By the time most of us had heard about the devastating earthquake that hit Japan on March 11, 2011, Jon Lagon was already on the phone, listening to friends and colleagues in Tokyo about what was happening there. They knew he was scheduled to travel to Japan in a few days, but warned him that maybe it would be better to not go ahead with the trip as planned. In the hours after the quake and tsunami, no one could be certain of the full extent of the damage, or the chaos that would follow. Canceling the trip, however, was not an option for Jon and within days he was packed and on his way.
While in Japan he continued to keep in touch with everyone back in Honolulu and mentioned the eerie perception of normalcy while riding the train through Tokyo. Despite the disaster just days before, it was difficult to grasp what was going on elsewhere. Having lived and worked in Japan, with many close friends and family scattered throughout the country, he had been back many times but the unsettling urge to help weighed on him throughout this visit. Before leaving, he knew that he had to come back and help with the relief efforts in areas that were hit the hardest by the tsunami. After weeks of communicating back and forth with those in Japan, Jon left Hawaii again in July to help with the reconstruction mission. Having spent a part of his early career in the military he was prepared to face what was being reported as the one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters on record. Hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst, he packed just enough necessities to fit in his backpack.
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| “Went to the hardest hit part of Ishinomaki today - the destruction is just indescribable.”Jon via Twitter, 19 Jul 2011 |
| Watching the news stories being reported on the ongoing relief efforts and reconstruction in the area, he was still taken aback by what he saw when he arrived in Ishinomaki. In the middle of Japan's sweltering summer heat, there were no signs of a robust clean-up effort or reconstruction efforts by the government, only survivors and foreign volunteers left behind and wondering how and when more aid would come. |
In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami the world was held captive with images of the national military clearing out roads to help in the recovery effort. Despite an outpouring of aid from the international community, Tokyo was adamant that it was able to handle the situation on its own, that it would take care of its own people. But months later, Jon and the other volunteers continued to see that it was different story on the ground. There were no signs of troops, government officials or the aid that was donated by international agencies. Goods continued to sit in warehouses outside of the area, barely trickling in to the people who needed it.
Talking with the citizens, it was a heart dropping realization that possibly the national government, reeling from own political issues and obligations elsewhere was leaving the stricken areas to manage the situation on their own.
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Funakoshi: there used to be 1000 people living here - they are the last 2” Jon via Twitter, 25 July 2011.
With their entire fleet destroyed by the tsunami, a few fishermen will spend days and nights trying to repair even a couple of boats to working order. They do this however, without even knowing if they will ever be able to fish these waters again due to the environmental destruction and nuclear fallout that has occurred. At the time there were no plans for the people to return to any sort of industry; the type that once sustained the local population. In what little spare time he had, Jon showed some of the women how to weave bracelets of paracord, giving them something to do and keep their minds and hands active through the days. With some of the money he raised from these bracelets, he was able to return in August to help with building supplies for the community.
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Just helped with http://team-nadia.org/ today great bunch of people from Tokyo, did a lot of hard "volunteering" today and it was fun.
23 Jul
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An image held from the world’s attention is the ongoing reality of the people left behind. An aging and displaced population of those just struggling to get through each day, they have nowhere else to go and no plan or assistance being offered to them by the government. Hearing Jon describe what he saw and heard, is sobering to say the least.
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Perhaps it is the cultural adherence to caution that keeps the government from continuing its efforts, but the groups of volunteers continue to work tirelessly despite the dangerous conditions that exist.
"Just sat through another earthquake, that's 4 pretty big ones in the past 2 days." Jon via Twitter, 17 July 2001.
With the number of volunteers working on different projects, Jon was able to help out where assistance was needed. One day a project would be cleaning up homes the next day it would be building chairs for a children’s school.
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| While people still live in areas like Ishinomaki, the efforts of international volunteers will continue. On Jon’s last trip back to Japan in August, he was able to capture some of the images that remind him of the hope that still exists amongst the devastation. Children’s toys lay scattered amongst the rubble as tiny monuments to the life that existed before the disaster. Hopefully they are also symbols of what can someday return to the area. |
| While it is likely that the country’s government will continue to turn away from anything that is a reminder of the devastation, volunteers will hopefully continue in their efforts. Jon is planning to return again in January in the middle of the Japan’s winter season and whether or not more aid will have reached areas like Ishinomaki by then, he is prepared to help wherever he is needed. |
As a photographer, I have been dying for the chance to be a part of an Indian wedding for years now. I've seen so many photos of Indian weddings and have always been struck by the beauty and color that is always prevalent. Roshni and Abhi gave me my first chance to experience one of these amazing, tradition-rich ceremonies up close and I am so excited to share the results with you! I had so much fun spending the day with this couple and their fun, high-energy guests. I was blown away by not only the beautiful color that was everywhere but also by the joy and love that was a huge part of each of the traditional events that took place that day. There was so much going on all day, so many people having fun and I was so excited to be there that I thought my head might explode just trying to capture it all properly! Thank you so much, Roshni and Abhi, for letting me be a part of your day and trusting me to capture all those amazing moments. I'm looking forward to getting together for our scotch-drinking date! ;)
Photos by Lisa |
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