PSU Center for Japanese Studies Event: Operation Tomodachi

PSU Center for Japanese Studies Event: Operation Tomodachi

Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/05/2015
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Location
SMSU 294
1825 SW Broadway --Portland

PSU Center for Japanese Studies Presents

Operation Tomodachi: The Cooperation Between Japan’s Self Defense Forces and the U.S. Military in the aftermath of the 11 March 2011 Triple Disaster

Speaker: General Eiji Kimizuka, Ret.
Chief of Japan’s Land Defense Forces at the time of the triple disaster

Free and Open to the Public.

The “Great East Japan earthquake” of 3/11/2011 was the most powerful in Japanese history, with a magnitude of 9.0 (Mw). General Eiji Kimizuka led the Joint Task Force that coordinated 100,000 soldiers of the Japan ground Self-Defense Force for relief efforts.

General Kimizuka will recount what happened during Operation Tomodachi, and what Operation Tomodachi means for the Japan- U.S. cooperation in the future. The earthquake caused not only a devastating tsunami, but also a radioactive leak at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima. These catastrophes resulted in challenges that the people of Japan had never experienced before and could not solve by themselves. However, support from the United States early on encouraged the people in Japan not to give up hope. General Kimizuka (Ret.) understands and now believes the proverb, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” The 3.11 catastrophe served to deepen Japan-U.S. relations.

Cosponsored by the Consular Office of Japan in Portland
Supported by
– United States- Japan Foundation
– Japan-America Society of Oregon

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