introduced herself as Amya; her booming voice and flawless American accent catching the room’s undivi-ded attention.

“I am going to tell you some things that you are not going to hear anywhere else - things that no one wants to hear.”

All the students stopped taking notes and observed this unusually frank speaker.

aware that the country is susceptible to tsunamis. Everyo-ne had a plan for earthquakes and small tsunamis, but no one had planned for the big one. The town was anticipating a small tsunami at worst and all the emergency prepa-redness plans utterly failed.” Amya reminded us that we humans can be overly optimistic and dismissive creatures – “we don’t like to think about death or destruction, much less prepare for the worst”. Amya was clearly exhausted.

Before leaving us, she talked about the malaise and des-peration that had become a daily reality for the survivors. Many of the people that lost everything - their homes, their possessions, their memories and their loved ones – had ultimately lost the will to live. How do you ask a man in his late eighties who has lost his spouse, his home, his dignity - everything - to get out of bed every day? Those who did flee the town are now stigmatized and seen as abandoning everyone else in their greatest time of need. There are no winners, just mere survivors - shells of who they used to be. Those who stayed wait for death.

The bus ride back to Minami-sanriku provided an opportunity to reflect on the sobering reality of Amya’s words. Back home, every time the emergency broadcast system interrupts the radio I switch the station. I know that Los Angeles is not only in an earthquake zone, but a tsunami zone, too. There are emergency preparedness tips everywhere but how many times have I put off paying attention for another day? Does the city of Los Angeles even have a strategic plan for earthquakes greater than an 8.0? For a 10 meter high tsunami? However, Amya repeate-dly said that even where there was a plan, it failed - no one was prepared for this type of event.

“It’s been two years after the tsuna-mi and interest has all but waned from the local media - Tokyo has moved on. If no one is even talking about Syria an-ymore, then this tsunami has been also been forgotten.”

She gave ominous warnings and etiquette tips to those coming from either the private or public sector. She told us that those looking for a return on their investments in a post-disaster or conflict zone need to get out. “There is no return on the investment here in Rikuzen-takata, the only thing the city will take is CSR (corporate social responsi-bility) donations because no one is getting anything back”, Amya admonished.

“All of the emergency plans failed in cities along the coast. Government offices and officials will always tell you that there is not enough funding or time to plan more for the big earthquake, tsunami, terrorist attack, or war. In the interim, the minimum will be done. The government on the local, prefecture, and national level in Japan is and was well

Devastation, Minami-sanriku

Disaster Prevention Buidling destroyed by the tsunami, Minami-sanriku “Miracle Pine”, Rikuzen-takata

Later that day, we drove through the curvy roads along Japan’s rocky, northern coast - the burnt orange painted pines reminding us that it was winter. Around midday the fog and clouds cleared enough to reveal the sun. We coasted along roads that had been rebuilt and watched occasional construction workers and school children walk by. A lone paraglider hovered over the calm, silver ocean. Gentle waves lapped up against the shore. Rows of oyster nets bobbed in the sea. At times my hypnotized gaze at the water was obstructed by mountains of debris. It sparkled like glitter as the sun reflected on the crushed glass, china, and other things people once cherished.

There are geological features that mark where the tsunami came in - no one needed to point them out. There were patches of barren trees and dried dead shrubs where the sea came in and turned the lush, green forest to dust. Once there were vibrant, bustling cities but a wall of sea and sludge obliterated people who were breathing two minutes prior. Along went their pets, photos, memories, and everything that makes a life what it is.

Part II: Comparative Institutional Planning Differences bet-ween the US and Japan

The United States and Japan share some similarities that could make future collaboration on planning issues for both countries worthy of serious consideration. The predominant difference between these governments’ plan-ning processes is Japan’s strong central government. Unlike the United States’ Department of Transportation, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism (MLIT) creates planning policy, regulates and enforces land use and plan-ning regulations across Japan’s 47 prefectures. This is the power most states, counties, and cities have in the US. The MLIT’s mission is to encourage responsible land use and mitigate improper land use. Within prefectures, municipa-lities set and regulate prefecture and local planning issues. Interestingly the creation of urban planning institutions in Japan occurred contemporaneously with the advent of planning frameworks in the United States. This is most likely due to industrialization resulting in simultaneous rapid urbanization for both countries.

One major similarity between the US and Japan’s plan-ning system is demarcation. An area demarcation system, known in the US as land use code or zoning, is a major component of Japan city planning, as well. The zoning code is very similar to the zoning code and land use framework

used in LA County. In the wake of the tsunami, there are a few land use and zoning issues that I think should be taken into consideration by disaster planning policy makers and LA city planners, alike. Similarly to the US, Japan uses a public planning process with community forums. Below is an exchange between the Luskin school group and the pri-mary city planner Mr. Etsuo Okuda of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism.

Q Multiple areas zoned for residential, mixed-use, commercial and industrial development

were completely destroyed after the tsunami and the-re has been speculation that they will not be redeve-loped due to the high risk associated with their loca-tion. What happens to a land’s zoning code and land use law after a disaster on the scale of the tsunami?

A This issue of existing land use and zoning designations is very contentious. Multiple areas have been surveyed

by the government as no longer being safe for their previous de-signated land uses. The current proposal is to develop the area into public space - for the exception of areas once designated for industrial uses. A big problem is that we (the central government) have also decided to rezone land in the tsunami inundation zone and prohibit agricultural development even in areas that had been zoned for agricultural uses before the tsunami. This decision has been based on the scientific evidence regarding the land’s natural ecology and natural tsunami protection i.e. tree growth. Right now all you see in these redesignated areas is open space but we do hope to develop a safe public space and use for all areas affected.

Lila playing with children residing at temporary housing, Minami-sanriku

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[ ]Does the Los Angeles go-vernment even have a stra-tegic plan for earthquakes greater than an 8.0? For a 10 meter high tsunami?

Luskin Urban Planning Students, Ministry of Infrastructure, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo

Luskin students with JT2012 gift flag at Sun-sun Kan guest house, Minami Sanriku

Part I: Personal Reflections on the Devastated Region

We arrived in Sendai via bullet train at dusk and boar-ded our tour bus to Minami-sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture. I had spent the morning at the 4 a.m. tuna auction in Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market and was exhausted. I slept as the sun set and the bus wound through the mountains to our guest house. When we arrived it was pitch black and we enjoyed a traditional dinner and lively taiko drum performance. The next day I saw the devastated area in the light for the first time. I was surprised by the difference between Tokyo and what I now saw. I had been in one of the densest cities in the world 12 hours before and was now in a mountains region, sparsely populated with small farms. As we traveled down the mountain to the tsunami-devastated coastline we began to see the ocean and miles and miles of brown fields next to the coast. There were a few buildings scattered in the fields, but the land looked undeveloped, like overgrown farmland. I didn’t realize until our group organizer, Keita-ro, explained over the loud speaker that this used to be a

Land Use Implications of 3/11

vibrant area filled with industry, schools, homes, and sho-pping districts. As his voice cracked with emotion the bus fell silent and the true devastation of the tsunami began to sink in. I looked closely at the coastal brown fields and saw the foundations of buildings and bits of household debris scattered in the dirt. It became clear that these towns had been literally swept away. That the rubble and the tangible devastation were no longer visible speaks to the organiza-tion and responsiveness of the Japanese government. The debris was neatly organized by type and piled by the side of the road for removal, but other than these piles the landscape was not that of a disaster zone.

Once I had become aware of the extent of the de-vastation I was much more sensitive in my observations for the remainder of the trip. Standing on a hill in the temporary housing of Minami-sanriku and looking out at the blank slate below that was once a vibrant downtown

By: Lucia Fischer

Luskin students with Taiko drummers, Sun-Sun-Kan, Minami-sanriku

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was particularly moving. That so many people have been living in a cramped emergency housing unit for two years perched above their old life, which is now in ruins, was unthinkable. We toured Ishinomaki in a thick fog. I stood next to a pole at least three times my height that I was told represented the height of the 3/11 tsunami wave. I looked around at the miles of overgrown fields. That an en-tire town had been swept away by a wave this height was truly incomprehensible. This residential and retail area had been completely swept away, but the sidewalks and roads remained. I walked on the intact sidewalks and looked into the remnants of people’s homes. I saw clothes, toys, and glassware mixed in with the mud. When we hiked an escape route to higher ground the townspeople took the day of the disaster all I could think about was those who did not make it.

This area will never be the same and it will take years’ worth of work to even partially rebuild. The morale of many victims remains low. However, there are bright spots that show their resilience and their hope that Tohoku can thrive again. We saw this resilience in many ways; one was a lunchtime stop in the temporary shopping district of Mi-nami-sanriku. This small collection of temporary buildings was their bustling town center. It was an actively used bus station, had a fish shop that was better stocked than any I had seen anywhere in the US, and had several busy restau-rants. These are signs of the recovering economy and they give me hope for Minami-sanriku’s future. Another example

of hopeful recovery was a group of friends we met in the guesthouse we stayed in near Minami-sanriku. This group of friends was spending their spring vacation in Tohoku to work at the local fishery and help rebuild that industry in the area. It was an excellent example of the collaborati-ve culture of Japan. Collaboration was referenced many times in not just how Tohoku was recovering but in how the victims survived the terrible days directly following the tsunami.

Ishinomaki before the tsunami, Ishinomaki Senshu University

Relaxing at Shitamichi-so traditional guest house, Minami-sanriku

Part II – Land Use & Zoning Issues and Implications for L.A.

Before we departed for Japan, several of the Luskin urban planning students looked at the similarities between the Tohoku region and Los Angeles - both the physical make-up and land-use policies. While Los Angeles is not as familiar with tsunamis as is Japan, we are equally suscep-tible to such a disaster, particularly the area surrounding the Santa Monica Bay. Similar to the Japanese coastline, this area is zoned for multiple types of uses, however, there is no building height requirement. There are multi-ple parts of the Los Angeles coast line that are zoned for single family homes with no height requirements. We saw from the 3/11 disaster that these types of homes cannot withstand a tsunami of that magnitude, even if there is a sea wall. While none of the buildings in the tsunami area are structurally sound anymore, those buildings that were taller than three stories were able to keep people safe if they fled to the top levels. Los Angles would be wise to create a height requirement for all buildings in a potential tsunami area. However, such a zoning requirement may not be realistic with today’s real estate development trends; it also does not protect citizens in the current built environ-ment. A more realistic solution may be to identify taller buildings for evacuation in tsunami areas. Current tsunami evacuation routes encourage people to evacuate the area, however, we learned there are about 30 minutes between the time an earthquake strikes and its subsequent tsunami hits. This is not enough time to flee in an already congested area, besides the fact that many people in Los Angeles do not have access to a vehicle. The cities of Santa Monica, Malibu, and Los Angeles need to work together to identify multistory buildings that could withstand a tsunami and designate them for tsunami evacuation. Each city should create smaller districts within it and ensure that each dis-trict has a tsunami evacuation building.

In Tohoku, there are still huge numbers of people living in emergency housing because the local and federal gover-nment cannot agree on where these towns should rebuild their homes and businesses. This indecision is stalling economic development and leaving these areas in limbo. The government is prohibiting people from rebuilding

homes in low-lying areas, so it should buy this land from the former residents so that they can have the capital to rebuild elsewhere. However, the government is unable to pay pre-tsunami rates for this land, leaving the residents with no land to rebuild on and no money to rebuild with. This is hurting both the morale of the population and the redevelopment of the area.

Los Angeles should consider how it would handle such land use questions in the event of a similar disaster. Tohoku has the benefit of undeveloped land at higher elevation, however, Los Angeles is already densely populated throug-

hout. If Santa Monica were destroyed, where would the victims go? Would the city of LA allow them to rebuild on their land, yet risk their being hit by another tsunami? While such questions cannot be answered without seeing the landscape of a hypothe-tical post-disaster LA, it is important to be aware of the re-zoning issues that accompany disasters.

Yet, while it is impor-tant to think about what type of land use and zoning regulations could be put into place now to mitigate potential tsunami destruc-tion, Los Angeles must also plan for necessitated res-ponse to potential destruc-tion. Japan is grappling with serious land use questions post-tsunami; if Los Angeles can answer some of these questions before a disaster, it will decrease the time it would take to rebuild.

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Mr. Okuda, Ms. Oi & Mr. Matsumoto (MPP 2012), Ministry of Infrastructure, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo

Luskin students under the Shinto Gate, Ishinomaki

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[section four]

socio-culturalobservations

My most memorable and touching experience in Japan was not the delicious food, mesmerizing landscapes, or lec-tures, but my interactions with Japanese individuals. When we were visiting a temporary housing unit in Minami-sanriku I met a woman who invited me into her home and shared her personal experience with the disaster. During my time with her, something inside of me shifted; I gained clarity on what I hope to do in my career as a social wor-ker.

This woman lived with her daughter in the temporary housing unit since the tsunami destroyed her house on March 11, 2011. I had approached her and fortunately, the translator followed me and facilitated our conversation. Af-ter a few minutes the woman invited us into the tiny space where she lived with her daughter. They served us coffee, mandarin oranges, bread, and green tea. This immediate and organic generosity overwhelmed me with gratitude – I was grateful for having met them and for being able to share this time with them. Both the woman and her daughter shared with us what they did during the day to stay busy; the daughter sowed cell phone trinkets and the mother sang songs to newborns that she had learned while living in the unit. All of these little activities were to help keep them from thinking too much about the devastation that they endured a little over two years ago.

Toward the end of our visit I gently asked how the two of them survived the earthquake. The daughter immedia-tely grabbed newspaper articles and photos, sat next to me, and eagerly told the story. Though she never explicitly stated how they reached safety, the daughter did tell us of how her husband swam to safety when the tsunami hit. Her brother, however, did not make it. His photo hangs on the wall of their tiny space. The older woman told us that she tries to walk outside every day to avoid seeing the picture. He passed away trying to save others.

It is one thing to see the aftermath, - pictures, presen-tations, or debris - but to hear a victim’s story is to share her pain. When both women were a bit teary-eyed, they gently suggested that our group might be missing us. We took our cue and went on our way. I was sure to let them know that I would carry the story of their strength and resilience back to the United States.

I am forever grateful to the translator for facilitating my connection with these two women. I had never been so overwhelmed by gratitude, sorrow, and joy at once. It has been hard to write about this event because of the mix of feelings I have when thinking about their strength, sorrow, and hardships. However, it did give me the courage to reflect on my own life and to trust my passion for public

By: Jennifer ZelayaA Public Health Perspective

Luskin students and the children residing at temporary housing, Minami-sanriku

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health social work. This experience gave me the courage to dream big and to not let my fears stand in the way; any barriers that I felt might exist are tiny in comparison to what these two women face every day.

Perspective from a health lens

As a social worker I was really surprised by the way mental health and trauma are addressed in Japan. Although we did not have the opportunity to visit any health, mental health, or social work agencies, I had the opportunity to chat with someone working at a pharmaceutical company.

He discussed with me the overwhelming national suici-de crisis. 30,000 Japanese die by suicide every year. Howe-ver, there is progress with some mental health issues, such as anxiety and depres-sion, though there is very little public awareness of how common these mental health illnesses are. He showed me graphs depicting the declining annual number of suicide deaths in response to increa-sed mental health therapy and medication provision. At the same time, there seems to be no mention of mental health issues in the media or among individuals. Mental health issues appear to be highly stigmatized. Conver-sations about mental health happen in a very roundabout way, much like other sensi-tive topics. Our tour guides told us the Japanese “do not say ‘no’ directly. We say ‘let me think about it’”. I am not surprised by this but am cu-rious about its efficacy. I am not implying that it would be less or more effective than the way Americans handle sensitive topics. In fact, given the different cultural norms, this may be the best way to handle discussions about mental health in Japan.

There are many moments in my life that I wish I spoke more than two languages or that I was more involved with other cultures - this was one of those times. It can be so easy to judge, but it is important to remember that no one country has all the answers; we must be humbly open to learning about cultures different from our own. I am all the more sensitive to this idea since the Japan trip. I thank all of the donors for giving me an experience that has undoubte-dly shaped how I will treat others as a public health social worker and as a human being.

Jennifer with Miki Onosaki, writer of “Warm Hands”, at Dogen-In Temple

I was born in Korea and lived in Korea until I was a high school student. I was interested in history and studied the period from 1919 to 1945, when Japan ruled Korea as a colony. Since then, I have had a great amount of difficulty reconciling myself to the Japanese. There are many un-resolved issues between Japan and Korea: forced sexual slavery and covert biological warfare research du-ring World War II, the discrimination that Korean-Japanese experience in Japan, and most recently the territorial dis-pute over Dokdo Island. My irritation and deep sadness is not just because of the general history between Japan and Korea, but because my grandmother - who was born and raised in the colonial period - did not know how to read and write Korean. She only knew how to read Japanese. I am angry that we were so powerless my people were not even allowed to speak Korean in public.

It was very hard for me to decide to go to Japan. I did not expect that this trip would be more than just a cultural experience or volunteering at the disaster site. This Japan Trip gave me the opportunity to consider many things as a future policy maker and a global citizen.

If I describe Korea to be “Passion,” I would describe Japan to be “Servant Leadership”. All Japanese I interacted with were earnest and sincere. Rather than emotionally bothered by their terrible experience in 2011, they seemed to follow implicit rules in their lives. The more I came to know them, the more I was amazed. They were so kind and willing to serve one another. Everyone was smiling and polite, from the people who worked at the subway stations to the people I met on the street in Shinjuku. We did not hesitate to ask for help when we were lost; though some did not speak English at all, the Japanese we encountered did their best to help us.

By: Jae LeeThe Challenge of Being Korean and Visiting Japan

[ ]If I describe Korea to be “Passion,” I would describe Japan to be “Servant Leaders-hip.” Wherever I went in Japan, I could tell that Japanese are earnest and sincere. Rather than emotionally bothered by their terrible experience in 2011, they seemed like they obey invisible rules in their lives.

Gabriela (left) and Jae (right) with children residing in temporary housing, Minami-sanriku

I wondered what it would be like to be from the devastated areas in the Miyagi prefecture. I learned it was not despair, they felt, but resilience. The people in every city we visited were not afraid to share their experiences of the tsunami or the earthquake. They truly hoped that we could learn something from their experiences.

I read somewhere that the Japanese are not supposed to share their feelings, especially sadness. So I thought they must not know how to express their emotions. However, I was wrong: I will never forget our trip organizer Kei’s tears for his people during the trip. He was not ashamed to show his tears in front of us because he cares for his people. He was sharing their sorrow and pain. I was dee-

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ply moved listening to others who volunteered after the tsunami. Some volunteering is still going on even after two years. On the day we volunteered at a temporary housing unit, I had a very special meeting with the children who lived there. I will never forget them, especially a girl who said “thank you” in English and a boy who stood and waved at us, watching as we left in our tour bus.

As the days went by, I had too many thoughts and doubts to sleep deeply. I was distressed by the relationship between Japan and Korea. But, Japanese servant leadership and kindness appealed to me. I was also astonished by the similarities between Japan and Korea: the narrow city streets, the small open market in the city, and the scenic views of the coast. More than anything, I was very surpri-sed by the people that I used to believe were so dissimilar to me. In the end, I opened my mind to the Japanese.

In 2012, I came back to UCLA to study Public Policy after graduating UCLA in 2005. I wanted to make the world the better place. My desire to be a public servant was so great, I quit my job to come to school. And yet, the world view I had was very divided – just as is Korea divided by North and South. I was very ashamed of myself after realizing my prejudice. Until now, I never had a Japa-nese friend. Kei is the first Japanese person I really opened my mind to. I truly appreciate all his dedication to this trip because I learned a very valuable lesson: I should not let history affect my attitude. It is not about Japan and Korea any more, it is bigger than that.

Now I know what I need the most - not a just skill set, but to have a right attitude and an open mind as a global citizen. Now I believe that I can be a better policy maker who can more adeptly approach complex problems in the world.

‘Thank you for your support from all over the world’ Minami-sanriku

At the time of this writing, I am absolutely sure that I am still on Tokyo time. The excitement I still feel from the trip is beyond words. “Wonderful”, “fantastic”, or “amazing” are just too little to describe what we have experienced during the last nine days. For me the trip was full of surprises, laughter, tears, and personal growth. As an Asian student who has studied in Japan for a year, I did not expect many surprises at all, but I was wrong. There are so many aspects of this unique country I had not seen before. Different from others who were amazed by the culture for the first time, I was impressed with a deeper understanding of this wonderful place.

In the Tohoku Area

What moved me most was our volunteering expe-rience at the temporary housing unit in the Tohoku area. We were a little nervous because we did not know how the kids were going to react. Will they be shy or unwilling to talk with us? However, the second we met them, all our worries were gone. They were energetic, optimistic and lovely. I suppose they were also happy to see us. The men in our group played with little boys on the playground, while the women worked together on a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle with the little girls. It was by no means an easy task, but we were finally able to put about one third together in an hour and a half. There was one very intelligent girl named Atsuki that was particularly good at working the puzzle. She also won the marshmallow-spaghetti tower building contest. When it was time for us to go the kids were unwilling to say goodbye to us. I cried as a 5-year old boy waved us “goodbye” until our bus disappeared from his sight. I hope our efforts brought at least a little warmth to their childhood memories.

In Tokyo

Ueno and Asakusa were definitely the most beautiful places we visited in Tokyo. We were really lucky to come during cherry blossom season. On our second day in Tokyo, we also went to Ueno Park to participate in “Hana-mi” or “cherry blossom viewing”. It was a festival! Ika and I were literally shocked by what we saw - a sea of flowers. Under the trees, families and friends sit together and have picnics while talking, bonding, and appreciating the cherry blossoms. It is a warm and wonderful Japanese tradition.

Challenges Faced by the Local Government

Even though I had spent a year studying in Japan, I had never worn a kimono, nor did I know about the gorgeous garden near the Asakusa shrine. It is really amazing that a bunch of foreign girls could choose their favorite kimonos and be dressed by authentic traditional kimono dressers at a little, hidden rental store. A real kimono has at least ten layers! It is very tight - I could not even breathe - but that is the trade-off for the gorgeous style. Everyone was looking at us seven stunning girls in kimono while we walked among the crowds in the Asakusa pathway. We felt like a group of superstars who were surrounded by fans: they took photos with us, made conversations with us, and paid us all kinds of complements. They were showing their appreciation for a group of foreigners who love Japanese culture.

By: Weiyi Zhang

Weiyi in a traditional kimono at Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo

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The Challenges the Local Government are Facing in Helping the Victims

After the 3/11 earthquake and tsunami there were tons of things for national and local government to reach out and help with. They managed to pull through immediately after the disaster but after two years challenges still remain for

lost their spouses, males were more likely to be emotiona-lly devastated and turn to alcohol, while females tended to more easily bounce back, engaging in knitting gropus and other social activities.

One possible solution for the government is organizing community programs – especially for the elderly – to faci-litate overcoming post-disaster depression. Though this is not a radical solution, community activities can greatly ease victims’ pain. Of course, however, more long-term and pro-gressive political measures are still needed to bring practi-cal aid, which would do the most for healing their pain.

local government in helping the victims. When we visited the temporary city hall of Rikuzen-takata officials there revealed several difficulties. Just for some background information, seventeen hundred lives were lost in the disaster in the Rikuzen-takata area and the recovery speed is far slower than expected. This is because of the compli-cated bureaucratic system. One project has to get at least three permits to start, which considerably slows the speed of recovery. That is the first challenge for local govern-ment. At the time of our visit, many of the citizens were still living in temporary houses, and the estimated date of completion of permanent housing was more than three additional years away. Some people would rather return to their previous homes, but total reconstruction will take even more time.

Another challenge is the unemployment problem. Riku-zen-takata was swept clean, leaving thousands unemployed. How can they find new suitable jobs? The temporary jobs they are doing mostly involve reconstruction or are part-time jobs at restaurants or convenience stores. These jobs are temporary, and most importantly not fulfilling at all, contributing to mental health problems.

The most difficult challenge, in my perspective, is how to help victims with the mental health problems, especially how to encourage resiliency from the disaster and prevent suicide. A great percentage of the living victims are advan-ced in age. They might have lost their closest family and friends, like their sons and daughters and their spouses. They have little hope left with which to move on with their lives. There is little love left in their tsunami-swept home-town. Among the victims, interestingly, females seemed to recover better emotionally than did males. Once they had

Luskin students in traditional kimonos with Head Priest of Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo

A young resident of temporary housing, Minami-sanriku

An elderly woman was making her way up the dri-veway, pushing her rollator, just as our tour bus dropped us off. After a day of driving through the tsunami devastated sites of Rikuzen-takata and Minami-sanriku, we visited the children living in one of the temporary housing sites where families wait patiently until their homes are rebuilt. Two years later, they are still waiting. Earlier, we were informed of some of the specific issues afflicting the community. Children do not know how to process their trauma and some have been acting out in school. The elderly struggle to get out of bed, having lost everything in the tsunami. I was disappointed that we were not planning to spend time with the elderly as part of our visit.

She found her way to us anyway. “My son was a fire-fighter,” she said sitting on the seat of her rollator outside of the community room where we were setting up games for the children. “He died on the job in the great Tsunami. Come inside and see his picture and have some tea.” How could we resist such an offer? Jennifer, I, and our translator let the others go off to play with the children and we made our way inside her prefabricated unit, a small space of what felt like less than 100 square meters. Her adult daughter, with whom she lives and shares the space, was surprised to see us. She had been working on crafts to sell for some side money. Later she gave us these pieces she was wor-king on as parting gifts.

We were ushered inside and sat on the floor. The elderly woman and her daughter humbled us with their generous offerings of coffee, tea, cake, and fruits. She told us of her days in “daycare” and how it keeps her busy. She sang us a Japanese folk song, something you would sing to a newborn. Her eyes gleamed when she suddenly remembe-red why she brought us in; she pointed up. Her young son’s headshot hung high on her wall, directly across from her seat, forever reminding her of her loss.

Even after all the presentations of facts, figures, and lectures by government officials, and even after driving through all the destruction, it was this moment in which I truly understood the gravity of the disaster.

We sat a bit longer, attempting to lighten the somber moment before we left. We gave our gracious hosts hugs and went to visit the children, wanting not to impose any longer than we already did. Of the many remarkable inte-

A Memorable Moment

By: Linda Khamoushian

[ ]My son was a firefighter. He died on the job in the great Tsunami. Come in-side and see his pictu-re and have some tea.

Jennifer talking with residents of temporary housing, Minami-sanriku

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[ ]

ractions we had with kind individuals along the way, mee-ting these women and the moment we shared together will forever stay in my heart. Throughout the tour of the devastated sites, one thing was clear: the resiliency of the Japanese people. Their attitude towards moving forward dutifully, with dignity, and working together to make that possible was truly inspiring and is a lesson for people around the world. It is a lesson to leave the past where it is and move as a community forward in the most troubling of times.

Japanese Culture: the Perspective of a Foreigner

The Japanese culture is rich with history and tradition. I was particularly struck by the strong sense community that helps them transcend obstacles together. Every mo-ment of the trip was an opportunity to observe, experien-ce, and delight in the intricate eccentricities of this Far East culture. My very first observation of the Japanese was the high degree of cleanliness and order exhibited in all aspects of public and private life. Despite millions of inhabitants, Tokyo rarely felt overwhelming; people kept their space and respected yours. The streets were spotless despite the fact that trash cans are hard to find. Each road looked as if though it was paved the day before, ans each building sits in orderly harmony next to the other.

It was with great fortune that the Japan Trip coincided with hanami, the cherry blossom, or sakura, viewing season. This is the most beautiful time to visit Japan. The delica-te flowers blooming across the city, in parks, along river banks, in front of temples and shrines, were all greeted with wonder and awe. On a Sunday morning we visited Ueno Park, Japan’s most popular park, drawing over ten million visitors a year. The street food vendors grilled deli-cious dishes, and people celebrated on tarps laid under the canopy of sakura. For many generations, the Japanese have celebrated and feasted together under the blossoms.

The Japanese exhibit a well-balanced relationship with not only the community, but with the natural and superna-tural forces. Social etiquette dictates a significant emphasis on respect for others. When receiving a meal, one says itadakimasu, meaning “I humbly receive,” giving thanks to the chain of effort that went into the preparation of that meal, from the farmer, to the cook, to the server. While the significance of this saying may go unnoticed - as it is a commonly used phrase - the meaning reveals the strong regard the Japanese have for the collaboration of all the forces around them. To respect the farmer that harvests the food - even without knowing who that person is - is a clear example of the Japanese understanding of how we are connected in every way. In the United States, we only

Linda at the gardens of the Imperial Palace, Chiyoda, Tokyo

just now understand this concept with the local foods mo-vement and the proliferation of farmer’s markets.

Another Japanese tradition displayed not only in the countryside but also in the busy streets of Tokyo is the harmony among the two dominant religions - Shinto and Buddhism. In Tokyo, in between the buildings, tucked away within alleys, you are never too far from a large red Torii gate leading to a small shrine. People casually stop by to pray over the course of their days. Common displays of devotion were intriguing in a country that exhibits such a great degree of technological advancement. The highly pre-valent Buddhist practice of “letting it go, letting it flow like water” has facilitated Japan’s moving forward after great tragedies and rebuilding.

As a foreigner, visiting Japan for the first time was a special experience. The most striking observation was this interplay between the modern and the traditional. In just 10 days, we saw so much of this impressive culture, from the ubiquitous warmth of its people, to the great food, to the land’s natural beauty. I plan to incorporate into my life the values I learned and I hope to visit again soon.

Jennifer with Miki Onosaki, writer of “Warm Hands”, at Dogen-In Temple

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Praying man, Tokyo

Shinto Gate, Yanagibashi, Tokyo

Blooming in early March in the southern portion of the country, and working their way north through the coast-lines, “Sakura” – or cherry blossom trees - have been a highly visible part of Japan’s culture for centuries. They can be found outside schools, temples, parks, in clothing, and in artwork. Other countries use the Sakura as a symbol for Japan. Because of the flower’s short blooming period and the fragility of its blossoms, it is an allegory for the transience of life. This concept is related to the roots of Buddhism and the phrase “mono no aware “which means “to have empathy toward things”. It asks that one consider that nothing in life is permanent - that change is the only constant. Because of the transiency of things, we must appreciate the beauty in everything, yet not attach oursel-ves to it and get stuck in the past. We must be resilient, and we must grieve, but we must continue the journey, pro-gressing as a community to ameliorate our circumstances.

I like to think the cherry blossom represents a new life, a rebirth, and the renewal of towns such as Higashi-matsushima: new and improved towns that are not only disaster resilient but also self-sufficient in food and ener-gy use; towns where people live without fear of disaster, improving living environments with reconstructed homes and forming walk-able communities; towns where plans are in place for the redevelopment of damaged educational fa-cilities and the development of medical and welfare institu-tions; towns in which industries are developed and jobs are created. Connected through transportation and communi-cation infrastructure, these towns would be linked similarly to how a branch holds multiple cherry blossoms. While self-sufficient, these blossoming towns are stronger when supporting one another, coming together to bring forth a new Tohoku, a cherry blossom tree in its own right.

When the trees are fully blossomed, it is tradition come together to enjoy the beauty of the flowers in what is known as “Hanami”. During “Hanami”, meaning, “wat-ching of the flowers”, family and friends organize picnics under the blooming trees. Through the reconstruction phase of the tsunami-devastated areas, the people of Japan continue their Hanami traditions, especially of providing for one another; families have taken in orphan children, the elderly have not been forgotten, and the rest of the people of Japan continue to provide volunteer manpower.

Because Japan geographically lies within the Ring of Fire, it is prone to having numerous natural disasters. Not only is it home to over 10 percent of the world’s active volcanoes, over 1,500 earthquakes are recorded yearly, ex-posing the Japanese coastline to tsunamis. While the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami was the most powerful to hit Japan, shifting the Earth on its axis by 10cm, the people of Japan still practice “mono no aware”. The people have grieved and are now rebuilding. Tohoku is blossoming again.

Our group was quite lucky to have visited Japan during Hanami season. On our first day in Japan we visited one of the most famous parks in Tokyo, Ueno Park. Dense with people walking around practicing Hanami, groups were also found feasting under Sakura. The Sakura can actually be found throughout Tokyo. Its familiarity brings a sense of tranquility when overwhelmed with the dense urban landscape of Tokyo.

Japan asBy: Dennis MaravillaSakura

Dennis (Left) with young Japanese government official, US Embassy housing complex, Roppongi, Tokyo

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While in Tokyo we visited the Ministry of Environment; the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; and the Ministry of Reconstruction, an agency built spe-cifically for 3/11/11 disaster recovery and reconstruction. Interacting with the government officials gave us the op-portunity to better understand the reconstruction efforts at the national level and the support provided to the local governments.

While my time in Japan was brief, the impact that the regions of Tokyo and Tohoku left on me will last forever. This trip provided us all the opportunity to strengthen our communal bond, similar to that of the Sakura. Urban Planners, Public Policy and Social Welfare students are the cherry blossoms that beautify the tree of the Luskin School of Public Affairs.

A support system of roots provides the foundation to bear up the tree springing forth with beautiful flowers. Without the generous support of colleagues, Luskin staff and UCLA alumni, this trip would not have been possible. I would like to thank Dr. Franklin Gilliam, Dr. Michael Stoll, Dr. Todd Franke, Dr. Paul Terasaki and the Terasaki Foun-dation for their kind financial support. I would also like to thank the individuals that organized this trip last year and Keitaro Tsuji, the trunk of our tree, who brought us all together in organizing this trip.

Thank you. Arigato gozaimasu.

Sakura (cherry blossom) at Ueno Park, Tokyo

As a social-worker-in-training, and because of the gifts (or idiosyncrasies) of my personality that drew me to this field, my first thought in preparing for the Japan Trip was “how can I help?” However, with much consulting and soul searching during the preparation process I came to understand the hubris of this sentiment and spent more time reflecting on my own Western lens. I attempted (as best one can) to identify my biases and prepare to simply observe and learn the Japanese perspective on trauma and reconstruction, both emotionally and temporally.

While in Japan I was struck by our two cultures’ differences in almost every imaginable way. I, of course, was most struck by the differences in my favorite topic, the management of mental well-being. In general, where Americans value independence, Japanese work toward the “greater good”. This key difference helped me understand how the Tohoku disaster victims prevailed in the face of

A New Understanding of “Community Mental Health”: Challenges to the Western Lens

extreme trauma and deprivation. The victims not only worked together to rebuild their homes, but were aided by hosts of domestic and foreign volunteers. I marveled at seeing how the physical act of their labor – sorting through the debris and eventually actually participating in recons-truction – was a visceral processing of their emotional trauma. Additionally, in recounting to each other during their labor their shared experiences of loss, they healed through mutual understanding. Any good therapist knows that all you truly need to heal is a meaningful connection to someone else who can walk with you through your hardship and help you carry the burden.

The word the Japanese use to describe this pheno-menon is kizuna. This word is represented by two kanji logograms (Chinese characters used to articulate foreign words), each representing “bound/intertwined” and “toge-ther”, respectively. Compounded they express the en-

By: Elizabeth Schaper

Building spaghetti marshmallow towers with children residing in temporary housing, Minami-sanriku

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couraging sentiment that “we are all in this together”. This idea is what I consider the most valuable lesson I brought to the United States from Japan, both as a social worker and as an individual; independence frequently leads to isola-tion. Many of our issues with well-being can be addressed with better connection to a supportive community of em-pathic individuals, a deficit we can all (especially Angelenos) easily recognize in our lives.

read any of the three Japanese alphabets and up until about two years ago I was terrified to eat a meal alone in a res-taurant. But there I was, expertly maneuvering labyrinthine subway terminals, ordering for myself in restaurants, and even obliging others in snapping photos of them and their friends. As my own confidence burgeoned, I compulsively performed an internal scan of what was happening to me, as we social workers are trained to do. Yes, I was getting along well in a foreign land, but was it really just me? No – a great deal of it was the kindness of strangers.

In no other place have I experienced such ready help from others. I even noticed, as I glanced furtively back and forth between a subway poster and my iPhone’s map function that a woman standing nearby didn’t jump in to help me until my gaze flashed momentarily in her direction. It was as if she didn’t want to embarrass me by not giving me the chance to figure it out on my own. On more than one occasion, I was walked to my destination personally. And on one very special occasion, my benefactor took a side trip down a short street to show me one of the best cherry-blossom (“sakura”) displays I’d seen my entire time in Japan.

Not only is Japan one of the safest countries in which to travel, I found it incredibly hospitable to English-speakers, in general. Most places had English (eigo) signs posted and most public transportation had over-head announcements in English. English also happens to be the mandatory foreign language for Japanese middle- and high-schoolers. I was honored by this special attention, but also ashamed that in my home country this kind of hospitality to foreigners is rarely afforded. But, I digress.

Ultimately what I learned on my “oh-so” independent adventure, is that I got by with a little (or a lot) of help from my friends (or rather, strangers). An entire commu-nity was ready to assist me – all I had to do was be brave enough to admit I didn’t know what I was doing, and tap into the warmth of a society that cherishes being helpful and working together.

Now, to switch gears a bit, I want to acknowledge that sometimes kizuna is not enough. Sometimes professio-nal intervention is necessary to work through the deep psychological wounds of trauma and loss. When probed about the availability of, access to and utilization of spe-cialized mental health services for the Tohoku disaster victims, across the board the answers were admittedly

I arrived in Tokyo two and a half days ahead of the majority of the Luskin group. I navigated a bust-ling international city with only my iPhone and my wits. I marveled at my ability to get by, especially given that I don’t

Temporary housing, Minami-sanriku

Lisa (left) and Elizabeth (right) admiring cherry blossom

dismal. When I asked if sending American social workers and other mental health professionals would be helpful, the answer was a surprisingly straight-forward “no”. A deep understanding of the nuance of Japanese language and culture would be vital to working with those dealing with highly stigmatized mental health issues. I have to admit, I was not surprised to learn that most people experiencing these types of issues do not seek help, as Japanese society as a whole views those with such difficulties as deficient – that their problems are due to some personal weakness.

And the stakes are worse for those so impaired by their illness they require psychotropic medication or in-patient hospital stays for stabilization. In Japan, caregivers can place their charges in psychiatric hospitals against

Ruins, Higashi-matsushima

their will – something even the United States (in which we arguably have a similarly stigmatized view of mental illness) banned over fifty years ago. The average in-patient psychia-tric hospitalization in Japan is twelve months, while hospi-talizations in the U.S. are limited to three days, after which a legal hearing (with the patient present and participating) is required. In a culture built upon an enduring sense of community, where often three generations of family live under the same roof, and where putting on a brave face despite hardship is the prescription for trauma, imagine how “othering” and isolating mental illness can be in Japan. Though a few organizations are working to raise awareness about the impropriety of stigma against mental illness, it is recommended that more efforts go into creating culturally sensitive mental health interventions and that more trai-ning be available for Japanese mental health workers who will already understand the nuance of the language and culture, to facilitate the utilization of appropriate professio-nal mental health care.

At the end of this experience, I have a deeper unders-tanding of the strengths and weakness of our two very di-fferent cultures’ approaches to mental well-being and how an amalgam of the two could be the answer to the quest of effective and efficacious mental healthcare. My personal hope is to return to Tohoku within five years and see the progress. In the meantime I plan to encourage more “kizu-na” in my own spheres of influence.

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Its Saturday, March 23, 2013, about 1:00pm, I suddenly find myself on a Boeing 777 headed to Tokyo. My head is spinning, am I really going to Japan, and is this really happe-ning? What should I expect, how will it be, and what will I see? I am very excited and in much disbelief. I love Japan. I have never been, but I know I already love it. The American perception of Japan and its people is very positive. I come to Japan with positive images of its people and places. Arriving at Narita airport, our good hearted classmate, Izhar, patiently waits for us. He made the long train ride to escort us, his classmates, to the hotel. He is a kind man. On the train, looking at all the Japanese advertisements and people, I am intrigued by everything. It is all so foreign, new, and exciting. I cannot wait for the adventures that lie ahead.

The next morning at breakfast, I was told of how beautiful the cherry blossoms were. A few of us walked to a park alongside a river where we were mesmerized by the gorgeous cherry blossom trees in full bloom. It was breathtaking. There is so much natural beauty even in this densely constructed city. Later that day, we met with the Vice Minister of the Environment. He explained that his two biggest concerns after the disaster were decontami-

nation near Fukushima and preventing contamination in the future. In regards to the tsunami devastated area, the main issue was clearing the debris. He stated that the local governments have control over their own decisions in that regard.

At our meeting with the Ministry of Infrastructure we were presented data on volunteer activity in Tohoku immediately after the tsunami. We were told that visiting the tsunami devastated area in itself helps the people of Tohoku. They shared their strategies for avoiding similar disaster in the future such as building a high sea wall and moving homes to higher ground and presented their ideas for how to proceed with land left uninhabitable after the disaster. There is a bit of a public debate over what to do with the uninhabitable land, but the decisions are left to local government. The ministry asserted that there is a “one stop shop” plan for all the ministries to approve local municipalities’ action more expeditiously.

The Reconstruction agency reiterated what the Minis-try of Infrastructure had told. All three ministries asserted streamlined approval processes and local municipality control as their action plans. The lasting impression of the day was that the central government was indeed taking responsible action to help Tohoku recover swiftly; it was a unique privilege to meet with such high level officials.

By: Lisa MerinA Week in Japan

Lisa at reconstruction site, Higashi-matsushima

Luskin students in kimono

The next day, we went to Asakusa, a “traditional style” town, to see its temples and appreciate its quaint beauty. I loved Asakusa. It was definitely my favorite stop on our trip. The gardens and pond were breathtaking. It is a vibrant town filled with tradition and eclectic beauty. Here, a few of us dressed up in traditional kimonos. We actually walked all around Asakusa in the rather tight attire. The ladies who helped dress us were so kind and warm – they were very eager to help us. It was an experience I will always trea-sure. Later that night we jumped on the bullet train and headed for Sendai.

Upon arrival we were greeted by the #1 tour bus driver of Sendai and the #1 tour guide in the world. Really, Mari-san, our tour guide, was just incredible. She patiently guided us emotionally and spiritually on our journey through the devastated area. That night we stayed in a traditional style guest house. It was about 6 or 7 people to a room, and we slept on tatami mats on the floor. It was comforting to have so many of us in one room. It was all part of the trip’s special bonding experience. Before we went to sleep we had a delicious meal prepared by the guest house staff and were treated to a very special tradi-tional drum performance.

The next day, we headed to Rikuzen-takata, to meet with city officials. To be honest, I was not prepared for what I would see, hear, or feel. You see the horrific images on TV or pictures on media outlets, but it does not compa-re to experiencing it first-hand. The meeting started with a detailed recounting of the events of March 11, 2011. There is a lot of pain here in Rikuzen-takata. There is so much that still needs to be done to help people rebuild their lives. The townspeople lost everything.

After the Mayor spoke, the Global Public Relations Di-rector, Amya, who is a dual American and Japanese citizen, spoke to us in the most transparent manner. Her job is to keep the government and public interested in the recovery efforts for one of the worst tsunami disasters in history. The bottom line she said is that they do not want to be forgotten by the central government or by the public, in general. She spoke about all the struggles the city has in getting help from central government. She spoke to us about the struggles people are facing from post-traumatic stress, to alcoholism, to suicide. From isolated men and elderly, to children not knowing how to emotionally handle the disaster, Amya bluntly stated that Rikuzen-takata is not ok. They have a long way to go, but our presence and in-

Luskin students with Mr. Minamikawa, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo

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terest in their recovery was a big deal for them. Even with her show of appreciation, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of helplessness and deep sorrow for them. It was difficult for me to be there. But I then thought about the work she is doing and how that town is fighting for its people, for its survival, and I felt a sense of true appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit.

We then visited the cities of Ishinomaki and Higashi-matsushima. The true disparities of the reconstruction efforts were made crystal clear upon simple visual com-parison of the two cities. Ishinomaki was sadly still much in ruins, as if the tsunami had happened a few weeks ago. Higashi-matsushima was obviously better cared for and appeared to be moving forward in the process of moving homes to higher ground. There was not much debris left in this city. When asking the city director how the central government was cooperating with his city, he was the only one who gave a somewhat positive response, stating,

“Government is government, but things are moving faster than before”.

Nonetheless, there was one similarity among all the meetings we had with local government. Each official recounted the day of the devastating tsunami, sharing with us what happened and where they were when it happened. Some of them swam for their lives and some of them lost loved ones. They gave us the sobering statistics and pre-sented pictures, trying to get us to understand. The officials showed a deep compassion for their people, yet compas-sion was exemplified in what the victims did for each other. The truly good hearted President of Ishinomaki Senshu University and the amazing people of Do-gen-in Temple showed us the value of community. Both opened up their organizations and hearts to house and comfort the many displaced people after the disaster.

And so, I am left with this lasting impression of the people of Japan: despite problems within local and central government - which essentially exist in all countries - the kindness of others during the most difficult of times is what helps people survive and recover. The strength of the human spirit is powerful in the face of disaster; we must cherish life and each other. I thank the people of Tohoku for sharing their hearts and warmth with me - they will not be forgotten – and I thank Dr. Terasaki and Keitaro for making this trip possible.Thousands of Origami cranes to pray for reconstruction at Do-Gen-In Temple,

Ishinomaki

Shibuya Crossing - the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, Tokyo

Playing with children residing at temporary housing, Minami-sanriku

Ika (Left) in a traditional kimono with Keitaro, Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo

Major Challenges in Helping the Victims of the Disaster

In March 2011, a devastating 9.0 earthquake shook the northeastern part of Japan and triggered a tsunami that devasted several coastal-area towns in Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures. Around 20,000 people lost their lives and more than 300,000 people lost their homes.

By: Ika Anindya Putri

The Beauty and Resilience

Japanese central and local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and volunteers from all around the world have responded to the disaster, attempted to rebuild the devastated areas and take care of the victims. However, there are several challenges in helping the victims and re-constructing the devastated areas. Based on our obser-vations during the Japan Trip, we can conclude that poor mental health, lack of jobs, and government bureaucracy are the major challenges to full recovery.

First, despite the great resilience of the Japane-se people, victims’ mental health has remained largely unaddressed. Many people feel helpless and depressed after losing their loved ones, homes - everything. Accor-ding to Amya Miller (Global Public Relations Director for the City of Rikuzen-takata), the elderly are the most vulnerable to depression. However, elder women are coping better than elder men because of their reaching out to spend time together and sharing their feelings. Addi-

March 2013 77

land acquisitions for relocating the destroyed residential areas. On average, it was taking 13 months simply to file the necessary reconstruction paper work and to coordi-nate approvals among the Reconstruction Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism. There are also challenges in coordination between central and local governments.

Nevertheless, rebuilding residential areas is the most important step in helping the tsunami victims recover, so despite these challenges, sustained efforts to help the vic-tims must continue. The national government needs to to simplify the bureaucratic process to accelerate reconstruc-tion progress in the devastated areas. It must also enhance economic recovery, helping victims find proper jobs and rebuild their lives. Efforts from the government, NGOs, and volunteers to help victims’ mental health - such as therapy, consultation, and simply a personal approach - are also im-portant in building the victims’ spirit to continue their lives.

tionally, women appear to be better equipped to take care of themselves if they have lost their husbands. Men who lose their wives face difficulties in taking care of themsel-ves because they are not used to cooking or looking after household matters.

Second, given the devastation of local business, there is little appropriate work for the victims. Though there is some opportunity, many available jobs do not meet vic-tims’ financial needs or do not make full use of their skills, leaving victims feeling unfulfilled. Further, limited earning potential adds to the difficulty of rebuilding their lives.

Finally, government bureaucracy is the major factor delaying reconstruction. As of January 2013, the govern-ment had secured the land for only 7,779 houses out of the 20,952 needed. In other words, the progress of public housing development is only at 37%. According to the Amya Miller, the central government was really slow with

Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo

Personal Impressions about Japan

Strong, advanced, beautiful – these are the major impressions I have of Japan after the Luskin Trip. Of course I also had these impressions even before coming to Ja-pan. However, the experience I had in Japan exceeded my expectations.

Japan has experienced several devastating events over the last century, including natural disasters and war. Ear-thquakes causing significant damage have occurred several times in just recent decades. Atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the World War II not only caused severe casualties in those cities, but impacted all of Japan. Given those terrible experiences, it is amazing how Japan not only recovered but has become one of the most deve-loped countries in the world. I believe it is because of the strength and resilience of the Japanese people – the value to always stand and rise after a fall.

During the Japan Trip, I witnessed the result of a devas-tating event; the adverse damage caused by the great ear-thquake and tsunami of March 2011. There was an empty feeling when I came to the Tohoku area – viewing flat and empty areas, I imagined how people used to live there and considered those who must have lost loved ones. I perso-nally felt empty because I felt I could do nothing to help these people. Visiting Tohoku reminded me of the great earthquake and tsunami in my country, Indonesia, in 2004. It swept more than 200,000 lives away. I was not able visit Aceh - the devastated area - at that time, but visiting Tohoku gave me some insight into what it must have been like and made me realize that I need to do something more for the survivors.

We visited a temporary housing unit to meet and play with the children living there. It was a simple thing to do, but very meaningful. I was relieved that there was at least one small thing I could do for them beside by observing and trying to understood how victims are able to continue their lives in the aftermath of the disaster. I truly believe that they can recover and create a brilliant future because their strength.

In visiting Tokyo, I was amazed by the advanced bu-

llet train and subway system. Like the Japanese as a hole, the public transit system is organized and punctual. In my opinion, it is these attributes that greatly facilitate Japan’s advanced development, in general. It is even more impres-sive to consider this advancement given Japan’s history of devastation.

Ultimately, though there are so many beautiful aspects

of Japan – from the advanced built environment to the natural beauty of the blooming cherry trees - I was parti-

cularly impressed by the Japanese people’s respect for and hospitality toward others. They were all very gentle, helpful, and caring. It was simply so beautiful to see how the Japa-nese treated each other and us.

March 2013 79

Tsunami remnants with guardian deity and offering of flowers, Ishinomaki

March 2013 81

[section five]

conclusion

As the only Japanese student on the trip, and the trip organizer, I am writing this paper from a unique perspective.

First of all, I am now even more proud of my country than I was before the trip. To be honest, I did not expect the other participants to like Japan as much as they did. Both during and after the trip they praised everything about Japan: the food, the hospitality, the cherry blossoms, the infrastructure, and the culture. I heard so many diffe-rent areas named as favorites among the group – some even saying that they wanted to return and live in Japan.

Even before the trip, I was more fond of Japan than other Japanese people I knew. That is one of the reasons I chose a government career. However, at the same time, I was not especially proud of our culture. For example, I did not think Japanese had particularly good hospitality, especially toward foreigners. However, what I, as a member of foreigners’ group, experienced and heard from other participants was totally different.

On the very first day of the trip we held a welcome party at an izakaya, or Japanese style bar or restaurant. While I was enjoying myself, I noticed that some of the trip participants and a group of Japanese strangers sitting next to them started talking to each other. They were loud and making toasts with each other. By the end of the night they were putting their arms around each other’s shoulders, taking pictures and uploading them to Facebook. Though the Japanese strangers’ English was not good - nor did the trip participants speak Japanese - they all became friends very easily. I did not expect this kind of thing to happen in my country at all.

This is just one example of the experiences I had that were beyond my expectations. Through these experiences I realized that Japanese culture has many more positive attributes than I originally thought. I was impressed by this awakening. What is most important is that we pass on our culture and tradition; one generation must take over from the previous generation. As a member of my generation, I have the responsibility to preserve - even improve - and pass on our culture to future generations. I realized that organizing this trip provided me the opportunity to do this.

I was actually most touched by the kindness and passion of the trip participants during our visit to Tohoku. When they viewed the tsunami-devastated area, thoughts occurred to them independently about what they could personally do for the victims. After every day of our tour in the tsunami hit area we got together, drank, and made a racket. All of us felt it was the only way to deal with our

Personal Reflection as a Japanese

and Trip Organizer By: Keitaro Tsuji

Keitaro (Left) with Susumu Matsumoto, 2012 Luskin Alumnus, US Embassy housing complex, Roppongi, Tokyo

Keitaro’s birthday gift with messages from all Luskin JT2013 participants, Sendai

March 2013 83

sorrow and feelings of impotence. I am so glad to know that such compassionate people will be future policy pro-fessionals. I strongly hope that all of the trip participants will keep such kindness and passion in their hearts.

Finally, the most important thing that I realized organi-zing this trip was that I am supported by almost uncounta-ble friends and colleagues. Without the generous financial support of Dr. Paul Terasaki, Franklin D. Gilliam, Dr. Michael A. Stoll, and Dr. Todd Franke, we would have had far fewer participants and the trip would not have been what it was. I am forever indebted to them.

Also, quite a few others contributed the trip in diverse ways: the three Japanese Luskin students who started this Japan Trip last year – Masashi Sato, Masaaki Kishi, and No-buko Goto - the government officials and other speakers we met on our visit, the organizers of our cultural immer-sion tours, and numerous other cooperators. Almost all volunteered their help without any compensation.

I deeply appreciate everyone who was involved. Without such support, I could not have organized this trip. I will never forget this support and have done my best to meet their expectations.

Spending time with children residing in temporary housing, Minami-sanriku

Luskin students in kimonos at Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo

Thank you.

March 2013 85Arigato gozaimasu.

Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki

[notes]

March 2013 87

Telling our story.

UCLA Luskin Japan Trip 2013UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

March 11, 2014