A ceremony and tree dedication was held at Lone Star College-Kingwood to honor the victims of the Japanese Tsunamis of 2011 and 2024.
The 2011 Tohoku earthquake, also known as the Great East Japan earthquake, was a 9.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on March 11, 2011. It was the largest earthquake ever recorded in Japan. Over 200,000 lives were lost, mostly by the 33-foot-high Tsunami. Many are still missing today.
Another earthquake struck the northeast part of Japan on January 1, 2024. This disaster also caused widespread destruction and claimed more than 500 lives.
During the March 4th ceremony, campus president Dr. Melissa Gonzalez and art professor Mari Omori, who is from Japan, spoke about the importance of honoring those who were impacted by the lives lost in the tsunamis.
“I am here to express my deepest gratitude for the President, Dr. Gonzalez, and her office and Facilities, for keeping the tree alive and well,” she remarked. “The symbolism of this Black Tulip Magnolia tree includes growth after loss, nobility, and spirituality. Thank you all for being part of this celebration for renewal and growth!”
During the ceremony, Music Professor Michael Johnson played a trombone rendition of “A Song for Japan” with accompaniment on the piano by Dr. Rob Hunt. "A Song for Japan," which was composed by Steven Verhelst, gained significance and popularity as a response to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, becoming a symbol of hope and support for Japan.
Ikuyo Katayama from the Japan-American Society of Houston (JASH) also rang a bell to signal a moment of silence. At the end of the event, Professor Omori distributed handmade origami birds.
Following the ceremony, attendees made their way outside to view the tree and memorial plaque.
To see pictures from the event, click here. You can view a video of the ceremony here.
Lone Star College System enrolls over 90,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSCS is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D. serves as Chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area. LSC has been named a 2024 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSCS consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit Lonestar.edu.
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