Diary of March 11th

It was a beautiful Friday afternoon just like today. I was stuck in the office, writing up articles about peripheral issues or just waiting for the deadline.

Suddenly atmosphere inside the newsroom changed. The alarm that delievers breaking news started to ring. Out-of-focus photos taken upside-down in AP's Tokyo office were on the wire. People stopped what they were doing and gathered around the TV. NHK's breaking news was urgently reporting on strong earthquake in East Japan.

That afternoon exerted strong influence on my life and the impact has survived in various forms, especially on my short-lived career in journalism. In fact, it was the very first time I felt the sense of helplessness that distressed me for years.

5 years have passed. I left newsroom to run away from all the tragedies, disasters, agonies, and frustrations out there. I still don't know whether it was the best way for recovery.

It's a beautiful Friday afternoon as it was 5 years ago, and a meaningful day too. May all who have suffered find their ways to recover too.