This bulletin is the most up-to-date information about the situation in Japan in the Miyagi Prefecture. Dr. Ayame Morikawa is at the forefront of getting vital TFT to those who are suffering:
Dear all,
CRT Report (Apr.29-May 5)
In 3.11 terrible earthquake and tsunami 15019 lost their lives, 9506 are missing, 5282 are injured as of today.
Tsunami attacked 500 km of north to south along the Pacific Cost and destroyed around 2 km of costline areas.
Really devasted as seen on the news and you tube.
Our JATFT CRT sent 2 psychiatrists, 2 psychologists(including myself), and 1 nurse to Miyagi National Hospital that was established in 1939 and holds 14 departments.
They do not have psychiatry department. So our team served as their psychiatric department.
The tsunami reached 50 meters before the hospital.
The hospital is located in the very south part of Miyagi prefecture at the border of Fukushima prefecture. It is located 60 km from the atomic power plant.
The town, Yamamoto-Cho, had about 17,000 population and lost 900 lives.
The town is famous for strawberry and apple farms.
Apple farms are in the mountain area and safe, but only 2 or 3 strawberry farms left among 500 farms. Most of them were located in the costline.
We have aimed at supporting nurses who are working there and have lost their families and houses.
Dr. Nakahara, D.D.S. at the Hospital is our member, Diagnostic Level, arranged our schedule and found nursing care-facility and nursing school around the hospital lost many old people, workers, and some small children.
So she arranged our support to them, too.
People in the East-north area are very traditional where very few psychiatric hospital, psychologists, and counselor.
CRTs of psychological care were sent from other prefectures,
but people are so conservative about mental care.
Some shelters put ”No counselors, no medias” on the door.
So we thought it is too early to get in touch with refugees in shelters, but the hospital found some people who may need help and gave us chances to visit the shelters.
We visited all six shelters in the town.
We were introduced as meridian therapists, so many old people thought we were acupuncturists.
So acually it was good to start with. Many old poeple claimed for their physical pain.
We taught TFT mainly by groups, but sometimes individually when they start crying.
The hospital planned my TFT seminar at night. More than 60 people joined, including public service people, doctors, nurses, teachers, and defence forces.
One of volunteer body therapists asked me a question.
Many massage therapists offer body care and listen refugee’s stories. ”A man tried to hold all three children’s arms, but he only could hold one in the water….”
“A woman held her old father’s arm, but he left his own hand by himself and said go and be safe….”
The therapist’s colleagues cannot sleep remembering those telling stories. I showed them tapping.
We treated 25 individually, 30 in group counseling, and 50 refugees.
Fortunately 2 elementary schools and 1 junior high school were attacked by tsunami but safe.
However, they saw the terrible tsunami, and some children lost their families.
The schools want help, and we are planning to send school counselors next time.
The Miyagi is about 400 km from Tokyo,
The roads were destroyed, and the only highway was available.
There was heavy traffic jam.
Dr. Tanekura and I drove cars, and it took 10 hours.
CB2 was very helpful to relieve my shoulder tension.
Thank you for your great assistance and warm support.
We really appreciate you, ATFT.
Ganbarou, Nippon!
Warmly,
Ayame Morikawa, PhD, VT
Chairperson, Japanese Association for TFT
Please donate through the UK ATFT Foundation, through the Secretary/Treasurer, Phyll Robson, r.robson2@btinternet.com .