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.

#KobeSpirit #Resilience #Solidarity #Japan #HanshinEarthquake #Volunteerism #CommunitySupport #DisasterRecovery #StrengthInUnity #HelpingHands #TogetherWeStand #EmergencyResponse #HumanitarianAid #CrisisManagement #JapaneseCulture #SurvivalSpirit #Hope #Compassion #MutualSupport
#TurkishVolunteers #Volunteerism #GlobalSolidarity #HumanitarianAid #CommunitySupport #CrossCulturalHelp #InternationalAssistance #HelpingHands #UnityInCrisis #GlobalCompassion #DisasterRelief #InternationalVolunteers #HeartfeltHelp #TurkishAid #WorldwideSupport #CrisisResponse #EmergencyAid #GlobalKindness #HumanityFirst #CompassionateAction

In 1974, the anime adaptation of “Heidi, Girl of the Alps” was broadcasted weekly on Japanese television, captivating audiences with a remarkable viewership rate of 23%. This indicates that almost every young girl in Japan was tuning in to watch Heidi’s adventures at the same time.

The Japanese anime creators organized a location team to sketch scenes in Switzerland. As a result, the mountain landscapes in the anime mirrored the actual Swiss vistas, evoking a sense of familiarity for those who know the regions well in Switzerland.

Interestingly, the anime featured German songs, adding a unique touch to the cultural blend. Below, I’m sharing one of these songs from the anime, connecting cultures and hearts across borders.

#Heidi #SwissAlps #AnimeHistory #JapaneseCulture #GlobalAnimation #Nostalgia #CulturalHeritage
#HeidiAnime #JapaneseAnimation #CulturalExchange #SwitzerlandInJapan

Today, another strong earthquake with a seismic intensity of over 5 struck the Noto region in Ishikawa Prefecture. This event underlines the fact that Japan is a nation prone to natural disasters, and we all should recognize this reality.

The attached image displays a document created by the Japanese Government’s Cabinet Office. Remarkably, about 18.3% of the total global disaster damage costs are concentrated in Japan.

Due to the frequent occurrence of earthquakes, Japan has established stringent seismic standards for its buildings. These standards mandate the construction of robust structures, implying that significant disaster prevention costs are already incorporated at the building stage.

If appropriate disaster mitigation expenses were not invested during the construction phase, the actual costs of disaster damages would far exceed the current 18.3%.

For everyone involved in construction and disaster prevention in Japan, please understand the high demand for disaster resilience in Japan.

#JapanDisasterPrevention #EarthquakeReadiness #ConstructionSafety #RiskManagement #InfrastructureResilience #BuildingCodes #EngineeringExcellence #NaturalDisasterAwareness #DisasterPrevention #SeismicSafety #Japan #BuildingStandards #InfrastructureSafety