Mar 14, 2011 Love Letter to Japan, Yoko Ono
I feel numb now, as if I was there myself and hit with this disaster as you have been. Only just recently I visited Tokyo, and was delighted how beautiful, clean and quiet the city was! I didn’t expect a disaster like this to happen to the country I love so much.
One year, John, my husband, Sean and I, were in the hotel in Tokyo. It was in the morning, and the earthquake suddenly hit three of us. I imemdiately grabbed Sean, who was still a little boy then. I went into an open closet, holding Sean tightly, and sat in there, keep repeating “Namyohorengekyo”. After the earthquake subsided, John laughed and said he didn’t understand why I sat in an open closet. I explained to him that it was important to be protected by a structure. Well, at least, that was what I was told when I was a child. The earthquake John, Sean and I experienced was not at all like the one you just experienced. But still my body is now shaking tonight from the memory of it.
So I feel deeply for you for having experienced the earthquake that was the severest in the history of Japan. It must have been so, so horrible. I extend my sympathy and love to each one of you. I’m very sorry that you had to go through what you went through. My heart is with you all the way.
With love,
yoko
Yoko Ono Lennon
New York City
11 March 2011.