*******Mainichi Japan*****

Kenji Miyazawa, a poet and author of children's books, was born in Iwate Prefecture in 1896, the year when the Meiji Sanriku earthquake and tsunami hit, and died at the age of 37 in 1933, the year the Showa Sanriku earthquake and tsunami struck.

Miyazawa loved the Tohoku region and heaped infinite love on his poor and humble countrymen and women.

In his masterpiece "Night on the Milky Way Train," Giovanni, the lead character of the book, lowers his head and murmurs, "What should I do for the sake of that person's happiness."

Many people from around the world have supported Japan since the Great East Japan Earthquake. The U.S. military implemented "Operation Tomodachi," a mission in which 20,000 personnel delivered supplies and engaged in search and rescue efforts. Other foreigners provided materials such as canned food and underwear for people at shelters.

Foreign governments were not alone in providing support and offered words of encouragement. Kenyan girls sang a song together mourning the victims of the tsunami. Nurse and nursing care candidates in Jakarta donated 140,000 yen out of their own pockets despite their less well-off lives.

We want to say a big thank you to the numerous tender-hearted Giovannis who sympathized with disaster victims and did all these things for the sake of their happiness. We will not forget your acts of kindness.

Foreign residents in Japan also prepared meals and removed debris in the battered areas. Goodwill and consideration beyond national borders and nationalities has encouraged the Japanese who have been absorbed in grief.

After the big earthquake, the huge tsunami and the nuclear power plant catastrophe, we had been at a loss as to what to do over the series of unmitigated disasters but are now feeling firsthand the bonds of friendship.

Japan is not alone. We firmly believe this as we face a long road to reconstruction and revival.

Until this recent disaster, Japan had been a provider of support. We are now on the receiving end of support from around the world.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva who mapped out an emergency support budget worth as much as 550 million yen said, "Japan has played an important role in the development of Thailand over the last 50 years. This is an opportunity to return the favor." Many countries and international organizations say this is their turn to help Japan, which has long helped them.

International support, coexistence, co-prosperity, global citizens... we are touched by these words, which we had long just used like a recital. We recognize anew that goodwill beyond national borders is so heart-warming on the receiving side.

Big aftershocks continue and it is not clear as to when the hardship of disaster victims will end. There are no estimates as to when the nuclear accident will be under control.

It will take a little more time before a fully vibrant Japanese society will re-emerge. But we will come back as a strong and striking nation to respond to the encouragement from the international community and transform ourselves into a nation that can host many visitors from abroad once again.

Japan is not alone. At the same time, it means Japan cannot live alone. We are a nation that is destined to depend on other countries for energy resources and food and live on as a trading nation. A peaceful existence is essential for Japan's survival.

Accordingly, we want to be a compassionate country -- more than ever considerate of others' pain. There are many people in the world who have lost their jobs and families and live in poverty and suffer from diseases due to unjust external forces such as natural disasters and conflicts.

We will place the utmost importance on the opening of our eyes to the world and the protection of individual dignity. That is the path we will take to show our appreciation for the support from the international community during this devastating disaster.