WGSN for JAPANp r e s e n t s M a x h o d g e s ’ p h o t o d I a r Y o F t h e J a p a n a F t e r M a t h

w g s n F o r J a p a n a p h o t o d I a r Y o F t h e J a p a n a F t e r M a t h

thIs Is hIs photo dIarY over two daYs - March 15-16, 2011 - In the hard-hIt townshIps oF nobIru and IshInoMakI.

I n t h e daY s following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, photographer Max Hodges bravely headed up to the damage-stricken townships of Nobiru and Ishinomaki, travelling through affected areas, hitch-hiking from city to city, and sleeping in abandoned buildings as he chronicled the tragedy.

“In the 65 Years aFter the end oF world war II, thIs Is the toughest and the Most dIFFIcult crIsIs For Japan.”- Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan

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a MountaIn oF luMber Is all that reMaInsoF countless hoMes In nobIru Flattened bY the tsunaMI.there are belIeved to be 26,000 people eIther MIssIng or dead.

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thIs car contaIned blankets and a stYroFoaM contaIner wIth Food and drInks. It was clear theY had packed to escape but weren’t Fast enough. Max stIll doesn’t know IF theY survIved or not.

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the tsunaMI created over 300,000 reFugees In the tohoku regIon, and shortages oF Food, water, shelter, MedIcIne and FuelFor survIvors.

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Max hItch-hIked In the raIn FroM nobIru at nIght, and arrIved at IshInoMakI eleMentarY school.the school has been converted Into a shelter For 1,200 survIvors, run bY the eleMentarY school teachers. the teacher volunteers have taken responsIbIlItY For everYthIng FroM ratIonIng clothIng and other supplIes, keepIng a regIster oF occupants, and organIsIng Meals.

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“It’s hard not to Feel a bIt guIltY For enJoYIng the sIMple thIngs In lIFe: a hot Meal, a salad wIth Fresh vegetables, a hot bath.”- Max Hodges

In the MornIng, reFugees partIcIpate In the exercIses led bY radIo at the shelter.

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despIte ManY soMbre Faces, the Japanese are generallY In rather good spIrIts consIderIng the cIrcuMstances.

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w g s n F o r J a p a n a p h o t o d I a r Y o F t h e J a p a n a F t e r M a t h

“no one I Met coMplaIned about anYthIng. everYone Just laughed when talkIng about theIr house beIng washed awaY...”- Max Hodges

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“everYone Is hard at work puttIng theIr neIghbourhood back together.”- Max Hodges

GANBArE JAPAN!w g s n s u p p o r t s J a p a n I n I t s r e b u I l d I n g e F F o r t s

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