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Why is there no looting in Japan? </h1>
<h2>A lawless atmosphere often follows natural disasters.
How has Japan managed to maintain order in the aftermath of last week's
earthquake and tsunami?</h2>
<div class="postDate">posted on March 15, 2011, at 10:08 AM</div>
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<a href="http://theweek.com/article/slideshow/213329/japans-crisis-faces-of-despair"><img src="http://4.images.theweek.com/img/dir_0058/29125_article_main.jpg?36" alt="Japanese residents queue up in an orderly fashion outside a 7-Eleven; despite limited access to basic necessities, there has been no widespread looting after the catastrophic Japanese earthquake and tsunami."></a>
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<p>Japanese residents queue up in an orderly fashion
outside a 7-Eleven; despite limited access to basic necessities, there
has been no widespread looting after the catastrophic Japanese
earthquake and tsunami. <span class="photoCredit">Photo: Corbis</span>
<a href="http://theweek.com/article/slideshow/213329/japans-crisis-faces-of-despair" class="caption">SEE ALL 21 PHOTOS</a>
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<p class="bestOpinion"><strong>Best Opinion:</strong> Phillipine Star, American Thinker, Wash. Times</p>
<p>The chaos and theft that have followed many
earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis have been noticeably absent in the
wake of Japan's 8.9-magnitude quake. Instead, people have formed long,
orderly lines outside grocery stores, where employees try to fairly
distribute limited supplies of food and water. "Looting simply does not
take place in Japan," says Gregory Pflugfelder, an expert in Japanese
culture at Columbia University, <a href="http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/12/orderly-disaster-reaction-in-line-with-deep-cultural-roots/">as quoted by <em>CNN</em></a>.
"I'm not even sure if there's a word for it that is as clear in its
implications as when we hear 'looting.'" How has Japan managed to avoid
this common after-effect of disaster? (<a href="http://video.theweek.com/video/Japanese-town-destroyed-by-tsun;Most-Recent-Videos">Watch an Al Jazeera report about the wreckage</a>)<br><br><strong>Discipline, discipline, discipline:</strong> "The Japanese are now reaping the fruits of having been taught, and drilled in, discipline and resilience since childhood," <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=666340&publicationSubCategoryId=64">says Federico D. Pasqual Jr. at <em>The Philippine Star</em></a>.
In grade school, lunch is free, but often "spartan," and kids learn to
expect and deal with lean times. This unfathomable calamity is one of
those times, and "the instilling of that value or attitude seems to be
paying off."<br><a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=666340&publicationSubCategoryId=64">"Japanese discipline rules despite disaster"</a><br><br><strong>The Japanese are no strangers to hardship:</strong> The easy answer is that the "legendary politeness" of the Japanese people is simply shining through, <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/03/why_the_japanese_arent_looting.html">says Thomas Lifson at <em>The American Thinker</em></a>,
but that's only part of what's happening. Japanese society has been
honed over generations into a system "capable of ensuring order and good
behavior." The country's "vast reservoir of social strength" carried it
out of "the devastation of World War II," and, compared to that, "even
the massive problems currently afflicting it" are "relatively small."<br><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/03/why_the_japanese_arent_looting.html">"Why the Japanese aren't looting"</a><br>
<br><strong>Japan isn't superior, just different:</strong> Japanese people are "taught that conformity and consensus are virtues," <a href="http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/stimulus/2011/mar/14/where-are-japanese-looters/">says James Picht at <em>The Washington Times</em></a>.
To Americans, who prize individualism, "those virtues sound almost
offensive." In normal times, "concerns about appearance and obligation"
may be stifling, but in adversity they may be what trumps "the urge to
smash and grab." Japanese culture isn't "superior," it's just "well
suited to maintaining public order immediately after a major disaster."<br><a href="http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/stimulus/2011/mar/14/where-are-japanese-looters/">"Where are the Japanese looters?"</a></p>
<br>-----------------------------------------<br>My Blog<br><h2>No news inside big news in Japan<br><a href="http://machizo.com/siraj/?p=249">http://machizo.com/siraj/?p=249</a><br></h2><p>Tsunami, earth quack and nuclear radiation in Japan are the big world
news of this week. It is the biggest news for my life also as my wife
is Japanese from Fukushima. They are now staying in Japan and I in
Bangladesh. However our relatives are lives in Fukushima. My wife with
two children were on the way of Fukushima on 11 March! God blessing in
11 March when my wife just arrived in Narita , the earth quake and
tsunami happen! The airline and airport authority did not permit the
passengers to go out from the airport. They are in safe! After one day
staying in airport with authority’s hospitality, now they are living in
Chiba in grand Mother’s house.</p>
<p>First days I could not contact with my wife and relatives. I was in
tension and praying. One phone call from wife with short message, I got
new life. “We are safe in airport. The airline gives a blanket and
food!”. Now I have regular communication and talk with my son, Coronet.
His broken Bengali talking gives me new life vision and touch of God’s
love!</p>
<p>By following the news at Western and Bangladesh media, I understand,
how wretched traditional big media presentations! I am disappointed! I
cannot believe to Bangladeshi media! Even I cannot believe to BBC, CNN
like big media for their mispresentation, own views and news making
motivation. the situation is continuously developing but the Big
Media’s trying to say unchanging situation , however treat the reality
as horrible situation. When I got any new and negative news in
Bangladeshi and western media, I need to reconfirm with the news of NHK
world and taking with Japanese friends. In all cases, I got difference
and negative approach to the non-Japanese big media! I cannot
understand, why the big media do big responsibilities! This is try, my
moving with the subjective motivation, the big western media failed in
Japan to make news and stories!</p>
<p>One of Japanese friend to day said, in Japan BBC trun back as they
could not make stories! They could not make the news because of Japanese
good citizen ship and well trained on public motivations. Within the
dangers of earth quake, tsunami and radiation also the national Unity of
Japan did not break down! Even one citizen also did not complain
against of government! They have total faith to government! Government
also trying to say the citizen with total responsibilities!</p>
<p>I am surprised to know, in this big disaster also there did not
happen any kinds occurrence like robbery, stealing, rape, riot or
violence! Many foreigners give testimonies with application of Japanese
social norms and moral practices. My imagination, if such type
disasters happen in another Asian counties like Philippines, Bangladesh,
Korea or Malaysia what will happen? My concept I cannot upgrade, surly
there would happen many unexpected occurrences! Not only in the
developing nations, in the development nation like USA, UK, EU case also
would happen dark stories.</p>
<p>During earth quake also Japanese don’t overtake each other with self
centeredness! The common learning of Japanese society, thinking and
helping others. With total obedientness by following the authority’s
directions, still Japanese society in hope! Now the situation is moving
to under control. The authorizes gives direction to take preparation for
saving self from possible earth quake! Every citizen should take food
and water together. In this fearful time also Japanese did not loss the
position. Did not show power of muscles, fallen natures, selfishness.
There is big line for food in front of super markets, but no body
break down the line for quick own benefit; however take care
voluntarily. In big line also citizens are collecting food with modesty!
There is no news of violence and conflict ! I appreciative very much
Japanese citizenship, education and daily practices. Hope Bangladesh and
other’s country will follow the Japanese culture of unity, culture of
public motivation.</p>
<p>My love and pray for the souls who lost their life during tsunami</p>
<p>NHK video at: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/nhkonline" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/user/nhkonline</a></p><br><p><br></p><h2><br></h2><br><p><br></p>