Japan Files: Miki Endo

what fitting tribute can you think of to honor a 24-year-old woman whose unflagging efforts to urge her town-mates to run for safety literally saved thousands of lives -- a heroic action that eventually cost her own?



Miki Endo, a recently married public employee who worked for Minamisanriku's (a town that was hit hard in the recent quake/tsunami disaster) Crisis Management Department, was manning the public address system -- exhorting the residents to run for higher ground -- as the tsunamis were about to roll in. According to various accounts, Miki Endo stayed at her post and continued her urgent broadcast even as the waves finally hit the coastal town.

it was later learned that Miki Endo did not survive this tragic disaster (a co-employee last saw her being carried away by a huge wave), much to the dismay and grief of her parents and the very people whose lives she had helped save.

Japan Files: a remarkable canine survivor

here is another heartwarming development from Japan -- there have been only very of them so far, so each one feels like a rare and unexpected gift -- this time, involving a canine that was rescued by the Japanese Coast Guard (JCG).



the canine survivor was spotted by rescuers on a huge floating pile of debris off the coast of Kensennuma (northern Japan). according to some accounts, the dog apparently managed to survive (for 3 weeks) after he was swept out to sea as a result of the disastrous earthquake/tsunami that ravaged Japan on March 11, 2011.

the dog, which was described as slightly emaciated but relatively healthy, was first spotted on the roof of a floating house. after his rescue, which took longer than anticipated, he was taken to Tsugaru (a JCG patrol boat), where he was fed and cared for by the crew.

Japan Files: canine fidelity

so many harrowing tales and videos have come out of Japan as it struggles through the painful process of grieving and recovering from such horrific losses (while grappling with a nuclear crisis that refuses to die down), but none has tugged harder at my gut strings than this video (see below).

i won't attempt to add to it because the video speaks quite well for itself. the translation of the reporters' exchange (in Japanese) should be read for proper context though (in italics).


(note: got this from Yahoo, which of course got it from somewhere else. it just felt like one of those things that need to be repeated for a full appreciation of its impact.)

REPORTER: We are in Arahama area. Looks like there is a dog. There is a dog. He looks tired and dirty. He must have been caught in the tsunami. He looks very dirty.
-- He has a collar. He must be someone's pet. He has a silver collar. He is shaking. He seems very afraid.
-- Oh, there is another dog. I wonder if he is dead.
ANCHOR: Where?
REPORTER: Right there. There is another dog right next to the one sitting down. He is not moving. I wonder. I wonder if he is alright.
ANCHOR: The dog is protecting him.
REPORTER: Yes. He is protecting the dog. That is why he did not want us to approach them. He was trying to keep us at bay.
ANCHOR: I can't watch this. This is a very difficult to watch.
-- Oh. Look. He is moving. He is alive. I am so happy to see that he is alive.
REPORTER: Yes! Yes! He is alive.
ANCHOR: He looks to be weakened. We need to get them to be rescued soon. We really want them rescued soon.
REPORTER: Oh good. He's getting up.
-- It is amazing how they survived the tremendous earthquake and tsunami. It's just amazing that they survived through this all.