One Month in Tohoku: An Englishwoman's memoir on life after the Japanese tsunami

Description: One Month in Tohoku by Caroline Pover, Chris May, Sir David Warren, KCMG The decade-long story of the authors friendship with a remote community of samurai descendants. This is an uplifting story that makes readers cry tears of laughter as well as sorrow, and reassures us that there is love and laughter in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, and restores your faith in humanity during difficult times. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description On March 11, 2011, one of the biggest earthquakes in history occurred off the northeast coast of Japan, triggering a deadly tsunami that destroyed much of the Tohoku coastline.Driven by a desire to help the people of Tohoku, long-time Tokyo resident Caroline Pover embarked on a mission to collect emergency supplies from her native UK. Caroline delivered these supplies to an isolated part of Japan that even many Japanese have never heard of: the Oshika Peninsula. While there, she saw beyond the horror of the debris and destruction, and fell in love with the beauty of the landscape and the spirit of the people who had called the peninsula home for hundreds of years since their samurai ancestors first settled there. Compelled to do whatever she could to help, she promised to return, once more, just for a month ...One Month in Tohoku is the true story of what became the many months Caroline spent visiting Oshika. During extended periods of time over the course of many years, she lived alongside the people of Oshika, and they embraced her as one of their own -- she still visits them to this day. This book tells us about a very traditional way of life in a remote community that cares deeply about all who are a part of it. It is the story of how, after a disaster took away everything they had, these seemingly forgotten fishing communities are still rebuilding their lives. It is also the story of how a network of people from all over the globe were inspired to donate millions of yen to support families, schools, and businesses, and to never forget the survivors of the worlds costliest disaster.To commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the tsunami, Caroline has set out in words a deeply moving tale of the very human impact of a natural disaster. Readers will cry tears of laughter as well as tears of sadness, and be touched by Carolines surprising humour and honesty and that of her Oshika friends as they unexpectedly become so beloved to one another. This is the story of a beautiful friendship between a very determined Englishwoman and the incredibly brave and resilient fishermen, women, and children of Tohoku. Author Biography Caroline Pover was born in Devon in 1971, grew up in Plymouth, and attended Exeter University before moving to Tokyo in 1996, in search of adventure. She lived in Japan full-time for almost fifteen years, running a number of businesses, giving speeches, and winning numerous awards for her entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavours. Caroline unexpectedly ended up in the UK in the weeks after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. She spent the following years going back and forth between Japan and England, fundraising and also managing recovery projects for the remote fishing communities on Oshika - a peninsula that was very badly affected by the tsunami. To date, she has raised GBP170,000, which has funded over thirty different projects to help these communities rebuild. Caroline now lives in the Cotswolds, where she established Auntie Carolines - a pickled onion and chutney business. She goes home to Japan every year. This is her fifth book, and first memoir - she considers it her love letter to Oshika. Sir David was British ambassador to Japan from 2008 to 2012, having served twice before in the British embassy in Tokyo during his career with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). He was also head of the FCOs China Hong Kong department from 1998 to 2000, and a member of the FCOs board of management (as director of human resources) from 2004 to 2007. He retired from the FCO in January 2013. He is now visiting professor at Sheffield University, and chair of the council of the University of Kent. He is also chairman of the Japan Society, the leading independent body in the United Kingdom dedicated to UK-Japanese cultural, educational and business contacts, a member of the advisory board of Migration Matters, the campaigning group highlighting the benefits of legal migration, and a director of Aberdeen Japan Investment Trust. Table of Contents ForewordvAcknowledgmentsviiOshika Project SponsorsixPrefacexiiiIntroductionxviiContentsxxiiPrologue1ONE DAY IN TOHOKU31: Saipan52: England163: The Schools264: Heathrow405: Tokyo486: Oshika-hanto59ONE MONTH IN TOHOKU917: Preparation938: Back to Oshika1039: My Routine11110: Oharahama11911: The Ohara Boys13012: The Peninsula14313: Valentines Day15514: The Sasakis16315: The Donations17216: Farewells and the Future181ONE DECADE IN TOHOKU19717: Gardens19918: Ohara Summer Festival21219: Creating Beautiful Spaces22320: Creating Beautiful Memories23621: What to Wear24722: Remembrance25823: Settling26824: Shrines and Wines27825: A Princess28826: A Prince29927: New Homes31628: New Years33029: New Normal34530: The Tenth Year353BEHIND THE STORY373 Review "The book is a delight, and I would highly recommend reading as we move towards the 10 year anniversary (2021) of the quake / tsunami.""A deeply personal story with a universal theme: what can one person do in the face of unthinkable death and despair? One Month in Tohoku provides an unexpected but welcome answer: whatever we set our mind to ... [The book] a brilliant example of what is possible if we discard our jaded apathy and rediscover the joy of helping. A delight and a privilege to read.""This is a wonderful book by someone with a gift for harnessing compassion and enthusiasm to get important things done. Its about hope, optimism and, most of all, about love. Great read, and very authentic.""Caroline weaves an engaging story touching on so many different aspects of the earthquake, tsunami, and aftermath. Yes, there is heartbreak, but there is also hope and inspiration." "Fans of Japan, entrepreneurs, volunteer and community leaders, or those just looking for a good story will soon fall in love with this book and its author, Caroline. This personal memoir hits every emotion ... I found myself cheering for her through the pages while also becoming motivated to do more in my own community in the process. Great as a read for yourself, perfect as a gift for someone else.""It is an account of events there that has largely escaped main stream media-even in Japan. We all remember the devastating images of the raw destruction of the tsunami, which were plastered over global media. This memoir transports us into the lives of the people most directly affected by this destruction, long after the cameras have gone.""A captivating, inspiring and emotional real life story of the outplaying of compassion for the country Caroline fell in love with ... A compelling read that leaves you amazed at how one woman can do so much to change peoples lives for the better. It will make you weep, gasp, giggle and more as you (quite literally) hear Caroline tell her story.""This book is much more than just one month in Tohoku ... Although so much of it is sad, there is also so much that is good and happy. I think anyone who has ever considered voluntary work would enjoy reading this, especially those frustrated by the red tape which often prevents the right donations getting to the people who really need them." "As soon as I started reading this book, I was gripped. Caroline writes in a way that keeps you totally engrossed. I spent my days thinking about what Id read the night before and waiting for the evening when I could pick it up again. I laughed out loud, and I cried out loud too. I felt like I was living the journey in real time with her all the way. I havent read a book quite as moving in a long time ... This book isnt just a memoir, its an inspirational life changing must-read for everyone, and its hilarious too!" Promotional The author is a regular speaker at business and community groups, and has given a TED Talk, albeit on another topic. She is available for book signings or talks about living in Japan, volunteering, or other relevant topics to assist with marketing the book. Long Description On March 11, 2011, one of the biggest earthquakes in history occurred off the northeast coast of Japan, triggering a deadly tsunami that destroyed much of the Tohoku coastline. Driven by a desire to help the people of Tohoku, long-time Tokyo resident Caroline Pover embarked on a mission to collect emergency supplies from her native UK. Caroline delivered these supplies to an isolated part of Japan that even many Japanese have never heard of: the Oshika Peninsula. While there, she saw beyond the horror of the debris and destruction, and fell in love with the beauty of the landscape and the spirit of the people who had called the peninsula home for hundreds of years since their samurai ancestors first settled there. Compelled to do whatever she could to help, she promised to return, once more, just for a month ... One Month in Tohoku is the true story of what became the many months Caroline spent visiting Oshika. During extended periods of time over the course of many years, she lived alongside the people of Oshika, and they embraced her as one of their own -- she still visits them to this day. This book tells us about a very traditional way of life in a remote community that cares deeply about all who are a part of it. It is the story of how, after a disaster took away everything they had, these seemingly forgotten fishing communities are still rebuilding their lives. It is also the story of how a network of people from all over the globe were inspired to donate millions of yen to support families, schools, and businesses, and to never forget the survivors of the worlds costliest disaster. To commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the tsunami, Caroline has set out in words a deeply moving tale of the very human impact of a natural disaster. Readers will cry tears of laughter as well as tears of sadness, and be touched by Carolines surprising humour and honesty and that of her Oshika friends as they unexpectedly become so beloved to one another. This is the story of a beautiful friendship between a very determined Englishwoman and the incredibly brave and resilient fishermen, women, and children of Tohoku. Review Quote "Over the years I have followed some of what [Caroline] was doing to help the people of Oshika. Her sheer tenacity and determination left me in awe of her and her achievements, but it wasnt until I read this wonderful memoir that I really understood exactly what it took to provide such brilliant assistance to the Japanese people who needed help following their traumatic experiences. This book is such an effortlessly exquisite account of personal and incredibly human accounts of just what long-lasting effects the earthquake and tsunami wrought on the people of Tohoku. I found myself increasingly invested in the lives of the individuals who came into Carolines life as she did what she could to provide help. I think there are lessons to learn from how Caroline approached her vocation to help this remote region of Japan, by listening to people in order to help them in a way that suited them best, rather than deciding what they needed, and it just seemed to be the most perfect way to help the people rebuild their lives in the face of the adversity they had faced. I must confess I shed more than a few tears at the losses experienced by the people Caroline met and befriended, their tsunami stories were simply unimaginable, but in perfect balance to that aspect of this book, the humour and love shared between Caroline and the people of Oshika was so heart-warming, and in parts hysterically funny that there were a fair few tears of laughter too! I even learned a few useful words in Japanese reading this book! This book was such a moving account of Caroline Povers experiences in helping a large group of people who needed help. It made me face up to the fact that when aid is provided for a natural disaster, when the majority of charities eventually pull out of the area, help may still be vitally important, and without someone as tenacious as Caroline fighting their corner, it is hard to imagine how the people of Tohoku would have fared over the years. This book is a tribute, not only to the lives lost, but also to the lives lived, and how love and friendship can make all the difference in the most difficult of circumstances." -- Book Mad Jo Details ISBN1838072705 Author Sir David Warren, KCMG Pages 410 Publisher Alexandra Press Year 2020 ISBN-10 1838072705 ISBN-13 9781838072704 Publication Date 2020-08-31 Short Title One Month in Tohoku Language English Format Paperback UK Release Date 2020-08-31 Imprint Alexandra Press Country of Publication Japan Illustrations 100 photos 6 maps Subtitle An Englishwomans memoir on life after the Japanese tsunami Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:129722991;

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