I felt like my life was going to end when the BIG earthquake happened on 3/11. It was the worst accident in my life. Maximum seismic intensity was 7 at Miyagi. Tohoku and its people were injured so I want to the area to recover soon.

At that time, I was in Shinjuku with my friend. We were shopping at Zara and were looking around on the first floor. The first quake came suddenly. I felt two big shakes. Most of the shops in Shinjuku closed, and the subway stopped so we and a lot of people had to stay there for a long time. After we left Zara, we got a shock because the tsunami that hit Iwate was broadcast on the big screens outside. We saw how houses, cars, trees, fish boats, and a lot of rubble were rushed toward the town. It was a very traumatic vision for me. We could do nothing but stand and look at it. Then, I remembered that my grandparents live in Fukushima in Tohoku. I was worried about their safety, but after the earthquake and tsunami happened, many people put in a call to family, friends, or their precious ones, so the phone lines were busy, and I couldnft call them soon.

After a while, it was gradually clear what had happened in Fukushima and Tohoku. At Fukushima, the intensity was more than 6. And a nuclear accident happened. It caused radiation leaks. Then the nuclear evacuation zone, which is within 20 kilometer radius from Fukushima 1 plant, was created. My grandparentsf house is in Shirakawa. It was not included in that zone so they were safe there. But, a lot of people in Fukushima canft go back to their homes yet because of the nuclear plant. When it was built, the Tokyo Electric Company told the people of Fukushima: gThis plant is safe so please come to see it. And it has park nearby it.h They believed these words. My grandparents also did. Based on this, harmful rumors about the situation in Fukushima are also hurting the Fukushima people. Because of radiation leaks, rice, vegetables, and a lot of products which are made in Fukushima are not selling. So merchants, specifically farmers, couldnft get jobs. Because of it, some people have killed themselves.

Now, a lot of problems about this earthquake disaster remain but it is getting better. Fukushima is my second hometown so I want people in Fukushima and Tohoku to be able to return to an even better life! And if I can do something to help them, I want do it.