"It`s not a tourist place, its place where people had lost their lives." Please Respect it

Watching a documentary in NHK about the tsunami has taught me so many lessons. First its about the respect for the feelings of the families of the people who lost their  loved once especially those who have not yet found.  As of now there are around 5,000 unaccounted bodies. The families of these people are still hoping to find even just a bone to confirm that their lost family members are really gone.

I was assigned in Ofunato seven months after the tsunami and i can say, that like most of the people who come and visit the place, the first impression is just awe and wonder. How on earth this happen,  and without any respect to the place i took as many pictures as i can, just like a tourist who wonder on the newness of the place.

But as i stay longer here and meet some people who lost a love one and hearing their stories. I begin to realize that this is a sacred place, people lost their lives here. Even in front of our apartment a body was found there. I even saw some things, personal belongings of people, wondering if the owner is still alive or not. But  with the efficiency of the Japanese in terms of returning things, i could only think of the worst scenario, these people might have died on that day or even the whole family that is why no one claimed those things.

As I reflect deeper, i feel that my mission is to tell the people who are coming to visit the disaster areas not as a tourist spot.  But places where so many people had lost their lives and need respect for all of us. So if we happen to come and visit these place, take time to offer a prayer for the victims and their families. Those who are left behind suffer much. They need our understanding.