The Tenacity of Yanosuke Hirai

The Tenacity of Yanosuke Hirai

The nuclear spillout crisis which resulted from the Fukushima nuclear was largely because the breakwaters at the plant was only 10m and thus unable to defend against the 13m tsunami wave onslaught. Because the breakwaters didn't work, huge amounts of water overflowed into the low lying cooling generators which pumped water into the nuclear reactors to cool them down.

The generators soon stopped working and water was not pumped into the reactors thus causing temperatures in the reactor to soar and an explosion which cause the huge amounts of radiation to be spread all over.

Why did this happen only to nuclear plant in Fukushima? It so happened that the same killer waves crashed onto another nuclear plant at Onagawa. However, because its break waters were 14.8m high, it could effectively protect the plant from the 13m waves.

Now why were the breakwaters at Onagawa 14.8m high? It was due to the tenacity of one man. Yanosuke Hirai. He passed away in 1986. But his sense of responsibility and integrity saved Onagawa. When everyone was against building a breakwater at 14.8m high, he stood resolved. Other engineers felt that 12m was sufficient and the additional costs of extending the height was unwarranted. Yanosuke stood resolved. His responsibility saved the region of Onagawa from a similar one like that of Fukushima.

In the face of opposition, he knew to do what was right. You can read more of the story below.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/column/news/20120319p2a00m0na020000c.html?inb=rs&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

It reminded me of us Christians, to do what we know is right. Joshua and Caleb knew that obtaining the land of Canaan in spite of the enemy was the right thing to do for that was promised of God. Inspite of opposition from the ten other spies, they stood resolve to obtain the land. As a result, they were the only two men of that generation to enter the promised land.

Today, as Christians, we know of the impending judgement of God. If we are not washed in the blood of Christ, we will have to stand in judgement before God. However, the good news is that through Christ, we need not stand before this judgement. Instead, we are assured of a place, Christ himself has prepared for us, where we enjoy eternal rest. This is our faith. Are we willing to have the tenacity to hold on to, to spread, to defend this faith?

The tsunami of judgement is coming. We need to have the break water of Jesus. Are we willing to stand before others and say, that the existing breakwater of man's self help is not sufficient? That we need the breakwater of Christ? In the face of opposition, we have to do what's right. And only what's right, can save us.