Hope you brought your hazmat suit, because this week Pegman takes us to Fukushima, Japan, site of one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters, which occurred in 2011. Believe it or not, you’ll find both streetview and photospheres in this abandoned town.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to write 150 words inspired by the location. You can capture your own photo from google or use the one provided.
Click on the blue frog below to add your story to this week’s link-up and to read the work of your co-contributors.
I’m never sure from week to week if I’ll participate in What Pegman Saw. However the lure of those extra 50 words is strong. Many thanks to K Rawson and J Hardy Carroll.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 150
ISLAND OF GOOD FORTUNE
As a Japanese-American reporter I begged for the assignment to interview Fukushima survivors five years after the tsunami. What could be more fun? Sushi and kimono.
Walking along Kakamura beach with Hiroshi, I turn on my recorder.
He clutches a stuffed bear. “Last night I had a dream. The ocean swelled and rose to the mountains. I woke in a tidal wave of sweat. It was no dream.”
My breath catches in my throat. “Go on.”
“It was like being in hell. If the waters did not kill you, the great fires would.” From his pocket Hiroshi pulls a photograph of a smiling woman holding a little boy. He hugs the teddy bear. “My son was only four. My Yumi expected our second child any day.”
I swallow hard.
“The water is beautiful.” His gaze drifts past me. “I suppose it is nonsense to hold a grudge against the sea.”
Beautiful and sensitive story.
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Thank you, Christine. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow! very moving story. While there is no way for me to imagine what those people went through, I think I might hold a grudge against the ocean also…
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Dear Courtney,
I watched a documentary on You Tube yesterday that inspired my little story. They interviewed survivors and one of them said just that about holding a grudge. You know how the muse can be. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“What could be more fun?” Wow.
How interesting that we both chose to write about the five year anniversary of the tsunami. I can’t imagine what the survivors still go through, but I’m writing a (fictional) series about one of them.
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Dear James,
I’m not sure why I chose 5 years…it just seemed like the right time. GMTA 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Seems it was the first significant anniversary with a tremendous amount of ceremony and emotion.
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Very sad, yet a beautiful tribute to those who lost so much in that terrible tragedy.
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Many thanks, Cara. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very poignant story about life’s philosophies post traumatic incidents. Well written, Rochelle.
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Dear Neel,
Your comments are always appreciated. Thank you.
Shalom
Rochelle
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Great story about the aftermath of the tragedy. The personal cost was huge. Well written, Rochelle.
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Dear Penny,
I can’t imagine the devastation between the tsunami, earthquake and the nuclear meltdown. Horrible tragedy. 😦 Re my story, thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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elegance, beautiful and great words…so enjoyable!!
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Many thanks, Mihran. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent story, Rochelle. I like the sentiment.
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Thank you, Josh.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Always so delighted when Pegman lures you out with the extra 50 words, Rochelle. This latest of yours is another gem.
The picture you chose is haunting, and your protagonist’s acceptance makes the story all the more poignant.
I love how a teddy bear wound up in your story as well as mine. I’m finding myself getting a lot of goosebumps reading through the stories this week!
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Dear Karen,
The picture of happy children on the wall of the elementary school ruins spoke to me. And teddy bears…so much a part of childhood universally it seems. GMTA.
Honestly I was only going to look through the Pegman pictures and perhaps write later. Then, as I often do, I watched a short documentary with interviews of Fukashima survivors. Yeah. I was hooked.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely poignant tale, Rochelle. Did you know the residents of Fukushima in centuries past had water markers up in the mountain of how high the water could go, but the designers of the power station still built the sea defenses too low.
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Dear Kelvin,
I didn’t know about the water markers. Interesting. Technology is a both blessing and curse, isn’t it? Thank you for your kind words re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So sensitively, beautifully written Rochelle. You’ve given us a peak into one person’s pain. Made a huge historical event small and personal, as you so often do so well. Wonderful
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Dear Lynn,
Thank you, as always, for your kind, affirming words. I can’t fathom the pain of loss for the people of Fukushima.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I count myself lucky to have never experienced such loss and fear. Unimaginable
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I really like the simplicity and depth of your story – you tell it with a delicate touch which I find very moving.
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Many thanks for such kind words, Francine.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very touching, and well done story of a tragic incident. There’s still floating debris washing up on far away shores. Including ours. Having spent 28 years in the Navy, I can understand the futility of holding a grudge against the sea. It is so terrible, yet so beautiful. But then, one could also philosophize the values of holding any grudge. Well done m’luv.
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Thank you, m’luv.
Rochelle
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I love how you give us details through various lines (like the grudge against the sea says so much) and great idea to have the interview angle.
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Dear Yvette,
The beauty of these flash fiction challenges is the freedom to experiment and play with words. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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Dear Rochelle,
A most beautifully told, tragic tale of nature’s force. It would be most difficult not to hold a grudge but then, he would never be able to move forward, would he?
:Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
It was from that last line that I built this story. A Fukushima survivor said that in an interview and…well…you know how that muse works, don’t you? 😉 It would be so hard to move on. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Just wonderfully done…
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Wonderful, as always, no matter how many words…
Scott
Mine: https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/what-pegman-saw-fukushima-japan/
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Dear Scott,
What a sweet thing to say. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are welcome.
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A heartbreaking story written with such sensitivity.
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Many thanks for a lovely compliment, Magarisa.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re most welcome, Rochelle.
Shalom shalom,
Magarisa
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I had a feeling when I read “what could be more fun” that the reporter would be in for a rude awakening. Great story.
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Dear Ali
I think it was a real learning experience the young reporter didn’t expect. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, what a tear jerker story this week. So… well, it just leaves me speechless.
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Dear Jelli,
I can’t imagine how someone can go on after something like that. Your tears are my compliment. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a horrible experience. This isn’t even Japan’s first nuclear experience. They know their homes are still there but they can’t live in them. Good writing, as usual, Rochelle.
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Dear Suzanne,
I can’t even imagine living after such devastation. Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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