Fall down seven times, stand up eight ...

[ensho]

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/asia/2011/03/22/fall-down-seven-times-stand-eight


... so goes a Japanese proverb on persistence in the face of adversity.

Indeed, in a nation where “ganbatte!” (do your best!) is a common tagline of encouragement, 11 days after an earthquake that has so far left some 9,000 dead, many more missing and injured and nearly half a million homeless- the can-do spirit has taken a beating.

But it’s still there.

-snip-

Those who survived can't bring themselves to speak of those who are not with them.

When asked how many family members were with them at the shelter - or perhaps at other shelters - Takeshi Minakawa, 20, froze for a moment. His 75-year-old grandmother interjected, “We don’t speak about that.”

-snip-

With so much still under the mud, a nuclear plant still unstable and a true tally of loss yet to be calculated, it may seem improbable, but it's true: It feels like Japan is finding a way to stand up for an eighth time.
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there are pics - the reporter visited a shelter

[AsahinaKimi]

1. I know this Kotowaza! (proverb)

Nana korobi ya oki !
ななころびやおき

Fall down seven times, get up on the eight! I am sure many Japanese are reminded of all of their proverbs, during this time of crisis.


My personal favorite is: Sarumo ki kara ochiru-
さるもきからおちる

even the occasional monkey falls out of the tree.