Pinoys in Japan aid in disaster-awareness comics on 2011 tsunami tragedy

(Updated 8:59 a.m., March 11) - The second anniversary of the devastating March 11, 2011 quake and tsunami that devastated Japan is fast approaching. Both the Philippines and Japan issued manga (comics) about the tragedy in hopes it would raise disaster awareness.

 

The feature comics by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and the Japan International Cooperation Agency are based on eyewitnesses’ accounts of the March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

 

"[Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr.] said that people will have an idea on how to prepare for tsunami and earthquake based on the two comics which feature the 2011 Japan earthquake experiences of Imelda Suzuki and Lorna Kikuta," the Phivolcs said.

 

Solidum and Takahiro Sasaki of JICA Philippines jointly unveiled the two comics entitled “Ang Huling Sayonara (Ang Huling Paalam)” and “Daang Mapanganib.”

 

“In order to translate the lessons learnt into further effective counter measures for earthquake and tsunami disasters in the world, and mitigate damages and as much as possible target for zero casualty here in the Philippines and in Japan, the JICA Philippine office embarks on an important task to raise up the activities in recalling the voice of Tsunami victims and conveying the valuable experience an lessons to the people of the Philippines as well as in Japan," Sasaki said.

 

He said Phivolcs and the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED) documented interviews and testimonies of Japan-based Filipinos who experienced the disaster firsthand.

 

The 2011 quake and tsunami was considered the most powerful quake to hit Japan in modern times, leaving thousands dead and injured.

 

Phivolcs made the comics available for download in PDF format. "Daang Mapanganib" is a 1,675KB download while "Ang Huling Sayonara" is 1,665KB.

 

A separate report on dzBB radio said the comics may be particularly useful in parts of the country that may be prone to a tsunami. – KDM, GMA News