Three years ago, on March 11, Japan suffered its most powerful known earthquake, which rattled the country, unleashed a tsunami of up to 100 feet, and resulted in the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
Kikuchi focuses on the pastoral challenge of post tsunami reconstruction among others. For him, helping earthquake and tsunami victims is still a long road to travel.Bishop Kikuchi told his faithful:
“I would really like to say that the tsunami is now history, but unfortunately, that is not the case. Catholic volunteer groups, still in the affected area send reports almost every day. Common sense tells us that the road to full recovery will not be quick. We must remember all those who, because of the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plants, still cannot go home. So many people still cannot clearly see the future, suffering from anxiety for their health and for the conditions of their daily life. We can only imagine how many would want to have a normal life, but cannot because of things that are out of their control and which they did not cause.”