Good morning everyone. Last Tuesday night, I went to Arco Arena to see the Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers. I think that game was the most exciting game of this season so far. That game extended 5 minutes into overtime.

At the end of the 4^th quarter, both teams had 100 points. We all stood up and screamed and cheered for the Kings. And of course, we won.

It was great.

While at Arco Arena, I went to the Kings’ team store. There I found the Kings had a fundraiser for the Tsunami disaster victims. Kings provides Tsunami Relief Ribbon Car Magnet for the foundation. So, I bought this. They sell this Car Magnet for $5 and all the money collected will be donated to the Tsunami relief effort.

Do you know “Tsunami” is a Japanese word?

I tried to write Tsunami in Kanji and also in the Japanese hiragana and katakana.

I think everyone now knows the word, “Tsunami”. I heard some people said “Sunami” not Tsunami.

Do you know why we use Tsunami as the word to describe a devastating wave? I will try to explain this.

On April 1^st 1946, the Alaskan people encountered a “big” earthquake. Then a Tsunami was sent out from the Alaskan ocean. That Tsunami reached Hawaii. From Alaska to Hawaii is a long distance. But, 173 Hawaiian people died by that Tsunami over 58 years ago. There was a large Japan-town in the city of Hiro on the Island of Hawaii that was hit by the Tsunami. That Japan-town in Hiro was destroyed by the Tsunami.

Many Japanese-Americans lost their lives, their home and businesses. When a reporter for Hawaii’s news papers interviewed the survivors, they talked about the damage caused by the Tsunami. They used the word “Tsunami” in the news, so the word “Tsunami” was used in English by Japanese-Americans in Hawaii first.

In 1968, an oceanographer, Dr. Van Dorn proposed the word “Tsunami” become an international technical term. So today, we use Tsunami in English.

There have been many Tsunami disasters in Japan. Especially, in 1933, 3000 people died in Japan by Tsunami. Also, in 1998, 230 people died by Tsunami. Whenever Japan has an earthquake, the Japanese Meteorological Agency sends out a Tsunami-alert.

This recent Tsunami is a global disaster. Natural disasters like a Tsunami or an earthquake just happen. This is karma.

So…what can we do for victims of such a disaster? Golden chain says “protect all who are weaker than myself”.

Our Betsuin is collecting Donations for Tsunami relief.

Maybe your school or company may also collect Donations.

Even buying a Kings Car magnet is one way to help.

It is most important to help.

Gassho

When we encounter disasters in life, we should never give up, hope for surviving. There is goodness in people everywhere in the world…

All trying to help as best they can.

As the Golden Chain encourages “We must try to be kind and gentle to every living thing and protect all who are weaker than ourselves.