A Competent Response

A tragedy is an event that causes destruction and suffering in the region it occurs. An example of such an occurrence is an earthquake. Serious interventions ought to be applied in a case such a tragedy occurs. Japan is one of the countries where earthquakes occur. According to Reid (2019), earthquakes in Japan happen around one thousand five hundred times a year. However, many of them are shocks with a small magnitude between 0 and 3.9. In 2011, japan experienced a devastating earthquake which led to the occurrence of a tsunami which became more devastating. The tsunami destroyed major parts of the country. For instance, nuclear plants were greatly destroyed. Due to the loss of control systems, explosions occurred causing much radioactivity. The two natural catastrophes became an eye-opener to the government of Japan such that disaster management plans had to be adjusted (Koshimura and Shuto, 2015). Changes were done to help deal with future disasters.

Japan’s response to the 2011 earthquake was swift. An emergency was declared and rescue missions began. Persons within nuclear zones were evacuated and roads cleared to transport relief items in the affected areas (Reid, 2015). Electricity and water was restored to homes whose supply had been cut off. Interventions to deal with tragedy was done within a month. The continuous exercise followed after the tsunami to ensure the citizens affected fully recovered. A reconstruction agency was enacted to ensure efficient handling of future disasters. During a conference held in Sendai, new guidelines were introduced to help in the reduction of effects that arose from a disaster. The community was educated on how to get involved in rescue missions. By 2018, most of the displaced persons had moved to permanent houses that the government of Japan had constructed (Reid, 2015). The tragedy in 2011 showed how Japan responds to disasters and how the country is prepared to respond to future emergencies.

Culture in Japan is diverse. For instance, the religion consists of two major branches; Shinto and Buddhism. The country holds many national celebrations in a year. Social classes are also stratified. Gender roles and social activities in Japan follow an order. As an international aid worker, one has to identify him or herself with the culture of Japan if one is going there on an aid mission. When one is on a mission, the aid worker ought to blend in with the occasion. Also, when handling different gender groups, one must understand that Japan recognizes both sexes and are treated equally. An aid worker should provide services to both genders in equal measure. During meals, an aid worker must adjust to what they offer as a staple food in Japan. The Japanese like art. When interacting with them, an aid worker needs to get involved in several arts to blend in with the locals (Commisceo Global Consulting, 2020). If an aid worker involves themselves with a country’s culture, working in that environment will be an easy task.

The Japanese view concepts of getting assistance and death depend on religion and culture. There is a way the Japanese view the dead after they die due to natural calamities or accidents. According to Kanayama (2017), they make the dead feel human by rejecting autopsies that may be done to them as they do not want them to feel more pain. They bring their corpses home because they believe the bodies feel cold in the morgue. The Japanese must verify the human remains to ascertain that they are dead. Assistance is based on diplomatic relations with others that they have strived to achieve over the years.

 

 

 

 

References

Commisceo Global, (2020). Japanese culture, customs, business and etiquette. Retrieved from: https://www.commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/japan-guide

Kanayama, K. (2017). The Japanese views and life and human remains. Journal of Forensic Research, 8(6), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7145.1000404

Koshimura, S. & Shuto, N. (2015). Response to the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster, The Royal Society, 373(2053). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2014.0373

Reid, K. (2019). 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami. World vision. Retrieved 12 December 2020, from https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2011-japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-facts