On March 16, 2011, the author criticizes Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano’s appeal to avoid hoarding fuel, noting that no such behavior was evident outside disaster zones. Contrasting survivors’ composure—praised even by Korean media—with government scapegoating, he insists that leaders must deliver blankets, water, and clothing to shelters rather than lecture citizens.

On March 16, 2011, the author expresses outrage at the Chief Cabinet Secretary’s press conference, specifically his request for people not to hoard gasoline. The author criticizes politicians for blaming the public for baseless hoarding instead of detailing concrete support measures for the disaster-stricken areas. The post contrasts the “dignity” of the victims with the “vulgarity” of the politicians’ response, citing South Korean media’s praise for the Japanese people’s composure. The author argues that the top priority for the government should be the swift delivery of essential supplies to those in need.

Now they say, “Please don’t hoard gasoline and the like.” Just who are these fools supposed to be?
2011/3/16

On March 11, I had completely forgotten—I was so absorbed by the gravity of events—that I had a small one-seg television in the office. In the afternoon I switched it on, and a press conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary began.

He said, “In the disaster areas, gasoline and heating oil are running short. Citizens, please do not resort to hoarding.”

I thought to myself: are they truly out of their minds?
At the first nuclear press conference, they had dragged in irrelevant talk about “chain mail”—as if that had anything to do with the crisis. Who nowadays would be so foolish? This is the age of earnest Twitter, not chain mail.

And now again: “Don’t hoard gasoline.” Just where are such idiots supposed to exist? At least around me in Osaka, I haven’t seen a single one. On the contrary, the gas stations, with prices rising, are deserted.
The people lining up in the disaster zone are genuinely out of gas, without fuel, and forced to queue whether they like it or not.

I feel deeply that these officials are hopeless. Why? Because what they ought to be saying is something else entirely.
They should have told the nation: “As soon as the quake struck, we rushed to secure emergency imports from the nearest oil-producing countries. We are risking our lives and doing everything possible.” That is what politicians should do—give the victims reassurance as quickly as possible.

Instead, at every turn, they blame the citizens—claiming there are wrongdoers among them, as if that explains everything. It is the mindset of people who have watched too much senile television, turning one or two exceptions, if they even exist, into scapegoats for everyone, and using it to scold the public.

Meanwhile, outside the disaster areas, there is plenty of water and food. Japan is the world’s second-richest country. Yet in most evacuation shelters, the cry is the same: there is no food, no water, not enough toilets. And still, people endure with dignity.

What the people want to hear is not your doctrinaire pronouncements from inside your head, but: what solutions have you actually carried out? How have you delivered what is needed?

Compared to the “refinement” of the survivors, their “vulgarity” is incomprehensible.

—

A news item my company’s managing director showed me:

Disaster Victims’ Calmness and the Media’s Restraint Praised in Korea
Following the unprecedented destruction of the earthquake in Tōhoku, voices of admiration have poured in from around the world for the calm and composure of the Japanese people shown on television.
In Korea, many remarked on the contrast with their own media and society: “They are dignified,” “composed.” Korean media noted, “The grief and wounds of the Japanese people are immeasurable. And yet, in their effort to suppress their sorrow, one can only say, ‘This is Japan.’ Even in the worst circumstances, there was no wailing.”
Praise also came for the Japanese media, which, even in the worst catastrophe, refrained from sensational images and limited themselves to confirmed facts, avoiding excessive interviews with bereaved families.
Online comments read: “The difference from our country is like heaven and earth. In Korea, there would be screaming, blaming, and chaos, but Japan maintains order.” “We are in awe of their civic spirit, and should learn from it.”
(Editor: Kim Jisoo, Yahoo News, March 16, 2011)

To me, it looks as if the current government are the Koreans described in Korean media, while the disaster victims and the Japanese media are the Japanese being praised.

Mr. Edano, lecturing the public is not your job.

In this country of ours, overflowing with goods, why are evacuees still lacking blankets, bottled water, underwear? Uniqlo even announced it was sending huge amounts of HeatTech clothing. Why not fly them in? Yamagata, Fukushima, and Iwate airports are usable. From there, everything could be delivered to the shelters.

What you should do is not preach, but put yourself in the victims’ place—in a shelter, sharing a single rice ball among four.

This morning, on NHK, I saw middle school students in Rikuzentakata speak from their shelter. One girl said what she wanted most: “Please keep the toilets clean.”

They are enduring everything, though their family, relatives, and classmates have died. The toilets must be especially hard to bear.

Mr. Edano, what you need is imagination. And then, to deliver, as quickly as possible, the things they need—the things that exist in abundance for you and for me. That is your highest duty.

Put yourself in their shoes—it is obvious.

The people do not want endless requests for cooperation. They want to know when, how, and by what means the things they need will be arranged. They want to hear the delivery schedules, as do we all.

Why is it that you cannot understand this?