The perseverance that people in northeastern Japan have shown after the massive earthquake and tsunami devastated their communities March 11 has impressed many people around the world.

In Northeast Asia, anti-Japan feelings in China and South Korea seem to have receded since the catastrophe, thanks to Tohoku people's dignified behavior.

Under these circumstances, Prime Minister Naoto Kan held meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak on May 21 and 22 in Fukushima and Tokyo. In a sense, the timing of the summit enabled Mr. Kan to gain politically by enabling him to take advantage of the postdisaster situation.