Listeners are glad at resumption of radio program “Honda Smile Mission” suspended after earthquake

(Image: Tokyo FM “Honda Smile Mission” official site)

The popular morning FM program “Honda Smile Mission” (Tokyo FM) had been reporting on the Tohoku Region in March; March 11 was the middle of the period. At last this program resumed and the reporter reported on the situation at that time.

Lucy was in Aomori on that day. She described the situation she had seen from her car just after the earthquake: “Even though traffic lamps had gone out, everyone was driving gently. No one honked the horn.” She was impressed that no panic broken out at all.

Also at the hotel she had planned to stay that day, even though it was dark due to blackout, staffs welcomed her with a flashlight. And being concerned that maybe she felt cold, prepared many blankets for her; owing to blackout, the heating didn’t work. Even just after the earthquake, they didn’t become unsettled, but sincerely gave her worm hospitality. In addition, the next day they said to Lucy, “you don’t have to pay” and made she moved.

After the information in the blog and the radio program “Chronos” on May 19 that “Honda Smile Mission” will resume on May 23, comments of joy from listeners arrived one after another.

“From the next week, at last, at last smile will be delivered to us. Everyday I’d been waiting.”, “Just this comment made me fine; what will happen to me after Monday?”, “I’m so happy I almost cry!” and so on; we can feel that many people were looking forward to the resumption of the program.

So far, in this program the reporter Lucy visited various places in Japan and reported to Sheichy (SHEILA) in the studio.

After this resumption, both of the two visit the stricken areas in Tohoku. The first day on May 23, they visited the Shiogama Wholesale Market of Marine Products in Miyagi Prefecture. This is also the place Lucy had reported on May 3.

This wholesale market had received almost no damage by tsunami, so it has already been reopened. Mr. Matsuoka from the shop Matsuoka Shouten entertained the two with tuna meat and said: We are providing “Self Stove” service for grilling fishes over the charcoal fire in the spot, as we used to.

He was sad that although fishes were available, tourists hadn’t been back yet; he appealed on the radio: “It is the happiest thing that many people visit here.”

Mr. Matsuoka said fisheries off Sanriku have not been reopened, but fishes from the Japan Sea, Hokkaido, Iwate Prefecture and Mie Prefecture are provided for this market.

Also, by Lucy’s information, “There is a movement to send fishes cached in Genkainada (the sea northwest of Kyushu) and other seas to Tohoku with priority; now sushi shops in Sendai-shi can use astonishingly good seafood.”

We wish that introducing the scenes of reopened business and trades in the stricken area by the media like this cause tourists be back. The future developments of this program are expected, too.


Editorial Staff: Narumi Sato




Original article (Japanese): Techinsight

Tokyo FM “Honda Smile Mission”