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Time flies over us, but it leaves its shadow behind. A full decade has now passed since that fateful day in 2011 when disaster changed life for so many. And while in some ways it seems ages ago, in others it feels like yesterday.
As I sat at my desk putting the final touches on this issue of The ACCJ Journal, something happened that brought all those memories rushing back. A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning. The slow shaking and long duration felt so similar to that of the March 11 quake—and I was sitting in exactly the same spot as in 2011—so I couldn’t help but pause and wonder if nature was taking another swing at us.
Thankfully, this time, there was no great destruction. But a JMA spokesperson said that the temblor is considered an aftershock of the quake from a decade ago, so the upheaval has never really left us.
Support and Recovery
While rebuilding continues, and there remains much to be done, the country has recovered remarkably well from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, as well as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster that followed—a fact that renowned economist Jesper Koll shared with me in an interview that you’ll find starting on page 24.
“To mark the anniversary of the disasters, we returned to the pages of The ACCJ Journal from 2011 to find the accounts and experiences of the role the chamber played in the immediate aftermath."
American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) members and member companies have played a key role in that recovery, not just on the business front but on the community level as well.
To mark the 10th anniversary of the disasters, we returned to the pages of The ACCJ Journal from 2011 to find the accounts and experiences of the role the chamber played in the immediate aftermath. You’ll find a selection of seven pieces following my interview with Koll, and you can read the full stories online at accj.or.jp/311-in-memorium.
Parallels
Naturally, many have drawn comparisons between March 11 and the coronavirus pandemic. Both have had significant impact on business and life—particularly for those who lost loved ones or who found themselves suddenly displaced. Our thoughts for them and our desire to help will always endure.
One thing that differs in our current situation is the scope of the crisis. I was fortunate in 2011 that my primary work was with a US-based software company and their operations were not affected at all by the disasters. This meant that my own work and income were protected from the disruptions in Japan. This time around, I’ve been less lucky. The global nature of Covid-19 has led to a difficult year, as I know is the case for so many others—something we explore in a cross-industry feature starting on page 34.
But as I put together this issue, I was reminded of just how fortunate I am to be associated with the ACCJ. During such trying times, the strength, resolve, support, and inspiration that flows from the membership provides an optimism that we’ll emerge from the shadow stronger than ever, and that the world beyond the crisis will be more like that we always strive to attain.
C Bryan Jones Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
THE JOURNAL
Vol. 58 Issue 3
A flagship publication of The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), The ACCJ Journal is a business magazine with a 58-year history.
Christopher Bryan Jones, Publisher & Editor
