When I landed at Narita International Airport in Tokyo last week, I was expecting the usual boring transit — going through the x-ray scan again, a long walk through the terminal lugging my laptop and files. Maybe a quick stop for a hot bowl of noodles then pick up a couple of boxes of mochi for the studio. I was on my way home after spending a couple weeks in creative consultation with clients in Hong Kong and China.
But within minutes of landing, it was quite clear that business as usual was not the order of the day. An 8.9 earthquake that would trigger a tsunami near the city of Sendai had disrupted travel and, for thousands of people, a sense of security.
I was far from the devastation, luckily (or unluckily for her ; ) traveling together with a friend, clustered with other travelers in a well-organized facility. I would be there for 26 hours before boarding a plane for Los Angeles.
By mid-afternoon, we were escorted out to the airport runways — the safest place to be as aftershocks continued to rock the landscape of Japan. We stood in the cold for 5 hours, anxious, but never felt unsafe. We could tell that airport personnel were concerned, no doubt worrying about family and friends. Yet they were polite, prepared, and when it appeared we might be spending the night outside, our hosts began to spread plastic on the tarmac and deliver sofas for our comfort. I thank them for making our situation as pleasant as possible under such terrible circumstances.
Meanwhile, the text messages I began to receive from family and friends described people stranded on the roof of the flooded airport in Sendai awaiting rescue. The juxtaposition of my safety and their danger was surreal.
Fortunately, by 8 p.m. we were allowed back into the terminal, where we could wash up and try to get comfortable for a long night.
We were inconvenienced and nothing else. But what of the people of Japan?
My heart goes out to all the good people of this resilient nation who have lost loved ones, a livelihood, confidence in the future — and very possibly all of the above.
Despite the enormity of the catastrophe, I cling to the words of Yoko Ono. When interviewed last night on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight, https://www.examiner.com/tv-over-20-in-national/yoko-ono-tells-piers-morgan-japan-will-be-like-an-architect-s-dream
the visionary artist said that the devastation may one day create an exciting opportunity to begin anew. "One day it will be like an architect's heaven." Rebuilding will create "the kind of country the whole world will envy."
That will take time. But I share Yoko’s message, "We're all together in spirit." That’s why in the wake of widespread human suffering, I urge everyone who can to make a charitable donation to one of many groups that are coming to the aid of our Japanese friends and colleagues.
The American Red Cross is currently accepting donations for the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief efforts. To make a donation online, please visit www.redcrossla.org, or you can make a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999. If you would like additional assistance please call the Financial Development Department at 310-445-2685.
Online donations can also be made to Doctors Without Borders by visiting www.doctorswithoutborders.org. This Nobel Prize-winning group has sent medical teams to support the Japanese government-led earthquake and tsunami response. Donations may also be made by calling 888-392-0392
The full scale of this disaster did not hit until I got home and watched the horrible images unfold on tv. I send all my best wishes, thoughts and prayers to the People of Japan, their friends and families.
ps - thank you Roberto, for not sleeping for 2 days until I was home safe and sound, to Marilyn, Jim, William for your constant updates and reassurances, Karan for your concentrated concern and communication, all my great friends sending kind messages through facebook! and of course my mom and dad who were still worried sitting with me at Sunday brunch.
