Two years after the 311 earthquake: Japanese photographer exhibits 'Grateful Taiwan' portraits of 100 people on Taipei streets

Reported and photographed by You T-Ru / Taipei

"It's been two full years since the 311 tsunami, and we must never forget to thank Taiwan!" Today (March 11), near a Taipei MRT station, a Japanese man lay on the ground, slowly piecing together dozens of posters. The posters featured backgrounds of ruins, classrooms, and train stations, all showing different people holding signs with a common message: "Thank you, Taiwan."

 
▲ Near a Taipei MRT station, photographer Masayuki placed photos of people holding signs on the ground, all displaying the same message: "Thank you, Taiwan."

"Thank you for Taiwan’s support for the Japanese people—we will never forget, and we must remind ourselves not to forget either." This project, called 'Grateful Taiwan,' was initiated by photographer Masayuki from Nagoya. "Within two years of the earthquake, I went to Tohoku three times and Taiwan twice. I took these photos so that one day I could hold this photo exhibition in Taiwan." Masayuki bowed repeatedly to me, endlessly expressing his gratitude, his eyes filled with sincere and tender appreciation for the Taiwanese people.


▲ A local reporter in Tohoku holds a sign in front of a boat that had been washed ashore by the tsunami, thanking Taiwan. (Photo / from MASA'S EYE Photography)


▲ The background shows a scene of ruins. (Photo / from MASA'S EYE Photography)



▲ On the map of Japan is a big heart—that heart was given by Taiwan. (Photo / from MASA'S EYE Photography)

Masayuki became a hemiplegic in 2005 after breaking both legs, leaving him disabled. Though he looked no different from others on the outside, he could no longer perform labor-intensive jobs that required long periods of standing. After the massive Japanese tsunami, Masayuki began to think about what he could do for his hometown. Considering he couldn’t stand on the front lines with others to clean up and rebuild disaster zones, Masayuki decided to use his photography skills to document the current state of Japan and to convey the Japanese people’s gratitude through his images.

"Last September (2011), that was my third trip to Tohoku to take photos. When I drove into 'Rikuzentakata City,' where only two people survived, I couldn’t believe my eyes—everything I saw was nothing but rubble." While driving through the disaster zone, Masayuki compared the scenes with the car’s built-in navigation map. "What shocked me was that the map still showed convenience stores, shopping centers, and houses—but everything in front of me was gone." Two years after the tsunami, Masayuki said that Japanese people still feel sorrow; those buildings, whether gone or still standing, remain emotional scars.




▲ They said: "We can still smile and live our lives—thank you, Taiwan." (Photo / from MASA'S EYE Photography)

After the tsunami, disaster victims across Tohoku were urgently evacuated to shelters everywhere. While everyone was still in the depths of despair, civilian groups suddenly appeared, distributing around 100,000 Japanese yen in consolation money to each person. "They said it was from the Taiwanese people. The Taiwanese didn’t ask survivors to fill out any application forms or inquire who the money should go to—if you lived there, you could get the money right away." For the 311 disaster victims, though 100,000 yen could only cover a few meals, it felt like a blessing from the heavens, becoming an everlasting touching memory in their hearts.
"Though I don’t live in the disaster zone, I am Japanese, and I want to stand on the streets of Taiwan with my own strength to let every Taiwanese know—thank you. You gave Japan the strength to stand up again." Masayuki held up a "Thank you, Taiwan" banner that he and his mother painted together. I noticed some small words at the back, reading 'Let’s go to America together.' He smiled shyly and said that was a wish he made a few days ago while cheering with Taiwanese fans at the city hall. "I told myself I must never forget the Taiwanese people’s kindness."


▲ Gathering “Thank you, Taiwan” messages from all over, Masayuki said: "I told myself I must never forget the Taiwanese people’s kindness." (Photo / from MASA'S EYE Photography)