Five days have passed since the havoc of cataclysmic proportions caused by the earthquake and followed by the tsunami on March 11 (Friday) at around 2:46 p.m. At present, the chaos is further compounded by the Fukushima nuclear reactors debacle. Right after the quake, it snowed. Today it is forecast to plunge in temperature. Frankly speaking, it is as though the "fire attack" and "water attack" have set in. In addition, there are incessant aftershocks, i.e., "food blockade," close in the siege. Mobile phone’s batteries run out very quickly. Home phones are out of service. No gasoline refueling is available to move the cars. These kinds of inconveniences, which we take for granted in a normal life, are piling up one upon another. No buildings are collapsed in the central district of Sendai City, where our Tohoku Diocesan Cathedral is situated and the environs look intact at first glance. However, the so-called lifeline such as food and water is not easy for anybody to secure. Thus, the daily life over these past five days is aggravating rather than improving. Hardships are forced particularly upon the elderly. Depending on which section of the city you are in, supplies of water, electricity, gas have begun to run again, or not at all. Gas, in particular, would reportedly take a longer time to restore. As regards transportations, there is no prospect in sight for when the Tohoku Express Railways starts running again.

Of course, there is no comparison to the environs and their residents in the affected areas. As you have seen on the TV those areas have suffered the dire consequences of tsunami in particular. The plight of life at the shelters must be multiplying over time. Because of the vastness of the affected areas and its geographical issues, rescue operations may not have reached every corner yet. We, at the Diocesan Cathedral in Sendai, can not set our foot in such areas yet. One such case is Kamaishi-Shinai Church and Shinai Nursery School, in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture. Another is Isoyama St. John Church, in Sohma-gun Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture. We are gravely concerned about them. In the case of Kamaishi, even though the tsunami reportedly did not reach the nursery school, we have no way to confirm the safety directly with the church members. 　With Isoyama situated by the seaside, the prospect is very grim. Regretfully, as of March 14, there are already one confirmed death and one more family missing among the church members. While we are praying for their safety at the shelters, we have so far been unable to communicate with them. At present, the church in Onahama complies with the the order of "Waiting Indoors," owing to the Fukushima nuclear problem. A number of evacuees are heading for Kohriyama and Fukushima. Among the members of Sendai Kiristo Kyokai Church, several live in the severely tsunami-stricken areas of the city of Sendai including Wakabayashi-ku, Natori, Shichigahama. All the ministers are now organized to tackle the task of ascertaining the safety of all church members.

On March 13, Sendai Kiristo Kyokai (Christ Church Sendai) held services in the hall, refraining from the use of the sanctuary. While no church buildings nor kindergartens in the diocese have collapsed, some damage in the varying degrees has been reported.

As you have seen on the TV, there are numerous difficulties, tragedies and pending issues. In the midst of all such chaos, however, we are overwhelmed with the gentleness and courtesy of people in Sendai and Tohoku. Right after the earthquake, the traffic signals stopped and no traffic police were yet on hand. Even at the major intersections, we were amazed at what we saw: Despite the bumper-to-bumper clogs, no drivers got irritated; they calmly gave way to one another, helping traffic to flow. What a sight! Helping hands for the elderly and mutual regard are so visible.

Effective March 14, the Tohoku Diocese has established the "Tohoku Diocese Disaster Relief Task Force (provisional name) at the Binsted Memorial Hall. With the Diocesan Bishop as the head coordinator, we plan to use the task force as our base to address the issues of getting information in and out and other pending issues. Several lay people have already gathered, rejoicing over the reunion and engaging in the new task. Also, effective March 15, the Rev; Yasufuku Wakui of Yamagata was appointed to cooperate with the task force. The immediate mission would be to ascertain the status of individual members and each church. Long term, however, as the region recovers and people’s lives return to normal, we, as the church living up to its name, aspire to be able to play a part of healing in this difficult time and environment thus the instrument of revealing God’s glory. It may, however, be a long time to come.

We have received an offering of assistance from overseas churches of Anglican (and Episcopal) communion.including the Archbishop of Canterbury, and various relief organizations of all Anglican faiths. Also we have received the sympathies and offers of assistance from our close correspondent church in Louisiana Diocese, West Louisiana Diocese and Taejon Diocese. In addition, The Presiding Bishop of Nippon-Sei KoKai and each and every diocese express their utmost concerns by extending their prayers and offering help in whatever way possible. We are most grateful for all these offers. We are being encouraged by a great many friends as well. However, this disaster and its accompanying difficult issues are not limited to the Tohoku region alone. It extends to a much broader region encompassing Hokkaido to the north all the way to Kita-Kanto Diocese, Yokohama Diocese, even Tokyo Metropolis. Thus, we must also wish them as well.

We have just begun a long walk ahead of us. Let us pray to the Lord for grace upon us and for our walk to meet God’s will.

In Christ,

John Hiromichi Kato, Bishop

Nippon-Seiko-Kai Tohoku Diocese

March 15, 2011