“Safety Campaign” on the Ceremony of Remembrance in London to mark one year after the 3.11 Earthquake and Tsunami in UK”

A Japanese friend of our community attended the Ceremony of Remembrance to mark one year after the 3.11 Earthquake and Tsunami at the Embassy of Japan in London.

According to her, she thought that the Ambassador, Keiichi Hayashi's speech was so arrogant and insensitive.  For example, he said "Japan had been the biggest donor of foreign aid for many years but now we have become a recipient and we humbly accept it."  (She thought why he simply didn't say "we were overwhelmed and moved by people's kindness and encouragements from all over the world.)

He then went on to glorify Japan, saying "how wonderfully we have been coping with the after mass of the disaster and recoveries have been seen in lots of areas."  He also emphasized that there is no need to worry about the radioactive affects in Fukushima and the surrounding areas.  He carried on by saying, "To prove the safety of the food, we are going to serve you sushi, sake and vegetable canapés which ingredients are from Fukushima."

About 500 people who attended the ceremony were served with the so called "absolutely safe and delicious food"! 

She thought that the Ambassador is a typical Japanese bureaucrat and has been brainwashed not to raise any questions.  Although 70% of people who attended the ceremony were Japanese, however "The Ceremony of Remembrance" was like propaganda of "The safe Japan and The Resilient Japanese".

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According to my friend’s experience, Mr. Hayashi is underestimating the danger of radiation, not aware of what’s going on at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.  I think he should know that more and more tragedy is happening in Chernobyl even after 27 years later.