And How We Can All Pitch In To Help Out

The earthquake in Japan and the devastating tsunami that followed shook the world and has left the north-eastern region of that country reeling. The death toll rises daily and the ongoing threat of radiation means the people of Japan are in all our thoughts.

Whilst the humanitarian disaster is the primary concern, there’s no denying that Japan is also home to many of the games industry’s largest and best known companies. In the wake of the tsunami and the ongoing problems at the Fukushima nuclear plant, Japan has been conserving all resources, including water and power, which saw businesses close their offices.

Hideo Kojima announced on twitter that he was "leaving work for power saving reasons." Konami and Square Enix shut down the servers for Metal Gear Online and Final Fantasy XI/XIV, respectively, to conserve power.

Then came the inevitable game delays. Disaster Report 4 was a disaster adventure game, based in a fictional Japanese city, following a major earthquake. The game’s release was cancelled for obvious reasons. Similarly, Tokyo based Sony made the sensitive decision to delay the imminent release of Motorcross Apocalypse in Japan and the UK. Sega followed suit by announcing the delayed launch of Yakuza Of the End, stating only ‘various circumstances.’ However, a quick look at screenshots reveals demolished Japanese city streets and all becomes clear.

More delays are sure to follow, as operations struggle to get up to speed and games that seemed like harmless fun a few weeks ago, now touch a raw nerve.

Out of all this devastation and human disaster, the games industry and gamers have pulled together across the world to help those in need. Japanese games publishers were among the first to announce campaigns and donation channels to support relief efforts on the ground and the rest of the industry has followed their lead. Tecmo Koei donated 10 million yen to Japan Red Cross, Sega Sammy (200 million yen), Nintendo (300 million yen) and Sony Group (300 million yen).

In addition, Zynga, the maker of FarmVille is working with Save the Children to raise money for efforts in Japan. Players can purchase special items and the proceeds are donated to the relief projects. EVE Online players have set up PLEX for Good, which allows anyone to donate in-game currency, which is then transferred into real world currency and donated to the Red Cross.

As you know, I visited Japan a couple of years ago and it’s a country very close to my heart. I have a friend who lives in Sendai and thankfully, she is fine, although her house is gone. Her email to me last week offers a clear picture of what life is like and will say things better than I ever could.

Dear Friends and Family,

Life here has become one of living day to day. I am staying with the mother of my best friend, Izumi. Her home is two minutes from my unlivable shack. Izumi has moved in there, too, as her own home is in shambles after the major quake. She goes there daily to straighten things out.

Each morning and evening we watch the news. Our daily lives are nose-to-nose with the immediate world around us, so seeing a larger picture is important. But even so, we are much more focused on day-to-day living.

As I said, in the morning Izumi usually heads to her home, while I set out to find food. Lack of rice is a big problem. But vegetables and protein are also high on the list. I know of a small four-generation grocery store tucked way back in a neighbourhood with narrow, twisting alleyways. The chain stores on main streets are closed or only open a few hours each day due to lack of supplies. But smaller ones off the beaten track are more promising.

To my utter amazement and delight, this place was to open at 3 pm. So, I joined the line of people waiting for that hope-filled hour. The wind was fiercely cold and the wait almost two hours before I was able to enter the shop.

Very wisely, the owners were allowing only five people in at one time. They had food because of farmer relatives who had brought in a large truck of vegetables and fruit earlier in the day. Most places permit people to buy only five or ten items, but in this beautiful place, the owners, deep with understanding, did not set a limit.

It was a real delight to watch people come out of the shop with bags full of such items as potatoes, cabbage, daikon, carrots, yams, and other sturdy vegetables. The look of joy on their faces was palpable. I got my share, too, and as I peddled home on my bicycle, I found another wee shop selling two-kilo bags of rice. So it was indeed a fortunate day. When I got back to Izumi’s mom’s home, we all laughed and clapped for joy.

To shift focus off my immediate experiences, please let me continue sharing beautiful, life-affirming things that are happening all around. I am ceaselessly in awe of the emergency infrastructure here. There are not enough supplies, which everyone knows, but the excellently organized system is running like clockwork to the best of its overstretched abilities.

To give a few examples, evacuation shelters are all over every city. Food, water, and heat are there, although very limited. Mats and blankets, again in short supply, are also there. People are collecting wood from damaged buildings and making fires for heating and cooking. Volunteers welcome evacuees and help in whatever way they can. Fire fighters and policemen carry the old and injured into shelters on their backs. And shelters have designated leaders to head meetings and make decisions.

People in the shelters are supporting one another. They massage each other’s legs and shoulders, sit in close circles for human contact, read stories to kids, or simply hold hands. They are grateful for whatever goodness comes their way. "I feel so fortunate. We are able to eat at least once a day," one woman said.

And people are being very creative. Some are out collecting snow in plastic bags. The water from it can be used to flush toilets or wash dishes.

During the day people go out to search for missing family members. TV crews are there, of course, and often stop people for interviews. Emotional wounds are deep and vast. People’s intense efforts to contain grief is painful to witness. No overt wailing. But tears and silence everywhere.

"Shigata ga nai" is a Japanese expression that roughly translated means, "It cannot be helped." It also implies a sense of enduring what is happening and of making the best of whatever situation you are in. That concept is an integral part of everyday life here, not only now, but always. This emergency situation is surely one of "shigata ga nai." And everywhere people are saying, "We have to soldier on. There is no other way."

Gambarimashou with Love,

Anne

Editor’s Note: Header Graphic from Alberto "Beto" Gonzales.

How you can help.

Give to a local homeless shelter in Sendai run by Anne’s friend.

Donate to the Red Cross who is heading up major relief efforts.

Or use PayPal directly to make every dollar count right away.

Also if you want to check in on GiN’s latest friend, Anne in Japan, you can follow her blog about recovery efforts and life in Sendai.

We wish Anne and all of the Japanese people a safe and speedy recovery.