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People often speak of “pre-Hanshin” and “post-Hanshin” volunteer work in Japan. “Hanshin” refers to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake that devastated the Hanshin area of Hyogo Prefecture on January 17, 1995, with a death toll of more than 6,400.
The earthquake affected over 340,000 victims and caused property damage estimated at ¥10 trillion. The work of volunteers was a ray of hope at this desolate time, when thousands lost their families and homes, and the whole country went into mourning. As soon as news of the earthquake broke, many volunteers arrived from all over Japan and dedicated themselves to life-saving and rescue work.
This is not to say that Japanese were strangers to volunteerism before 1995. Japan has a tradition of neighbors helping each other, symbolized by the term otagaisama. If one of your neighbors is having a funeral, you go along to help; in areas with heavy snowfall, neighbors of households without able-bodied adults (such as an elderly person living alone) willingly help with snow shoveling; parents always lend a hand at school events like sports days. In every case, helpers accept no payment, because members of the local community are expected to help and support each other (otagaisama).
Historically, Japanese society has been bound by a set of rules for daily life rooted in the local community. Members forged close ties, but were often reserved towards outsiders—an attitude of reticence rather than insularity or exclusivity. People were unwilling to enter other towns and villages without invitation, just as they disliked having strangers enter their homes. This attitude made it difficult for Japanese people to engage in volunteer work beyond their normal scope of activity, i.e., their immediate communities.
The young people who rushed to help in the aftermath of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake easily overcame this barrier, and media coverage of their dedication inspired and encouraged many others. People began to feel that they could follow their example, because instead of going into an unfamiliar community, feeling at a loss and being more of a hindrance than help, the volunteers proved that once they were there, they could do something useful, and their help was greatly appreciated.
Thus, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake was a turning point in Japanese people’s awareness of volunteerism and volunteer work. Some call 1995 “year one of volunteerism” in Japan—hence the reference to pre-Hanshin and post-Hanshin volunteer work. |
