Throughout this entire trip, we visited many temples and shrines throughout Japan. One of my favorite temples we visited was the Sensoji Temple or Asakusa Kannon Temple. It was so grandeur and unique as it was nestled amidst the bustling cityscape. This ancient Buddhist temple was an opportunity to immerse myself in Japan’s rich cultural and religious heritage. It helped me reflect the importance and interconnectedness of religion and spirituality.

We were first welcomed by the huge Thunder Gate or Kaminarimon that had a massive red lantern and two statues guarding the entrance. After taking a group picture here, we entered in the gate to be greeted by several souvenir and food stalls that were all too tempting. Even with the slight rainfall, you can see that this was the place to be as other tourists and locals sprawl over the place.

Some of us in the group decided to look into our fortune by paying 100 yen and shaking a jar to get a number that would reveal the drawer to look into for our fortune. We celebrated the good fortune and tied up the bad fortune at the wooden racks. After walking down this street, we approached the main hall of Sensoji Temple, known as Hondo. It was a beautiful building with intricate architectural details, vibrant colors, and strong scent of incense from the urn. I witnessed visitors purifying themselves with the smoke from the incense and offering prayers at the altar. It showed the important role of Sensoji Temple as beyond a tourist spot and how it is a place of worship and spiritual solace for many.

Behind the main building, there was a beautiful garden with its perfectly manicured landscapes, koi ponds, and pagodas. I loved seeing the koi fish in the pond as I walked over the bridge. I honestly forgot that I was in the middle of the most busiest cities in the entire world. Thereafter, we made our way to Asakusa where we had the opportunity to further explore small stores and food. I tried Takoyaki and bought gift cards and jewelry. All in all, I really enjoyed my time visiting the Sensoji Temple I took in its beauty and grandeur architecture. Even though religious influence on Japanese society has been decreasing, especially among the younger population, visiting this temple reminded me of the intricate and old roots of Buddhism and how it evolved from its origins.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to visit the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, because it allowed me to witness firsthand the aftermath of the devastating accident that occurred as part of the aftermath of the tsunami and earthquake on March 11, 2011. Exploring the facility and listening to the impact on the communities affected left a lasting impact on me. It made me caution and be speculative of expanding investments in nuclear power. I also learned about the safety procedures and lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi disaster.

When we first arrived at the facility, we were given a context to what we were seeing through videos in a very cool theater with multiple dimensions and screens. I liked the accountability and ownership that the company, TEPCO or Tokyo Electric Power Company took over the problem. They verbally state their involvement and mention the compensation they gave to the affected communities. After, we got all geared up and made sure to have all our safety equipment which included our radiation exposure meter. This recorded the total amount of radiation that we were exposed to. I thought it was interesting that it differed which pocket of the vest we placed this depended on male and female.

When crossing the bridge into the radiation exposed territory, it was scary to see all the ghosted houses and deserted stores. It was even scarier to see that it wasn’t too long since it happened as the buildings were intact, cars were left in driveways, and curtains remained open giving a peek into the past lives that used to reside there. I can’t even imagine having to evacuate my home and not being able to return even 12 years later.

As we made our way closer to the nuclear plant, the radiation meter on the bus spiked up steadily making me a bit nervous. However, I really appreciated the insight that our tour guide gave throughout the tour which provided some context to all the visuals that we were taking in. When we got out of the bus, the reactors and their containment storages were much bigger than expected. It was paradoxical to see such technology right against the shore and Pacific Ocean. I can’t even imagine the ecological impact that this accident had.

After coming back, we learned about the detailed mechanisms behind the disaster. Essentially, the natural disaster led to the loss of power and subsequent failure of the cooling systems at the nuclear power plant, triggering meltdowns in three of its reactors. One of the reactors was not in operation but was still affected. All of this not only had a profound impact on the local community but also raised global concerns about nuclear safety. The extensive cleanup and decommissioning efforts that have been going on for years and the financial investment into repairing its damage were mind blowing.

Visiting Okawa Elementary School and listening to the local storyteller recount the heartbreaking story left a lasting impact on me that I will remember for the rest of my life. The disaster that impacted this school stands as a reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness in schools in Japan and across the world. Located in Ishinomaki, Okawa Elementary School was impacted devastatingly by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that struck on March 11, 2011. Among the thousands of lives that this natural disaster claimed, 84 people, 74 students and 10 teachers, were unable to evacuate in time despite the warnings given 51 minutes ahead. The culprit was the lack of detail in protocol and the prolonged discussions between the staff members about the vague evacuation plan.

Listening to the local storyteller narrate the events surrounding the Okawa Elementary School disaster while being on site at those very places along with the before and after pictures that she displayed was an immersive experience like none other. The vivid storytelling that included the perspective of teachers, children, and the local witness encapsulated their fear, chaos, and loss experienced by the washed-up community on that fateful day. A loss that is still felt by the community for years to come.

At the site, there were many other visitors that treaded the site of loss learning about the tragedy like us. I could only imagine their situation if they had personal connections to this tragedy. It was so tragic to hear that even after the event, it was hard for the parents to figure out what actually happened. Not only did they have to deal with grief, but also fight for justice to figure out what actually happened. At the end, when the storyteller revealed that she lost her son who waited for her return, it really made me think of my family. I told my loved ones that very night about my experience and the important takeaway she told us: never wait to evacuate and look out for yourself before others. This way we can ensure that our loved ones count on us to look after ourselves so we all can be safe.

Overall, although this tragic event resulted in many lost lives, I was glad to see that a memorial and a guest center was built around the school to honor their lives and shed light on the devastating impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities, specifically children in this case. It also prompted the Japanese government to re-evaluate its disaster preparedness and response strategies, which included more investment into and development of new measures to better protect schools and other critical infrastructure for future natural disasters.

May the memory of Okawa Elementary School endure as a symbol of both remembrance, hope, and commitment to ensure it never happens again.