In 1995, during the devastating Great Hanshin Earthquake, I experienced a massive quake while in Osaka. Shops and city functions came to a halt, enveloping the streets in an unusual silence.
About a week after the quake, I saw groups of strong-looking men, carrying long poles, walking through the city. They were volunteers who had come from Tokyo and other places. I believe they took time off from their work to come to our aid in Osaka.
A German friend of mine, whose residence was completely destroyed, fortunately survived as he happened to be outside at the time. Tragically, the homeowner passed away.
Remarkably, there was no crime in the disaster area. Instead, there was a spirit of mutual assistance. We refer to this spirit of helping each other as the ‘KOBE’ spirit.
I believe the ‘KOBE’ spirit, born out of those dark days, has become embedded in the DNA of the Japanese people. It’s a spirit that continues to shine in subsequent disaster areas across Japan, symbolizing our resilience and solidarity.
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