On the 29th March, more than two weeks have passed since the disaster. In Rikuzentakata, I learnt a local expression from the people who provide accommodation for nurses: "Tsunami tendenko", which means that when there is a tsunami, you must only think about protecting yourself, and nothing more.

I assume the word "tendenko" is related to the Japanese word, "Tenden" (meaning "discretely"), which is usually used in phrases such as "Tenden ni nigeru" (run away discretely).　

I have also heard several still-raw accounts of the day when a tsunami devoured the city of Rikuzentakata from the managers of the facility which is temporary being used as a shelter, as well as some elderly women. One older lady told us that as soon as she heard the emergency alert on the city's community broadcasting radio for emergencies (every household has one) announce: "A tsunami warning has been issued. Please evacu...", before the announcement cut out, she fled, stealing just a fleeting glace at the surging floodwater.

We also heard a fact that only the victims would know, that unlike typhoons which approach directly from the coastline, tsunamis come in at an angle, whirling and unpredictable.

When I heard from another victim in Rikuzentakata that the height of the tsunami was over 50 meters, I was skeptical and thought this size might have been subjectively rather than accurately perceived.

But the person I was talking to this time actually saw the water from higher ground, when the first wave of the tsunami - following its attack on the city - became a tide and collided with a second wave. As these clashing waters met, they became a wall measuring about 50 meters tall for several minutes, which matches the description that I had been told perfectly.

Another grandmother also told me that whilst this wall of water swept through the city, a mountain that can normally be seen was completely obstructed.

In Rikuzentakata, the tsunami withdrew to Kesengawa River after it had flooded the bay, and it also devastated Komazawa district which is located on the mountainside.

(map of disaster area in Japanese or  in English)

After hearing the stories from the victims, I became convinced that when the powerful tsunami had nowhere left to go, and retreated to the river, it could have formed a 50 meter wall. 

After the tsunami warning had been issued, most of the people who went back to the city to collect valuables never came back.　

Amongst those who returned to help elderly people left behind in their houses, or individuals so conscientious about their work that they tried to retrieve important documents, most were not able to reach safe ground in time.

Thus "Tsunami tendenko", facing unstoppable natural force, the only option is to run away discretely.

On the other hand, there must be many people who were unable to help their family members. It is impossible to imagine the sorrow, the burden and the suffering that the survivors of the disaster must endure.

Since three weeks have now passed, people are starting to look back at the disaster. I feel that the time might have arrived for them to start talking about their experiences. There must be a lot to be discussed and remembered following this disaster that has affected tens of thousand of people.

Now that Japan is proceeding with the reconstruction at a tremendous pace thanks to a unified effort by the nation, I think it is very important in the meantime to embrace and support the victims with psychosocial care.