When Tsunami Hit Japan...

Tsunami- Water Monster (Courtesy: Guardian)

It's irony that Japan invented the word 'Tsunami' and never thought that it would turn its fury against its own. Since last Friday, we have seen and heard on TV or other media the exceedingly ferocious fury of tsunami and its aftermath on Japan in particular and the world in general. It's disheartening to see the country in crisis.   

For the last couple of years, Japan has been in a state of down-trend in the world economy chart. The former Asian economy giant hit a major setback recently after China toppled them to get to the second spot only after the United States. In fact, Japan had held the second spot for the last four decades or so. Now seeing after the cataclysmic earthquake of 9.0 magnitude on Richter scale on Thursday and followed by the mammoth sized 23 foot high tsunami on Friday, and the colossal aftermath thereafter, it's expected, for sure, for the Japan's down-trend in the near future or so.      

What a mess! (Photo Courtesy: Huffington Post)

Now, Nikkei is sinking. Most companies have shut down their factories and plants. And for a country whose economy depends on 80% of its exports to other countries, this means a huge dampening effect on the economy of Japan. In fact, the Japanese Prime Minister today termed this disaster as the biggest crisis after the WWII. With a few thousand deaths thanks to its preparedness, and more than 10,000 missing, the search is still on. And now another Chernobyl-like nuclear disaster looms large on the horizon. 


In a country where people feel tremor every five minutes and upto 2000 quakes in a year, owing to its geographical location in the so called Ring of Fire, magnitude of this disaster was never on people's mind. The powerful tsunami swallowed everything in its path, buildings, cars and other debris. A huge, huge water monster indeed. And its consequence far exceeding than anyone could think of.   

And now there is also a rumor milling around the corner as Supermoon comes close by on March 19th this year. Many astrologers associate supermoons with natural disasters and cite the examples of Indonesian earthquake in 2005, which caused massive destruction in many countries, including India, and the massive flood in Australia in 1955, which all happened within days of supermoons. But many experts deny the direct link of supermoons with disasters. 

But, I would say, though, that Moon and water are linked indirectly or directly. When full moon comes, the water tide becomes high, sometimes exceedingly high. I used to go to Juhu Beach (Mumbai) on full moon days, it's true and I experienced that. Sometimes the tide rises much higher than usual on Full Moon days. Sometimes they are dangerously high and forceful. But while supermoons caused natural disasters has no valid scientific proof, natural calamities do occur within days or near supermoons. And others, God only knows.   

My principle. Hope for the best. Expect the unexpected. Preparedness is the only key in any situation. Don't be mesmerized only by its Beauty. Remember the other side. The Beast.