View documentaries on post-tsunami efforts
TO commemorate the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur is showing a series of documentaries featuring the efforts by the local community to rebuild the devastated region that was hit by an earthquake and tsunami.
The documentaries will be shown at Black Box @ MAP@ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, today and on Wednesday (March 7). Screening starts at 8pm on both days and admission is free.
The four titles to be screened are: March 5: Can You See Our Lights? — Festival After the Tsunami (48 minutes)
Japanese summer festivals serve as a time to hold memorial services for the souls of the departed. Although some of the many places devastated by the disaster of March 2011 were unable to hold their colorful and passionate centuries-old festivals, the people of Rikuzentakata, Soma and some other cities decided to go ahead as usual. The festival committee members busily repair damaged floats and drums and encourage the participation of dispersed former residents.
Setting Sail from the Ruin (30 minutes)
Ofunato, in Iwate Prefecture, suffered devastating damage in the Great East Japan Earthquake. Kenichiro Yagi, who sells fish online, quickly rose up from the tragedy along with fellow fishermen. He took the first step toward recovery by resuming fishing from the debris-filled port where many boats had been washed away. This programme documents the local fishermen’s road to recovery three months after the disaster. March 7: Light up Nippon (28 minutes)
On Aug 11, 2011, five months after the Great East Japan Earthquake, a project called “Light up nippon” was carried out. Young businessmen in Tokyo asked for donation, repeated discussion with the locals over and over, finally set off big fireworks at 10 severely damaged areas to cheer up the communities and people there.
Fukushima Hula Girls (100 minutes)
Iwaki-city, which was severely attacked by the disaster, has a beautiful resort hotel and facilities called “Spa Resort Hawaiians,” located close to Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants. After the disaster, everyone, including hula dancers, called “Hula Girls” at Hawaiians, had tried to overcome and re-build the resort as the first step of reconstructing Fukushima.