Earthquake and Tsunami in Tohoku area, March 11, 2011
Report and Information on Eastern Japan Diocese
update: Mar21
As you read magnitude 9 earthquake attacked the northeastern part of Japan. And 30 feet tsunami swept through the east coastal areas in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefecture. In addition to that, serious trouble happened in the nuclear station in Fukushima.
We received many emails with love and prayers and inquiries from brothers and sisters throughout the world.
For a while after the earthquake, the websites of the Orthodox Church in Japan and the Eastern Japan Diocese are still under difficulties to upload new information. On behalf of them, Western Japan Diocese provided current news and available information. Last week, OCJ website and Eastern Japan Diocese website were recovered.
Mar. 21
Among five church located on Sanriku Coast suffered by tsunami, Holy Annunciation Chapel was destroyed as shown below. The other three, St. John Theologian in Ishinomaki, Holy Protection Chapel in Joghedzutsumi, Ascension Church in Sakari(Ofunato) were safe. Holy Resurrection in Kesennuma is still unknown.
Holy Annunciation Chapel in Yamada (photo Mar. 18, by Aquira Arakawa)
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 Tsunami swept off the church building.Nothing remained but the concrete wall.
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Holy Annunciation Church before tsunami.Holy Ascension Church in Sakari(Ofunato) photo Mar.19
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Holy Ascension Church stands as before. This road devided disaster. Left of this road(mountain side) was safe. The towns down to the shore, right side of this road were terribly distructed. Thanks God, water did not arrive at the church. |
Mar.17, 2001
Second message by Bishop Seraphim and report on the state of church
Since the disaster happened, we are so grateful to many letters and emails from in and out of Japan. Although communucation is still short, we have been collecting information using various tools. Little by little, we could see the situation of churh and parish members. >>>read more
Mar.17, 2001
Fr. Vasilii Taguchi is safe!
Sendai church got contact with Fr. Vasilli and Matushka Maria. The St. John church building survived, too. The first floor ofthe temple and meeting hall were flooded. But second floor is usable. Lay leader is walking around the town and visiting members.
Mar. 17, 2001
Contribution for financial aide started
The Orthodox Church in Japan started invite contribution for the church and parishioners suffered.
In detail, please see the official website of OCJ, recovered.
The Orthodox Church in Japan
http://www.orthodoxjapan.jp/
Relief donation from abroad
Payee Account Number : 00150 – 0- 47756
Payee Name : NIHON HARISUTOSU SEIKYOUKAI
Payee Address : 4-1, KandaSurugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. 101-0062, JAPAN
Payee Telephone Number : 03-3291-1885
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„Currency : USD”
Intermediary Bank Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas NY
Intermediary Bank BIC（SWIFT Code）: BKTRUS33
Beneficiary Bank : Japan Post Bank
Branch : Head Office
Beneficiary Bank Address : 3-2, Kasumigaseki 1-chome, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo
100-8798, Japan
Beneficiary Bank BIC (SWIFT Code): JPPSJPJ1
Beneficiary Bank CHIPS UID : 427593
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” Currency : EUR ”
Intermediary Bank : Deutsche Bank AG Frankfurt
Intermediary Bank BIC（SWIFT Code）: DEUTDEFF
Beneficiary: Bank Japan Post Bank
Branch : Head Office
Beneficiary Bank Address 3-2, Kasumigaseki 1-chome, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo
100-8798, Japan
Beneficiary Bank BIC (SWIFT Code): JPPSJPJ1
Beneficiary Bank CHIPS UID : No-need
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Detailed information on remittance:
„Deposit to Japan Post Bank Account”
http://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en/djp/en_djp_index.html
Mar.16, 2001
Statements of Met.Daniel of Tokyo Archdiocese and All Japan and Bishop Seraphim of Sendai. (Japanese)
http://www8.ocn.ne.jp/~sendai/page029.html
Websites of Eastern Japan Diocese and Sendai are recovered
-Eastern Japan Diocese
http://www9.ocn.ne.jp/~higashi/
-Sendai
http://www8.ocn.ne.jp/~sendai/
Through the person finder site, we could know some parishioners are alive and staying at a shelter. But still no information about Fr. Vasillii Taguchi Michio and Matushka Maria. He has been Dean of Ishinomaki parish and in these months convalesced at home near coast.
Mar.15, 2011
Eastern Japan Diocese
Thanks God, Bishop Seraphim, Fr. Clement Kodama, Fr. Vasilii Kato are fine. The Holy Annunciation Cathedral in Sendai and Diocese office buildings were not seriously damaged.
Holy Ascention church in Ichinoseki, Elevation of Cross Church in Morioka are safe, too, even though small damages were found.
We have made contact with Fr. Michail in Morioka and Fr.Mark in Ichinoseki.
However, the church located on the Sanriku coast were supposed to be destroyed; Annunciation Church in Yamada, Holy Resurrection Church in Kesennuma, Holy Protection Church in Joghe-dzutusmi and St. John the Theologian church in Ishinomaki. The Diocese has not yet contacted with the parishioners of those church. 300 members are registered in the coastal area.
In addition to them, there are no information from three church and parish located further from the coast; Holy Transfiguration Chapel in Sanuma, Transfiguration Church in Takashimizu and Prophet Isaiah Church in Wakuya, in total, 80 members are registered.
Communication and electric sytems are seriously destroyed. Telephone, cell phone or internet are still in limited use. Roads and railways were cut off and, gas stations do not work. There are very few ways to contact with parishioners.
We have been searching missing people on google and picasa websites and found some members are alive
This afternoon, we received happy news, that the Ascention Church in Sakari exists and many of the parishioners are alive, too.
Tokyo and Kanto Area
In Tokyo, Met. Daniel, clergies, seminary students and office staffs were safe. The Cathedral and other buildings had small damage; window glass broken or cracks on the wall. We have not got any report any members seriously damaged.
The other churches in Kanato area and parishioners supposed not damaged, either.
When we have any news, we will upload as soon.
Source:www.orthodox-jp.com