The Matsui family from Japan share their experiences of the recent disaster through their daughter, Miho Matsui who works in Kuala Lumpur.

The Matsui family from Chiba prefecture - safe but alarmed

Miho - the daughter works in Kuala Lumpur

The images of the Japanese double disaster breaking on CNN seemed too surreal to be true for Japanese national Miho Matsui, a 25-year-old, working for a multinational in KL.

She could barely believe what seemed to be unfolding in North-east Japan as walls of water washed over townships, tossing aside ships and vehicles. Other footage showed earthquake hit Tokyo with survivors in a state of panic and alarm.

“I knew something was wrong when I was cut off in the middle of my conference call. The lines went dead in Tokyo. I tried calling again. But by then everyone had heard what was happening over in Japan and I was seeing the actual force of the disaster unfolding on television,” says Miho the daughter of Satoshi Matsui, a teacher in Tokyo and Hiroko Matsui, a homemaker.
“I just could not believe the extent of the disaster.”

The Matsui family lived in KL for some time when Satoshi was teaching at the Japanese school in KL. Miho was then a little girl, with large inquiring almond eyes, eager and curious about her new surroundings.

I used to teach Hiroko basic communication English and with time our friendship progressed from mere English lessons to tea and dinner with the family.

When news of the disaster struck, I was concerned and called my friends in Japan at once. They were shaken of course but reassured me that they were coping since they were in Chiba, away from Tokyo and the North-east of Japan. But the effects were still being experienced by them.
I then checked with Miho who also seemed very strong but her voice betrayed her emotions.

Over a light dinner we caught up. Miho shared some of her fears, anxieties and hopes too. “One hour later after frantically trying to call that Friday evening, I managed to speak to my mother. She was frightened of course since she had no news coverage, did not know what had happened and there was a blackout too,” related Miho. “She is also concerned since my grandmother is not too well.”

While the Matsui family may be away from the centre of the tremors or the devastation, the fear of radiation and other possible fallouts from the disaster has them worried.

Miho said her mother was alarmed since the sky outside their home in Chiba was terrifyingly red since parts of the town were ablaze. “I am sure my mother was frightened. But I was worried too not knowing what to do.
I was also not able to get in touch with my father who was stuck in Tokyo in his school. But he eventually drove back home, hours later since many of the roads were damaged.”

In Tokyo, her brother, thirty-something Ryo was busy at work as well. It took him hours before he reached his apartment. He walked home and later posted an update on himself. Through Facebook Miho knew her brother was safe. “My brother was also posting advice and tips for other fellow Japanese.”

Being away from the family at this moment of crisis is difficult for Miho since she wishes to be with her family.
“In the meantime all I can do is to keep in touch with my family through the phone. I just hope that things can get better.”