Local Japanese Residents React To Earthquake

Junko Kobayashi turns 21 on Saturday. But, her milestone birthday is the last thing on her mind.

She’s too worried about her family and friends in Tokyo.

“They were so scared,” she said. “They thought their homes would break down.”

The powerful 8.9 quake shook the country during the workday which left many commuters stuck.

“My mom was at work, and she walked home. It took her two and a half hours,” she said.

Kobayashi is one of 48 Japanese students currently studying at the College of the Desert. The phone lines back home have been clogged. So, they’ve kept up with the latest news through Facebook and Twitter.

Sushi chef Mike Morioka’s family is fine. They live 1,000 miles southwest from the epicenter. But, earthquakes are common in Japan, he said. He experienced a 7.9 more than a dozen years ago.

“It was like 5:30 a.m., but that woke us up,” he recalled. “Boom! We hit the ground and jumped up from the floor.”

Kobayashi wants to hold a fundraiser on campus to help those back home. It’s the best gift she can give them on her own birthday