The Torii Gates that Crossed the Pacific
American View
Nearly five years have passed since the Tohoku region of Japan was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami. Although the disaster brought great hardship and pain to innumerable people, it also produced many stories that demonstrate the depth of the human connection. These include the story of two kasagi (wooden crossbeams on torii gates that mark the entrance to Shinto shrines) that were returned to Japan last October. Behind the return of the kasagi lies a compelling account of the powerful support given to the victims of the disaster by scores of people who were not directly affected.
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