Ability To Forget

It's been two years since the tsunami tragedy in northern Japan. When it happened I could not get out of my bed for three days out of a deep sorrow. It seems like it happened only yesterday.
For the second anniversary of the tsunami I was able to donate 40 copies of my recent book, "Save The Himalayas" to a temporary library in Rikuzentakada city where the entire city was washed away.
I wanted to donate my books right after the tsunami, but of course, the situation was too devastating that there was now way to do so. Finally my dream came true with a help of my long-time supporter of Books For Children, Jun Hasegawa. I am hoping that this heart-warming tale of the Himalayas will cheer up those victims who are still suffering.

ショックで３日間寝込んでしまったのが、もう２年前。
東日本大震災がまるで昨日のように感じます。先日、
陸前高田のコミュニティー図書館に、絵本「不思議な
冒険」を４０冊寄付させていただきました。これは、私の
「ブックス・フォー・チルドレン」の長年の支援者である
長谷川潤さんのご協力のお陰です。ヒマラヤが舞台の
心温まるお話が皆さんを元気づけてくれるよう心の底
から願っています。

Two years have past since the big tsunami, and eighteen years have passed since the Hanshin Earthquake. Yet, not all damages have been fixed at all.

As there is a saying,
"God gave us the ability to forget, so that we can forget the pain
and move on," I pray that people forget the pain and keep having hope
to move on, especially I hear that many have been committing suicide
out of despair.

I pray for those victims in northern Japan who are still suffering, and
I pray also for those who are suffering around the world.

東日本大震災から２年。阪神大震災から１８年、、。
傷はまだまだ癒されていません。

「人間は、前進するために、辛いことを忘れる
能力を持っている」と言いますね。日々、辛い気持ちが
薄れ、どうか生きる希望を持ってほしい！

被害にあった皆さんの毎日の生活が安定し、
一日も早く復興することを祈るばかりです。
そして、世界中で長い間、苦しみ続けている大勢の
人たちにも、祈りたいと思います。