A charity concert to support survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake was held on March 29 in Phon, a rural community with a population of 12,000 in northeastern Thailand, some 400 kilometers from Bangkok. The primarily farming region lags behind urban areas in terms of economic development. A banner with the words "Hand in hand, heart to heart, from Thailand to Japan" was displayed in front of the city hall.
A charity concert to support survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake was held on March 29 in Phon, a rural community with a population of 12,000 in northeastern Thailand, some 400 kilometers from Bangkok. The primarily farming region lags behind urban areas in terms of economic development. A banner with the words "Hand in hand, heart to heart, from Thailand to Japan" was displayed in front of the city hall.
"We have received much support from farmers in the Tohoku region. Now, this is our turn to repay their kindness," said Mayor Suwat Angsanunt.
Bags of rice and blankets donated by residents were piled up at the venue. The organizers sold out 1,000 T-shirts priced at 180 baht (about 500 yen) each. The concert featuring the popular Thai folk-rock band Caravan, which advocates social awareness, and other artists, drew a crowd of 500, who sang together late into the night, showing sympathy for the victims and survivors of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Caravan's lead vocalist, Surachai Jantimathawn, said, "Wherever we are, our thoughts are with you. I know we can get across our thoughts to you."
Benefit events to support quake-stricken Japan are being held across the world. Networks of support are also spreading to include poorer countries that were at the receiving end of aid from Japan as well as citizens who are struggling to make ends meet.
Nao Heta, 31, and Akiko Cayne, 39, both Japanese mothers of 1-year-olds who live in Bangkok, called on more than 10 fellow moms and started a drive to collect money for the stricken area two days after the earthquake. Looking back on the five days they stood on street corners to collect money, they said they were moved by the kindness of citizens and overwhelmed with gratitude.
The donors included a student who handed cash in an envelope with the word "ganbare," an elderly woman who hugged them after giving money and a tearful street vendor who donated 500 baht.
A seller of lactic acid beverages told them, "Please wait until I finish work because I have no money now," and came back clutching a 100-baht note in the evening.
"I never thought there were so many Thai people who care about Japan and the Japanese," Cayne said. "Thanks to their kindness, I was motivated to stand on street corners again the next day."
Many people all over the world are sympathizing with the Japanese and praying that Japan get back on its feet as soon as possible. In addition, they are doing whatever they can in their capacity to help. Every time I come across their kindness, readiness to take action and consideration to others, I am deeply moved.
At the same time, I cannot dispel a sense of discomfort when I think about my helplessness partly because I am not in Japan. I also find myself asking whether many Japanese, including myself, have lost compassion, consideration and goodwill toward others. How did we Japanese react to disasters that hit Pakistan, Indonesia and Haiti? How will we behave when the next catastrophic disaster take place?
Looking at Japan from a corner of Asia, I cannot help but have the impression that Japan is getting increasingly introverted as it struggles to get out of a lingering recession and society is filled with a sense of stagnation. It appears Japan's interest toward the outside world is waning.
For example, Japan's official development assistance keeps declining. While it is important to discuss its effectiveness, I get a glimpse of skepticism about offering money to foreign countries when Japan itself is hard up.
Recently, we also frequently hear the statement "Asia is the cornerstone of Japan's growth strategy." Actually, however, many Japanese politicians and business leaders who visit Southeast Asia have few opportunities to speak to local media organizations. If they give news conferences, they often expose their lack of interest and knowledge about Asia.
What I see in them is their inward-looking attitude that only focuses on themselves and those around them and their inability to care for others. I am afraid that a sharply decreasing number of Japanese people have the mindset and sensitivity for living in harmony with others and feeling compassion toward others as well as the ability to imagine how others suffer.
Goodwill from around the world is shedding a ray of light on stricken areas where people are seized with grief and despair. It is also shedding light on us.
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Takeshi Fujitani is chief of The Asahi Shimbun's Asian General Bureau in Bangkok.