Poetry: “To Survive” by TAKI Yuriko
“To Survive”
Written/Narrated by TAKI Yuriko
PLAY > “TO SURVIVE” (JAPANESE)
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Give Me the Right Information TO SURVIVE
By TAKI Yuriko
Translated by John & Deborah Saxon
When my cancer verdict came,
They explained every test result in detail.
I discussed the readings and scans
With other doctors and drug specialists at other hospitals.
I chose my treatment methods
For my survival.
I consented to surgery,
To anti-cancer drugs with many side effects,
And to radiation therapy,
Facing my future squarely.
In Fukushima,
Under the guise of “not arousing unnecessary fear”,
The real and potential dangers were covered up.
Had the government immediately
Revealed where the wind had carried the radioactive fallout,
And treated the children with iodine,
The children would not now be so frightened.
When the year began, the children joined hands and softly prayed:
“Let me live through this year.”
“Let nothing terrible happen today.”
1 year since the Fukushima disaster,
And they still cannot
Contain the radiation.
Despite this, there are some intransigent grown-ups.
They say, “Fukushima is now safe. No more worries.” *
“Fukushima’s radiation levels are already lower than that of
Many major European metropolitan areas.” *
Thyroid cancer from radiation exposure
Manifests only after four years.
Other cancers may take 10, 20 or more years.
“Fortunately, no deaths resulted directly from the accident.” *
As each country compiles its budget
It reveals its chosen path.
This year, Japan’s nuclear power allocation is
Roughly unchanged.
Five times that of the USA, seven times that of France,
It is the world’s largest by far.
Some have likened it to a covert war expenditure.
If my doctor had not wanted to “arouse any unnecessary fears,”
Had not shared my diagnosis and test results with me,
Had just repeated, “Oh, you’re fine, just fine,”
Then I would not be here now.
I would have had 1 1/2 years, maybe 2.
They outlined my ongoing risk factors,
And the various measures
To reduce those risks.
Because they shared all of this with me
I can now give thanks
That I am alive,
And that I can work.
We must now make sure
That every Fukushima child grows up!!
This requires open, accurate and complete reporting
On the spread of fallout,
Including radiation in all food products,
To reduce the exposure
To ourselves and our families
And survive.
You adults thinking, “All is safe and worry-free in Fukushima”,
Listen well to the Fukushima children!!!
None say “I want to be rich” or “I want to be famous”, but
“I want to live!”
* Direct quotes from Dr. Hitoshi Oto, a senior manager at the Fukushima Medical College, from the Asahi Newspaper on January 26th, 2012.