14 years After the Tsunami

The siren went off about half an hour ago, reminding us of the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011.

No one who was living here at the time needs to be reminded of the fear and panic as the magnitude 9 quake slammed into our buildings, testing the Japanese structures beyond normal measure.

No one who watched neighborhoods washed away on the news or worse from meters below their evacuation points needs a other reminder.

But another year has passed. Another year since all of those people perished. Another year since we reclaimed what we could and rebuilt lives anew.

The sun still rises, beautiful as ever, over the sea that killed tens of thousands 14 years ago.

Here we are in 2025. Japanese houses are safe. Miyagi likely has at least another decade and a half before another big quake, and my country across the Pacific falls to fascism a little more every single day.

Will we be able to rebuild from that? How long will it take? And how many tens of thousands will die to trump's policies?

My bet is on his presidency costing humanity more than the tsunami did in numbers alone.