To me, this is an eye-opening book.
Like most people, all I know about Japan are the mix of their entertainment industry’s products and some vague headlines on the news.
Deep down in our mind, Japan is the token for the futuristic visionary of what a modern nation can achieve and the model of exemplary qualities a person should possess.
The book doesn’t simply present itself as a documentary about a horrendous chain of natural disasters. The earthquake and the tsunami serve as the door through which we can catch a glimpse into the context of Japan in terms of culture, people and harsh nature, and political environment.
When we reach the very last page, an image of Japan which is both external and intimate reveals itself before our eyes.
We, after all, are just the foreigners in this land.
10:36 pm, 2/8/21.
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