Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Apple of My Eye


I found some red apples at the supermarket on my way home today.

The apples reminded me of the radio station in Yamamoto-cho, the little town in Miyagi where I was a few weeks ago. The radio station started out as a disaster information broadcast for the people of Yamamoto-cho almost a week after the earthquake.

Yamamoto-cho is apparently known for their delicious strawberries, apples, and surf clams. But because the tsunami swept away almost all the greenhouses that grew strawberries and the surf clams, the only local product that was left were the apples. And so they named the station Ringo Radio because the apples (ringo) survived the tsunami. 

This station actually consists of a couple of folding tables that are placed in the lobby of the town hall. So you can see and here when they are broadcasting. We were always tuned in to this station at the soup kitchen and there were times we heard the phone ringing or someone calling out a name on air, which we all thought was hilarious! But that was just part of this radio's charm.



The radio station became quite widely known and many famous people have come to raise awareness or to volunteer. But the main DJ, who is a former broadcaster who now lives in Yamamoto-cho, also interviews local people and various volunteers.

In this photo a dear friend, who I worked with at the soup kitchen, was being interviewed about her week here and what we were doing. And the rest of us were around the table cheering her on, since it's on live. The DJ has a blog that he updates almost everyday and he actually posted a picture of all of us there that day! (See here.)

The radio was recently changed from a disaster broadcast to a regular broadcast of Yamamoto-cho. And I hear that they will be getting their own prefab housing as a studio at the end of this month. No more ringing or voices in the background. But I'm sure the radio station will play an important part in the recovery of the area through their local information and encouraging programs.

"We will rise again, like the sun rises every morning." (Ringo Radio Motto)

(There is a story behind this photo of a poem written on this cardboard here.)

14 comments:

  1. that must've been a memorable experience for you Kaori,
    weren't you interviewed too?! ^0^
    i also like what the inspiring cardboard poem said.

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  2. Oh no...I don't like talking in front of people, much less on live radio! haha. I was having too much fun taking photos! But it really was a memorable experience :D

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  3. I loved all of it -- the writing, the pictures, the poem. Through your blog I get a much more compelling picture of what it's like in Japan today than I do from any commercial news source.

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  4. It's wonderful that you are sharing this experience you had in helping these people. It may inspire others to do the same.
    Have a happy day and I hope it's not too hot in Tokyo today!

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  5. Another one of your fabulous posts, I can't get enough of them!

    (But you should talk to an audience!)

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  6. Good post - enjoyed it very much.

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  7. Wait a minute! Aren't you going to tell us which one is YOU!? I've eliminated the woman in front with the purple t-shirt as your friend who was interviewed. Not either one of the two guys, unless I've been wrong about you being female :-D! I was looking to see if any of the other women were holding a camera, but nooooo.... Nice story, Kaori. I really appreciate the sense of community you articulate so well.

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  8. I followed closely Francisca's deductive work, is she right?

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  9. Great post - quite the story behind that radio station. I also followed Francisca's logic, I wonder...

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  10. Karin -- Thank you! I felt I learned a lot more by actually being there, too :-)

    Ken -- Thank you for letting me share the experience! It's hot but not as muggy as it was before, thank god ;D

    Ciel -- Thanks so much! And as I'd like to refrain from having a heartattack, no audiences for me! ;-D

    Evelyn -- Thank you! I'm really not great with words and have a hard time trying to figure out what to write...but I'm glad you liked it :0)

    Francisca, VP, Al -- I guess I forgot to point out where I am, didn't I? Well, I'm the one in the inappropriate t-shirt that says "I Love British Boys!" haha! (Had no idea the DJ would want to take a picture of us!)

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  11. Fantastic post Kaori, so interesting and now we all know what you look like, gorgeous!!

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  12. Thumbs up for Ringo Radio ! :)

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  13. Those look like yummy apples! If you made them into apple crisp or apple cake, I might have come over for a visit!

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Thank you so much! Love it when you comment! xx