What is it that has aided the people of Tohoku in coping with the tragedy inflicted on that region of northeast Honshu by the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011? The entire world marveled at their resilience, courage and stoic altruism.

Over the past 40-odd years I have often been to Tohoku, and have particularly spent time in Iwate, one of the hardest hit prefectures last year. Yet I would not attribute the responses to the calamity as being specifically characteristic of people from that part of the country.

If the same catastrophe had befallen the people, say, of Kyushu, or those living in towns along the coast of the Sea of Japan, I am sure they would have reacted with the same inner strength and fortitude.