Attended the symposium, “The Great East Japan Earthquake: Creative Responses & Social Imagination.” It was wonderful day to know how many people in NY have strong interest and compassion in Tohoku Japan. Various speakers told us their own experience and story. Especially, I was impressed from Jake Price. I could not only listen to his speech but also talk in person at the reception, and dinner after the symposium. Jake told me, in response to my question “how did you balance your professionalism or journalism and your emotional feeling?”, that it was impossible to keep distance as a journalist and he didn’t regard his project in Tohoku as journalism. I saw many photographers who had complexity in taking photos in that area. His honesty made me feel that he is a really respectable person. As a final speaker, I made a speech on my projects in Oshia Peninsula. I told our micro, but specific experience and story with individuals. But, though I spoke as an individual, I felt some expansion of connection and compassion with many more people in Japan and NY.
I really thank organizers CJR members for their great dedication and sophisticated operations. I hope I could play as a speaker because that would be the best thing I can do to express my gratitude to organizers.
シンポジウム”The Great East Japan Earthquake: Creative Responses & Social Imagination.”に参加。あっという間だったけど、本当に良い一日だったな…自分の役目を、果たせたと思う。海を越えて、橋はきっと架かっている。
運営の方々と、残られた一部のスピーカーの方々と大学近くのレストランで食事をして帰った。アパートがある168thの駅に降り立ってちょうど数分後に、日本時間で2:46pmを迎えるタイミングになった(時差は13時間)。家に向かう途中、立ち止まって少しだけ黙祷した。