SENDAI--In the aftermath of the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, many people snapped photos of their makeshift meals, as food became a precious and sought-after commodity.
SENDAI--In the aftermath of the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, many people snapped photos of their makeshift meals, as food became a precious and sought-after commodity.
Thinking that these images are a valuable resource for emergency situations, nonprofit organization 20 Seiki Archive Sendai (20th Century Archive Sendai) called for the photos that Sendai residents still retained in their mobile phones or other devices.
An upcoming exhibition will spotlight these images about food and other related scenes.
The event, “March 12: Hajimari no Gohan” (March 12: Meals that mark a new start), will be held from Oct. 1 to Nov. 16 at the Sendai Mediatheque cultural center in the city's Aoba Ward.
Among the collection of photos are shots of a soup line organized by a neighborhood association; “nabe” (hot pot) dishes eaten by candlelight; and empty shelves at a convenience store.
“If you see the photos, you can recall the feelings and experiences you had at the time of the disaster and can talk about them. That will help you to not forget about the disaster,” said Masami Sato, 50, vice director of the NPO.
Immediately after the earthquake and tsunami, people posted various messages along with their photos on Twitter. The photographs were passed along and spread on the popular social networking site.
Among the many images, those on food were chosen for the exhibition as procuring a meal was one of the most pressing issues for most citizens following the disaster.
The 20 Seiki Archive Sendai will hold the event along with the Center for Remembering 3.11, an organization set up by the Sendai Mediatheque. As part of the exhibition, a discussion on the feelings people had at the time of the disaster will be held on Nov. 15.