Message for Japan: In this desperate time, we are family

The news on the March 11 earthquake came when I was in Hong Kong, ready to travel to Japan the next day. I thought it was nothing out of the usual, Japan is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.

So, I did not pay much attention to several text messages informing me about the quake and asking me to cancel my trip to Tokyo. Why should I cancel my trip?

Quakes happen frequently and Japan’s disaster mitigation is exceptional. Even school children have been trained in times of disaster. That is what I thought.

As I returned to my hotel room and turned on the television, I realized what had happened in the northern part of Japan was not usual. I was struck to see the scale of the disaster.

I fell silent and into grief upon watching the devastating images from NHK, which I had on the whole night to keep track of the event.

I was thinking about my friends and my family. During my six and half years in Japan as a student and employee in the 1980s, I lived with a Japanese family and befriended many Japanese people.

But my relation with Japan goes beyond that period. The cooperation of Panasonic (then Matsushita)-Gobel has been 51 years after my father started the joint venture company with Matsushita in 1960, which I continue.

Japan has been on my mind since I was a little boy. My parents “introduced” it to me.

On Sundays, my father, who worked into the weekends and on holidays, often took me to his office.

When I was in junior high, he asked me to work in the factory. As a worker, I, too, undertook product packaging like the others.

One time I met my father’s business colleagues from Japan.

I learned about their culture, which is practiced at my father’s company, especially on the five values of self-discipline, cleanliness, prudence, and neat and orderly attitudes. These values became the company’s spirit.

In this cooperation I also learned from Japanese business traditions to give the best to consumers: I learned about customer satisfaction. That is why even a small product is wrapped beautifully and shopkeepers always thank guests even if they do not buy their items.

Even in the devastating time of World War II, those values were deeply rooted.

They continue still. In times of trouble, survivors give their hand to help others who are more vulnerable, such as elders and children.

Nurses after the March disaster prioritized their patients even though their houses were damaged and had lost their families too. A mother let her son work night and day at the Fukushima nuclear reactor to help ease radiation leaks.

Selflessness continued even for foreigners. They took Indonesians to the evacuation bus and gave them food. I was amazed to read and hear those stories.

Even in the worst situations as this one, we can gain many lessons from the Japanese on their ability to deal with suffering that has no end in sight yet: Lessons on perseverance, sincerity and thoughtfulness.

I am hoping that Indonesians can learn more on that.

Those values are not absent in our life as a nation. Our founding fathers applied those values. However, it does not flow from generation to generation. Good values are fading from our life because people are dominated by consumptive attitudes and self-interest.

It is easier for us to fight and to find a scapegoat for our mistakes than to look inward to correct ourselves. Good values are diminishing.

Watching the tragedy, I asked my friends to think about what we could do for Japan. In less than a week, we held an event called “Pray for Japan” and conducted fundraising at Persada University in Bekasi, West Java.

Our concern may not be enough, though, in sending thousand of batteries, flashlights and radios. Our empathy and support will continue for the Japanese people.

In regular situations, we are partners. But in times of sorrow, we are family. If somebody is hurt, family members help out. As a family, we must help each other without counting profits and loss.

I am confident Japan will emerge from the disaster wrought by what is called the great east Japan earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.

Maybe, this is just the beginning of a new Japan that has been trapped in political and economic stagnation for some time.

Regarding the younger generation, this is the time for them to grab opportunities. I am optimistic about their strength and perseverance.

As told to The Jakarta Post by Rachmat Gobel, chair of Panasonic Gobel Indonesia and head of the Indonesia-Japan Friendship Association.