Takeshi Kanno, a Japanese doctor selected as one of Time magazine's "100 most influential people," recently commented in New York that his selection symbolized the recognition of all people who have been courageously working to help disaster victims in the Tohoku-Pacific region since March 11.
I have no doubt that Kanno is an outstanding person and that there are many like him who share victims' tribulations as they contribute to recovery. In his April 28 letter, "Hold the sacrificial offerings," Paul Gaysford mentioned the brave workers of Tokyo Electric Power Co. who have fought to end the Fukushima nuclear plant crisis. Then there's Dr. Takeshi Tanigawa, who has worked to ease the pressure on people doing their jobs in the region.
The gracious expression of sympathy and gentle comfort to victims by the Emperor and Empress as they visited evacuee centers was quite encouraging. In his March 20 letter, "Can't run away from Tokyo ties," Gaysford mentioned the fact that the British king and queen chose to remain in London rather than flee an area near German bombing during World War II.
Putting this and that together, I firmly believe that Japan will accomplish reconstruction, although tough situations will continue, as Kanno said in New York.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.