Japan Book Club: The Big Wave – 5
To give you an idea of how the Japanese people work... The picture on the left is March 12, 2011 - the day after the earthquake. The picture on the right is just 6 days later.
This week you should finish The Big Wave.
Pearl S. Buck wrote The Big Wave more than 70 years before the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, yet there are so many similarities between what happened in the book and what happened in real life.
Often times “life imitates art,” which means that things often happen in real life just they way they’ve happened in a story, a book, a play, or a movie. This might be one time when it’s true.
Think about what you know about Japan, as well as what you learned from the story about the Japanese mindset and their attitudes toward life and death. Have your thoughts on Japan’s recovery from the 2011 tsunami changed since reading The Big Wave? How? Predict what you think will happen in the affected areas of Japan over the next year or so. Use examples from the text and from real life in your answers.
Be sure to type out your answers in complete sentences. Be sure to back up your ideas with some examples, evidence, or proof. Be sure to check back and see what other people say too. Be sure to comment on what they say.
Every student in our Japan group is required to participate. You must comment on this post with your thoughts (probably a good paragraph or two – maybe more), then, come back and comment on what other people have said – you are required to make an effort to keep the conversation going by replying to at least 2 other students (more than just “I agree” or “you are right.” Give them reasons why you agree/disagree or what they said that was meaningful – make this a discussion).
The next book we’ll read as a group will be The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Matsuo Basho (you can try to get a copy if you want, but I can email everyone an online copy for free when it’s time. After that, we’ll read The Old Man Mad About Drawing by Francois Place (so start to try and get yourself a copy of that one soon).
Minooka TAP 
Yes, my thoughts have changed. I thought at first that they would not recover from the tsunami/earthquake of 2011 for a few years. Though after reading The Big Wave, I believe that recovering from this disaster will not be as much of a struggle as I thought it would be. I think that in the affected areas of Japan, people will be in poverty, and the economy will be bad for a little while. But soon after, their economy will bounce back, maybe not as strong, but definitely not weak. This will make them, once again, a large tourist attraction.
I think your right on the fact that Japan will “bounce back”. I don’t think money will be the only thing fixed though. Many of the buildings and homes that were destroyed might begin to be fixed or rebuilt by the time we go to Japan. The economy is a major factor in this but at least things may begin to look like it once did before. The earthquake and tsunami definitley left it’s mark in Japan’s history but I think the Japanese are strong and that they will recover from this.
I felt the same way. I never thought that they would start to recover this fast. It amazes me how determined these people are, yet it also inspires me. I also agree that the people will be in poverty for a period of time, but the way things are going, it won’t be for very long at all.
I think that the people in Japan have more determination to recover from this disaster. If something like this happened to us, I can’t even guess how long it would take to get over something like what happened. So, it is pretty inspiring of what these people can do to get their home land back to… almost normal.
I agree with you Syd, I never could have imagined that they would start to recover so quickly after the tragedy. but this proves that Japan is a strong country
i agree because i could never see people bring something back so quickly.
My thoughts about the recovery of the 2011 Japenesse earthquake and tsunami have changed because the book showed me that the Japenesse people are stronge and will start to fix their country as soon as possible. Also, they will help others during tough times. Kino’s family helped Jiya in his time of need and raised him like their own son. What I think will happen to the affected area in the next year or so is that the Japenesse people will be starting to rebuild all that was damaged. In the book the town’s people also started to rebuild homes and such after about a year or so. The Japensse will start to live everyday lives again, but will never forget those who were lost.
That is exactly what I thought. The book really changes your perspective as far as how strong-headed they are. It truly is inspiring to see how positive the thoughts are that they will rebuild and recover quickly.
I never really knew how determined the Japanese were untill I read this book. As you said they are strong and will rebuild. If something like this happened to me, I don’t know how I would get along.
I always knew that they were strong, and would fight to get their country back to normal, but this book made me think about it more. It helped me see that if I were in their situation, I would do the exact same thing. I would fight until I was satisfied with what I had done.
Blair- i definitely agree that the book does shows how the Japanese are strong and fix their country, especially your prediction. But it does make sense for this to happen with any country that stick together. I would hope that if the USA were put into this position they would act in the same way.
Bobby, I don’t think that the United States would be able to recover quite as quickly as Japan. This is because they are more used to diasters than we are. They have been getting tsunamis and earthquakes throughout their history. They are a lot more prepared for natural diasters than the US.
I have to agree with jacob, bobby. The U.S has a thing for being lazy and we don’t like working alot. The us is in its infancy when it comes to preparing fo a natural disaster.
The recovery of the 2011 earthquake/tsunami definetely changed what I thought. In the Big Wave, before they had all the technology we have now, they were able to recover in a few years instead of decades, fearing that one day the wave would come back. Instead, they were able to rebuild on the same beach and wait for the next wave – if there the wave came back- and face it. This helps my prediction of what would happen to the affected areas in Japan; that is because of Japan’s technology and ways of not being overcome by fear, they are more likely to learn from this and face the next time a tsunami/earthquake that comes like Jiya did in the end; and be able to reconstruct like they did with the rode in the picture. Though they may live their lives similar to how they did before, they won’t forget what happened, but it doesn’t mean they won’t be able to carry out their lives like Jiya and the people who built their homes on the beach had.
Thats true, I never thought of that. They could be exactly like Jiya and not be scared of the big wave next time it comes. This would help them because then they wouldn’t live in fear the whole time. This leads them to rebuilding and advancing their society to go beyond their former society.
After reading the book, my thoughts had changed about Japan recovering. At first, I thought it would be devastating and almost impossible to recover from. After reading the book I now realized that the Japanese people have the strong willpower and determination to rebuild their home. In the book, people began to settle on the beach again even though that they knew another Tsunami could happen again. They do what they think is right and don’t stop untill it happens. Within the next year, I believe the infected areas will nearly be built back to be lived in again. Because of their determination, the Japanese will not put aside the fact that they could be next. Instead they face death in the face and, as Kino’s dad says, live life to the fullest.
The Japanese people definitley have a strong willpower and I agree that they are determined as well. The picture of the road above is a clear sign of their hardwork. Many things have been fixed since then. Right after the disaster, many travel routes were fixed so people could reach the victims. The country is beginning to rebuild itself and with all the volunteers that want to help I’m sure that they will soon return to life at least similar as to what it was like before.
I would definately think that it would be impossible to repair my country, if i lived in Japan. But once I think about it, the Japanese citizens are strong enough to repair. They can get through it. Everyone gets through their tough times, as long as they work through it.
You are so right, I thought the same thing when the earthquake/tsunami hit Japan.
My thoughts about the recovery for Japan are that they will move on with their lives, just knowing that they know it might happen again. My thoughts haven’t really changed after i read the story because, they already know that another tragedy might happen. they have to live knowing that something even more dangerous could happpen to them any second but they dont worry because that isnt a way to live as a good japaneese how they say in the story. I think that in the affected areas of Japan they will try their hardest to make it the same and move on , but it wont be easy because it will take some time.
In the book it took a long time just to rack up the nerve to build something on the beach. I think the hardest part for people is to move on with their lives just like you said.
This is true Ebony, and i agree that the most difficult thing for people will be moving on, knowing that another tragedy could strike.
When the earthquake and tsunami first happened i thought it it would take it forever to recover after reading the big wave I realized they will recover a lot faster then i origanly expected. Also it proves that the Japanese are strong and they live life excepting the fact that these things could happen to them. Also the people who do experince it don’t live the rest of their life fearing another day that it might happen agian they move on. Also they do have better technology advancements that make it easier to recover and making less destruction. And the bounce back that happened in the book can be faster for Japan.
That’s what I’m thinking too, that Japan’s technology will make a great difference in the repairs of everything. I think it’s amazing how the Japanese can be so open-minded even back then like Jiya facing the next wave comes.
The technology there will definetly help them. The Japanese are so technically advance its insane. They have things there that we won’t see untill five years from now. I never would have thought that that would have come to their advantage.
The technology advancements will help the Japanese a lot. The advancements cut down a lot of time and manual labor need to rebuild a building. Anybody who has experienced such a terrible disaster has defiantly learned to live their life to the fullest. People with that sort of background are much stronger.
I agree, because Japan does have a lot of advanced technology. They can do so much with it, especially repair their country. If America could repair the u.s. after the Civil War, with limited, not – so advanced technology, then Japan can defiantely go far with their repairs!
i agree the people that experienced it wont be fearing it again. theyll live their life day by day
It’s not that my thoughts have changed; it’s more like my eye’s have been opened. I now see that it might not take years to recover but more like a year. Yes, the mental damage has been done to the people in Japan but I now see that the physical damage maybe barely vivsible by the time we go there. I believe the main reason this can happen though is the people’s perseverence and dedication. The picture of the road the day after the earthquake and the other picture of it 6 days later just shows that. In the book, Jiya goes back to live on the beach. The people rebuild what use to be and they prove it’s possible to move on. In the next year or so, I think the buildings that were partially damaged will be fixed, houses will be built, and the buildings that were destroyed will at least begin to be rebuilt. Things will eventually return to what it used to be, or at least similar.
I agree. It is kind of like a cycle. The village gets built (or rebuilt), people inhabit it, a tsunami comes, people get scared over what they lost, people get over the tsunami and losses, and then people finally get back to rebuild there and re inhabit the area.
At first I thought that we would be going despite the earthquake and the meltdown. However, After the second earthquake i was very skeptical a bout going to Japan. I did and still think it is unsafe to go to Japan. There is alot of radiation and it’s just not safe because they aren’t filtering what food and water is contaminated in Japan and what food isn’t.
Then why are you going?
My mindset hasn’t really changed at all. I always knew that the Japanese were very strong emotionally, and have been through many earthquakes and tsunami’s before. This book just reinforced this idea for me. I think that it will take many years before everything will be restored back to normal. Since the Japanese are so prepared and ready for what to do in this situation, that it will just help them out in the long run, and they will probably end up rebuilding the areas much faster and possibly better than it was before, unlike other places in the world. If a tsunami would hit us right now, everybody would, most likely, be panicking, yet the Japanese were really calm and collected. I think that people who live through something like a tsunami, learn how to value and respect life.
It is like Kino’s father he has been throught the big wave two times. That is why he was so calm and collective when the third wave came and I think when time comes Jiya will be too.
Your thoughts may not have changed, but I know that it affected you at one point. When you heard about the tsunami you had to have a few doubts, but your right, i think they will make there country better and more prepared for the next tsunami.
The way I used to think about Japan, was that everyone was scared that they were going to die, and would always live in the past, and constantly think about the dead. I still think the same, but I now realize how brave these people are, to continue living the way they once did. I admire anyone, and everyone who has been brave enough to live through the tsunami and earthquake, and still try to live a normal life. The Japanese people most likely want to move on, so they will try and get everything back to normal as fast as possible, and I hope they can. I know that they will continue dwelling over their dead families and friends, but I’m sure they know that it is possible to move on, but they should never forget.
I think the Japanese people – with their will of being able to move on so quickly – is really amazing since they try so hard and KNOW that it’s possible to. That’s probably a reason why I think the Japanese are so astonishing, because they think differently than I or anyone else I know think.
I agree with you, i think that it is amazing how well they are handling the tsunami mentally. Just by seeing the survivors and how they face what has happened and made the best of what they were given.
What has happened in the Big Wave has not really changed my mind of Japans recovery since the March 2011 earthquake. It more reinforced my previous thought that things will get better. When I read the part that people began to build houses on the beach after so many years I thought that was Japan almost 70 years ago without technology and this is Japan now where they are one of the most technology advanced nations in the world.
I believe that with the technology at hand Japan would repair itself faster than it did in the Big Wave. Around 50 years from now or less there will probably not be any signs of radiation in the air, water, or food and it will finally be safe to live life like the days before the tsunami.
You’re absolutely right, now-a-days Japan is one of the few countries with amazing new technology, and with that they should be able to repair their country even faster than they could 70 years ago. So hopefully they’re completely done in a few years.
Emotionally though, it might take longer than a couple of years. People might never get over what happened. Hopefully, the people in Japan will be brave like Jiya and oped their windows to the ocean.
I agree with meghan, it will probably take a lot longer for the Japanese to mentally recover, but as Mark and Lyssette said, it will take a lot shorter of a time physically.
I like how you reinforced that Japan will recover quickly by comparing how they have a lot better technology than before. I never thought about it that way before.
I think that it would take a lot less time than 50 years to make japan raidiation free.
My thoughts on the 2011 tsunami and earthquake have changed a lot. At first when everything happened, I was just worried on whether or not I would be able to go to Japan. After I read “The Big Wave,” my thoughts shifted. I started thinking about those in Japan without families, and homes. I thought that maybe there could be a way we could help them on our visit to Japan. I understand that the citizens in Japan are coping with everyday life, not bein g able to see their family, and having to struggle to find a home.I think that the people in Japan will work hard to repair their country as much as they can.
At the beginning I also didn’t think we could still go. But now I know that everything will be fine when we get there. And it would be awesome do something to help them while were there. Ask Mr. C about that.
I think that the japanese will be able to rebuild too, They will work hard to have a normal life again. And i was afraid when I heard that there was a horrible earthquake and tsunami on a normal morning, i thought i wouldnt be able to go to Japan either.
My thoughts on japan have changed but my thoughts on the earthquake haven’t. From the occurrences in the book it showed me how life is though the eyes of the Japanese. Also how they are a very strong race even after losing everything i ever had. My thoughts on the earthquake haven’t changed i always knew that it obviously was extremely bad and caused major damage and can not be changed. I believe over the next year or so everything will be continued to be rebuilt and trying to clean up the nuclear mess because that can be unsafe for their whole country.
I think they will be able to rebuild too, the picture at the top convinced me even more.
When the people moved back to the beach in the book I didn’t understand until they explained themselves. Now I know why the Japanese continue to live on their island. The Japanese are very brave people.
I predict that the japanese will rebuild everything. They will probably try to cut down on their nuclear power by a lot. Seeing in the book how the people moved back to the beach makes me think that that will happen in real life, and the Japanese will move back to the areas they used to live in.
I agree that seeing in the book how people moved back to the beach amkes us think that it will happen in real life. I think that would be a big step ion the road to recovery.
I completly agree that the Japanese are very brave for staying on their land.
You know, when the earthquake first happened, I was very scared and thinking, “what’s gonna happen now?”. But this book really did change my mind about this rebuilding change. It shows that anything’s possible when everyone can work together and work hard to make everything better. Love, hard work, support, and teamwork all play a big role in the situation. The people in the book were very brave and that also helped them bounce back. All these things make a difference, and just like the book, I think the real Japanese people can do it. At the beginning, I thought it would take a long time. But after reading this, and hearing how great the Japanese are doing, this country should be good as new in no time.
I agree with your first thoughts Mark on how would such a country react to this occurrence but after reading the book it explains that they have been through something like this before and have to deal with it.
I honestly do agree with you mark. The Japanese have a (obious) way with quickly rebuilding and how this works. With all of the qualities that you said, the Japanese people can and will rebuild in no time.
Yea i agree i thought that fo a while people would still be in shock and not know what to do but your right they took control so they could build the country back.
My thought has definatly change since I had read The Big Wave. I thought Japan would fall apart. but from reading The Big Wave, I learned that the japanese people are very brave and strong. The picture at the top convinced me that they will work to have a normal life and they will keep trying to live, even if their family died in the tsunami. I just hope they are all fine with the nuclear plant. In the book, I would think that Jiya could never get over what happened to his family, but now I know that he will be fine.
Drew is right. I also thought The Northern Japan would fall apart. But now i realize that the “Japanese people are very brave and strong.”
After reading this book, my thoughts have changed about the 2011 tsunami in Japan. At first, i thought everyone would never be able to move on. I thought everyone would have to live the rest of their lives in devastation and never recover. When i finished this book, my thoughts changed a lot about the tsunami and earthquake in Japan earlier this year. Now I can predict that now, people will start to recover and moved passed what has happened. If the wave ever comes back, the people of Japan will face is like Jiya plans to do if it ever comes back. I think that the affected areas of Japan will work together to start their lives fresh. Like Jiya, everyone in the end will live again.
My thoughts about Japan and the 2011 earthquake/tsunami have changed. At first i thought that it wold take years to reconstruct their town and gain back their confidence. But now after reading “The Big Wave” i see that it doesnt take long to recover. In the next couple years people with start to move back just like in the book. I think they will gain their courage and confidence back and start to go back into the ocean. They willl not be afraid of the ocean anymore and go back to their life where they left off before the tsunami. They will prepare for whatever fate brings to them in the future.
I agree that they will gain their courage and confidence, but think about it, dont you think that they would be afraid to go back to the ocean for a while after all of the disasters occored ?
I think that the people of Japan will definably have a great progress in their recovery within the next year. As did the people that were mentioned in the Big Wave, I think that in will be more of a mental process than a physical. Before reading the Big Wave i was expecting Japan’s recovery to take a minimum of about ten years, but my estimate has gone from tat to about 8 years. Though the people of the Big Wave did not have any radiation problems, i believe that they had more of a mental insecurity than the Japanese today.
Reading this book let me feel a little bit more of what the Japanese are currently going through. Though i don’t think I will ever be able to fully comprehend what they are actually going through, i can at least try.
I agree, Jackie. I thought that Japan will spend so much time to recover from the disaster but after I read the book, that all changed. Now I believe that they can try to put themselves together quicker and learn to respect life with how it is.
After reading the book, my thoughts on the recovery of the 2011 tsunami/earthquake have changed. I used to think that it would take Japan years to recover from this. But now I believe that Japan is strong and will rebuild and be a strong, powerful country again. The hardest thing for people will most likely be being able to move on with their lives after this.
I used to believe the same thing i thought we would not have even be able to go to japan this has shown me and some of my family that the japense is strong.
i didn’t think we would be able to go to japan when this happened ether. but now that i see how japan deals with tragetys i realized that we would be able to go because they recover fast like nothing happened.
The Japanese’s attitudes toward life and death are very much different that ours. They beleive that death is a beautiful thing and many of us are scared to die. My thoughts have changed about the recent tsunami since reading the Big Wave. I now know that it takes much time for anyone to recover from something like that. I now know what their feelings were when all of these disasters occored. I think that Japan will have countless earthquakes over the next year, I’m not sure that Japan will ever fully recover from a disaster such as this.
After reading The Big Wave, my thoughts have greatly changed. I thought that after the wave, Kino, his family, and Jiya would never recover and possibly move to avoid another disaster similar to the wave. Although it did take a while to recover, the characters in the book reflected to death as something great and something Japanese should not fear. From the 2011 tsunami in Japan, I believe that all the affected areas in Japan would slowly put themselves together and move on. If a tsunami ever comes back, I predict that the people of Japan will be prepared to only face the worst like Jiya and Kino’s family. Other than that, I also believe that throughout time, they will all learn to live and respect life with how it is.
I had the same way of thinking when i read that book Hannah. But, i think that using both pictures at the top, that the whole thing would be fixed in less than a year. Still, i respect your way of thinking Hannah.
My thoughts really have changed since reading The Big Wave about how the Japanese recovery system works. If you told me this about a year ago, i would’ve thought that they would recover slowly, sort of like how only a third of The Big Easy has been rebuilt. Seeing how that road was reconstructed only six days since the earthquake really opened my eyes. I would think for Japan, since seeing those pictures and reading the big wave, that the whole incident would be fixed and blown over in less than a year.
my mind set has changed SO much from the book because it showed me that people will be able to start to build and recover japan very quickly. they will also be able join together to help each other heal easier/quicker. japan will start to recover the effected land and it will be as good as new very soon. people in the big wave start to restart after a few months or so..
I like how you inculded that they, the people themselves, will help each other to heal. I almost for got about the people when I was reading the book looking for “book support”.
I think the japense is very wise and reading this book helped me better understand how some people was feeling during the recent tsunami mostly the ones who left behind family that passed or went missing . It also showed me they are hard workers . And soon enough japan would be back to its old self maybe not that good but be better soon,
My thoughts have changed about Japans recovery. Since reading the book, I realize that Japan will recover from the tsunami and earthquake very quickly. Japan has the ability to recover at a very fast rate. The Big Wave showed me that the Japanese will recover and move on almost like nothing happened.
“…almost like nothing happened.” That makes me wonder if they will forget about it completely and forget all those who had been lost.
i don’t think they will fotget what happened or who they lost. i think what that means is they rebuild and repair damage so fast that it is like nothing happened.
My thoughts haven’t quite changed. I knew from the start that Japan will eventally make a full recovery. But now, I have a better understanding of what it felt like the go threw the tsunami. The picture you even post shows that at the end of every tunnel there is a light. As the years go on, areas will return to what they were like orgenally. But while people still fear those spots were tradigidy struck, other cities and towns will make some room for the people of Japan. But then cities will become a wee bit crowarded and people will move back out to where they onced lived, just like how the fishermen families didn’t return back to the sandy shores of Kino’s town for a while.
my thoughts have changed about japan. i realized that japan is capibel of recovering fast from trageteys. japan is use to alot of things like this happening so they are prepared. they rebild things fast and move on like they didn’t happen.