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Americans Offer Condolences to Japanese Disaster Victims

   Peter Fedynsky | New York City  March 22, 2011
   Flag  at  half  mast by New York skyscraper where Japan's consulate is
   located

Photo: P. Fedynsky - VOA

   Flag  at  half  mast by New York skyscraper where Japan's consulate is
   located

   The  American  and  Japanese  flags outside the skyscraper that houses
   Japanâs  Consulate  in New York City are at half mast to mourn victims
   of  the tragedies that hit the island nation this month.  Citizens of
   that  country,  Japanese-Americans, and ordinary New Yorkers have been
   visiting  the  consulateâs  18th  floor  offices  to  sign  a  book of
   condolences for disaster victims. Â
   There  is  a  solemn  hush  in  a  room at the consulate where several
   hundred  visitors  have  taken  the  trouble to go through security to
   share  their  condolences  with  victims of the earthquake and tsunami
   that   hit   Japan  nearly  two  weeks  ago.   They  include  retired
   businessman  Shiro  Oda, who emigrated from Japan to the United States
   with his wife Akiko 30 years ago. Â
   "Weâve  been  watching  all  kinds  of  media  reports, especially NHK
   programs,  and weâve been talking all day long about the incident, and
   I  thought we should express our sympathy, or condolences to those who
   lost their families," said Oda.
   Odaâs  entry  was  written  in English, his wifeâs in Japanese.  Both
   extended their deepest sympathies to those who lost family and friends
   in  the  disasters.  Akiko Oda says her uncle, a high school teacher,
   survived the disasters in northeastern Japanâs Tohoku region.
   "Many  of  his  students  lived  in  Tohoku,  and he worries about the
   students  and his studentsâ families," he said. "[He did] not find out
   many peopleâs condition."
   Japanâs Deputy Consul General, Yasuhisa Kawamura, says U.S. diplomats,
   members   of   other   consulates,   New   York   City  officials  and
   representatives  of  the  New  York Stock Exchange are among those who
   have  signed  the  condolence  book.   Kawamura says remarks by young
   people are particularly touching.
   "One  American  young  girl dropped by the consulate a couple days ago
   with  her  own  painting,"  said Kawamura. "The painting shows the two
   countries,  Japan and the United States, shaking hands over the ocean,
   and  saying,  âwe  are  with  you.â   So, we are very, very moved and
   touched by this young girlâs expression."
   Wednesday is the last day to sign the condolence book.  Kawamura says
   it  is intended to lift the spirits of survivors and will be forwarded
   to them through the Japanese Foreign Ministry.  He says the consulate
   is  also accepting donations from governments, private individuals and
   organizations to help victims of Japanâs multiple tragedies.

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