After the earthquake had struck Tohoku on March 11th, 2011 Japan was in a very chaotic situation. Once the news of the extent of the disaster had become somewhat comprehensible the reactions of people were very different. The situation brought out best and worst in humans, from small persons to big politicians, here and abroad.
The earth continued shaking very regularly and sometimes violently keeping everybody nervous.
The situation in the north east seemed absolutely desperate. The news on TV were shocking and heartbreaking at once and gave feeling of total helplessness, even in a strong and developed country like Japan. The public transport in Tokyo was cut to save electrical energy and many companies closed down. The news on the out of control nuclear site was confusing. As a foreigner who also received advice of any kind and quality from family and friends abroad the situation was very confusing too.
Many foreigners left the country swiftly. Asian countries began to reject Japanese produce for fear of contamination.
At the same time the overwhelmed rescuers pulled corpses from the rubble and the survivors were miserable in the cold with houses destroyed and family missing or dead.
The rest of world seemed to discover the Doomsday and the German government reversed its stance on nuclear energy almost over night.
In Tokyo work started again after a week and people made brave face to the ever-worsening situation in and around Fukushima. The death of the natural disaster was estimated up to over 25,000 human lives and reports of food shortages were heard.
I had planned a week's business trip to Europe in March to the Watch and Jewelry fair in Basel, Switzerland. In view of the situation I went there for two nights to report on the situation to family and company. Then I returned to Japan with a big package of foodstuff that had been prepared by my family back home. The customs in Narita winked me through without a word. After the hysteria in Europe during the two days I was quite happy to be back in Tokyo.
My Friend Tomohiro introduced me to a group of Japanese and foreign volunteers that had already been up to Ishinomaki before and were planning to go there again the following weekend. Friday night we set off north with a small convoy of cars and trucks with reliefs that had been organised by a Christian volunteer organisation.

The forces of nature have always fascinated me but the prospect of the visit to the tsunami area made uneasy. I was not sure what to expect.
I was careful not to intrude into the personal sphere of people with my photo taking.