Identity Magazine

A Letter From The Editor

Dear Readers,

Welcome to Identity, one of the rare few magazines in the world with a real purpose that touches upon challenging and controversial topics,

This edition focuses on the universal theme of home and the strands which make up one’s identity It provides priceless advice on coping with homesickness, food for thought, and a special cinematic memoir only available here It features exclusive interviews on my recalling of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake as a survivor. We have also chosen to highlight produce from the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami the most, as even to this day, these prefectures suffer from lingering stigma around radioactivity and a decline in tourism.

Like always, Identity focuses on quality over quantity, putting innovative ideas at the forefront of what it stands for We hope you can connect with articles that have been curated just for you True delight awaits you at your fingertips

Disclaimer: This magazine has been created for the 2024 ‘Writing in The Media: A Practical Approach’ module in University of Kent It was not made for commercial purposes The owner does not own any of the images, however all the articles are original work

We redefine identity.

CONTENTS

HEALTH: PAGE 6-7

Living Miles Away From Home How to Cope with Homesickness

SPECIAL FEATURE: PAGE 14-17

3/11 (my memoir of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake with exclusive interviews)

IDEAS: PAGE 10-11

Why “Where Are You From?” Is an Offensive Question

FOOD: PAGE 21-23

Juicy Treasures of Japan

“Homes

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Living Miles Away From Home

The world around you is dull. You can’t seem to focus on anything because everything reminds you of what isn’t home. There’s this growing sense of anxiety and sorrow within you You feel so alone, on the verge of tears and unable to do anything You don’t even have the willpower to reach out to anyone, scrolling through Instagram and feeling even more depressed. You isolate yourself, helpless in your own pool of despair, questioning why you even moved here

Why did you do this to yourself?

If you have ever been homesick, these feelings will probably be very familiar to you It can eat away at your excitement for the new life you moved there with and leave you in doubt and regret

But What Actually Is Homesickness?

Homesickness can’t be defined in one word or one sentence Yes, it’s that yearning to go home during a period of absence for it, but really it’s the discomfort of being in a place completely unfamiliar to you. You don’t know your way around nor the landmarks, people, culture, or food. You don’t know where you belong in this new place This is homesickness

Melancholic Asian woman with burning match missing home during COVID | Credit: Ichad Windhiagiri

Struggles of International Students

“It is that feeling of being an outsider.”

I moved to England for university, all the way from Japan in 2021, and I experienced the most extreme form of homesickness. My dad had come with me to help me settle into my new life, but after he left it was bad. Really bad. I was constantly on the verge of tears. I couldn’t focus on anything, let alone go out When I called my parents, all I could do was cry. I was miserable almost all the time and isolated myself.

“I just felt so alone.”

At that time, I really thought I wouldn’t be able to survive it But here I am, writing this article I survived. And you can too.

There were several strategies I used that helped ease my homesickness, but before using these strategies, you need to first muster up willpower and courage. Without doing this, these strategies will fall deaf on your ears If you just take that first step, I know it is big, but if you do, I promise it will get easier

How To Cope with Homesickness

1. Establish a safety net a support network

What I mean by this is to get out of your house and socialize Go to your classes or job and talk to people Make friends. If there are societies or clubs at your university or any communal activities nearby to your place, join them! The only way you’re going to get out of your head and out of your misery is by talking to other people Discuss topics that you like to talk about to keep you occupied. As you begin to do these things regularly, you will start developing consistent relationships with people, and you will know who you can trust and rely on This is when you will start to feel safe and secure as this new place isn’t so scary and unfamiliar to you anymore

2. Pursue your hobbies

Health

Watch shows or films, play an instrument, dance, shop, do sports, read, sew, draw, paint, knit, anything fun really. If you don’t have any hobbies, you can easily find one Remember distraction is key! The internet has an abundance of content and ideas to keep you preoccupied

3. Cook home food and celebrate traditions/festivals you would at home

Keep in touch with your culture

4. Listen to music that feels like home

This could be in your home/local language or any music that gives you comfort and puts you at peace Something that you always come back to.

5. Exercise regularly

The main idea is to get out, and get some fresh air and physical activity.

6. Keep in touch with your family (if you can), but not too much!

Call your family every day, and you will find yourself feeling even more depressed! The key is finding that balance that works for you.

“Homesickness slowly eases with time, but it still comes and go. There is unfortunately no cure for it. However, with these strategies you will gradually be able to manage your feelings and find your sense of peace. It is within your power.”

Why “Where Are You From” Is an Offensive Question? Ideas

Offensive Conversations

Since going to university in England as an international student, I’ve been asked this question, “Where are you from?” countless number of times

The moment I answer, I know exactly how this conversation is going to play out, how they’re going to react, and what they’re going to say. One particular conversation that stands out to me is when I visited the CCCU (Canterbury Christ Church University) campus with a few friends:

“Are you from India?” asked one of the students there. “No,” I replied

“Where are you from?”

“Japan ”

“What? But you look like this ” “I’m half Japanese and half Indian.” Their faces said it all, disbelief

Do you see what is happening here?

People already have these assumptions/ideas in their head about who you are, and when this doesn’t match up with your answer, they don’t like it They don’t believe it. They’re thrown off balance. Some of the time this is because of pure ignorance, however other times, the people asking these questions have clear preconceptions about your perceived race or ethnicity.

“They want to fit you in a box.”

Therefore, I am forced to justify who I am and to prove my ethnicity to them I’m half Japanese and half-Indian is an answer I’ve come up with that I think best conveys who I am and my cultural identity, but also to explain myself to people when I really shouldn’t have to.

The question of “Where are you from?” is problematic and restrictive question It’s simply not a good question to ask someone you’re trying to get to know for the first time.

Let’s dig a little deeper to explore why this is the case.

Flags of Countries in front of the United Nations Office at Geneva | Credit: Xabi Oregi

Problematic Aspects

1. People’s identities can be more complex and diverse than you think. Not every person has a singular nation or culture they identify with or can call home. There are many kinds of people out there who can relate to this, which include immigrants, bi-racials, international school students, those who have traveled and lived in various countries, and many others These groups of people can be better understood with the term, liminal identity.

According to the Oxford Handbook of Identities in Organizations, “Liminality is the individual or group experience of being betwixt and between states, roles, and/or identities.” In other words, when identity rests in multiplicity than in a singular identity; liminals act as the bridgewalkers.”

I most certainly identify with having a liminal identity, being born and brought up in Japan but also within an Indian household Both Japanese and Indian cultures are a part of me, I’m not whole without either; I’m always in-between the two My parents also moved from India to Japan 20 plus years ago and gained a permanent residency. Although the terms for first and second generation immigrants (a native-born person with at least one foreign-born parent) are mainly used in the US and UK, they are still universal terms, and I identify as a second generation immigrant

If you are interested in hearing more about my story, I was blessed with a chance opportunity to be interviewed by TAKAShii from Japan, and you can listen to the video here

“Mainly, one’s cultural identity doesn’t necessarily equate to only/just their ethnic origins.”

2. The question itself is a form of microaggression. I find that intention behind this question and following responses/reactions although sometimes can be out of pure curiosity and awe, other times can be racist, especially when what they’re really asking is,

“Where are you really from?” as in what is your ethnic origin

Ideas

“The problem with this question is the assumption that you must be of a certain race to associate yourself with a certain cultural background or identity, and this underlying assumption alienates and disregards the person.”

It is the subtle commonplace exchanges, like when meeting someone for the first time and being asked such a question, that over time builds up feelings of frustration in them due to the inherent othering on an everyday basis

Alternatives

So if this is the case, what can you ask people instead? Think about what would be a better way to connect with and understand someone.

Why not ask them,

“What is your story?,”

or “Could you tell me your story?”

These are more objective ways of asking people where they’re from or what their backgrounds are I know some people, especially introverts, don’t feel comfortable sharing about themselves to people they’ve only just met. However, they shouldn’t feel pressured to do so The point is that it’s their choice as to how much they want to share about themselves, and most of all, that they don’t feel pressured to justify or explain themselves to a complete stranger or anyone.

Between Two Worlds by Gladiola Sotomayor

This is my recalling of how the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake unfolded as a child, aided with interviews of family members.

Part 1: Quakes of Terror

March 11th, 2011 Friday An ordinary school day An ordinary afternoon I was in the 2nd grade, 7 years old when it happened I distinctly remember sitting in the classroom, celebrating a classmate’s star of the week and another classmate’s birthday, happily eating the snacks on my desk when my friend suddenly pointed to a tree outside the window

“Look! The tree is shaking!”

We all looked out to where she pointed It was a massive tree with leaves sprawling outwards, and the trunk itself was shaking The ground started to shift horizontally before us At that exact moment, the screeching sound of the alarm went off, filling me with panic

Instinctively, we all dove under tables taking cover as we had practised numerous times by now

“This wasn’t a drill. This was real ”

What started off as small intensified at once, becoming terrifyingly violent The ground was no longer shaking at an intensity I was familiar with. Our snacks fell to the floor. I heard the sounds of books sliding off shelves and the legs of the chairs and tables clattering against the ground

Nobody spoke as we clung onto the cold steel of the table legs with wide eyes, praying for it to be over. The shaking subsided eventually, but we waited with bated breath.

Was this the end? Or was it going to get worse?

Our teacher yelled for us to stay calm and stay under the tables until there was an announcement, so we stayed put I waited with my heart in my throat, not fully understanding what was happening

Looking back, the quakes must have lasted for at least a few minutes, the longest I had ever been under the table for None of my classmates spoke, nor did my teacher We were rendered speechless My knees and neck hurt from sitting on the floor and being bent under the table for so long

The announcement came two minutes later when it was clear there would be no immediate aftershocks. The voice of the head of the school boomed from the intercom through the classroom.

Credit: UNDRR Prevention Web

“All students remain calm and proceed in a single file to evacuate to the tennis grounds ”

As soon as her voice cut off, our teacher told us to put on our helmets and quickly line up We didn’t need to be told twice, grabbing the helmets from the black nets under the wooden chairs and clasping them over our heads The usually uncomfortable feeling of my hair being stuck within the helmet and the strap rubbing against my skin seemed to fade away into the background I followed the backs of my classmates in a single file, quietly exiting the classroom wondering what was going to happen now

Part 2: Full School Evacuation

The maroon and green tennis grounds were filled with students from all grade levels from first to twelfth and even the kindergarteners We were all seated in alphabetical order in our classes A total of at least 500 students and 100 staff were on the grounds The white lines outlining the courts couldn’t be fully seen anymore The teachers were standing with their helmets at the front of the lines with emergency backpacks and notepads in hand.

Chris Chondrogiannis

I was at the back of the line since my surname started with a ‘t’ for class 2B. The head of the school picked up a megaphone and announced that everyone had been safely evacuated Then we waited

An unknown amount of time passed by in murky colours, however at some point, the head of the school was holding a megaphone again She announced that we were going to go back inside as no aftershocks had occurred since The students and teachers exited grade by grade, class by class, until it was our turn.

I stood up, feeling relieved and overjoyed that we could finally go back inside

The numbing pain from sitting down for so long slowly eased as I walked in line behind my classmates We passed by the gymnasium into the cafeteria and got to the corridors, nearly to our classroom, when the ground started to shake. Instinctively, we dropped to the floor and plastered ourselves to the walls, our small bodies trying to hold on There was nothing nearby that we could take cover under I only closed my eyes and prayed for it to be over. Fortunately, the shaking stopped within a minute It was no longer safe to be inside, so our teacher led us back to the tennis grounds and once again we were all sat in the same lines as before At least an hour passed by and it started to rain, however the school was prepared The teachers and staff pulled out a blue waterproof tarpaulin and inflated it like a balloon around us.

Eventually, the rain stopped, and we got out of our balloons. The head of the school picked up the megaphone again, however this time to make the announcement that all after school activities were cancelled for the day and that phone calls would be made to our parents now. They would be coming to pick us up as soon as they could

Just like we practised in P.E class, we dove into the pocket of air and sat down on the edges of the tarpaulin

Inside the safety of our shelter, we ate our emergency snacks and drinks from the little bags our mothers had prepared for us every start of the school year. I had never thought I would actually be eating it, let alone in this balloon

“The evacuation was over, but school was cancelled for at least a week ”

Part 3: Domino Effect

The next 24 hours were filled with utmost tension My mother was in the clothes store shopping for the kid of my aunt’s friend She had come to visit us at this time from India and was with my 3 years old brother, who had been asleep in the car when the earthquake struck The racks had started shaking, clothes fell off the shelves, and the cars outside were violently moving from side to side. Alarmed, my mother had frantically run into the parking lot and grabbed my brother, fortunately, before anything else happened They ran back inside the shop

“The earthquake had started out small, and I remember feeling excited because it was my first time experiencing one. I didn’t panic We had just gone to the amusement park and rode roller coasters the previous day, so I was still feeling the thrill from them. But when I looked around, everyone ’ s faces were tense I was the only one with a smile on my face,” said my aunt, 13 years later as I interviewed her.

The maroon and green tennis courts | Credit:

Tarpaulin | Credit: Yassir Abbas

She hadn’t realized what was actually happening at that time The shopkeeper had told them not to go by the bridge, near the seaside, however we had no way of getting back home other than by crossing the bridge After waiting for some time in the store, it was deemed safe enough to go back so they did

On their way home, they received a call from school to pick me up and rushed to get there. By the time they arrived, most parents had picked up their kids, however I refused to go back home I felt that school was safer with all the teachers. It took some convincing before I agreed to go back home, however even then my mother wasn’t sure it was safe for us to go inside. She had heard from my friend’s mother that the glass inside their house had broken and was worried if the same had happened inside our house, so she went inside to check first Fortunately, only a photo frame had fallen and made a dent in the floor

At this point, only Wifi was working My father told us that all the trains were stopped and that he had to walk home, however his office was 15 km away It would then take him 4 hours to walk By the time he arrived, it was late evening. We were all so relieved

“I was amazed by how orderly people were moving. They walked calmly in lines and even waited at signals If people were in the middle of buying something, they would put it back Even though the trains had stopped, the buses were still working and there were long queues for them There was no panic or chaos The cell phone networks weren’t working however somehow Wifi was People were walking slowly, looking at their phones trying to contact their loved ones. I put a message on Facebook to let friends and family know that there had been a large earthquake and that we were okay

Crowds at JR Tokyo Station on March 11, 2011, after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck and all public transportation was halted | Credit: Jiji Press The Japan News

I was walking along Komazawa dori (street), and the further I was walking away from Otemachi, the crowds were gradually dispersing,” said my father, 13 years later as I interviewed him

There were a series of serious aftershocks as I watched the lights in our living room and kitchen sway violently I dove under the table, frightened to tears, whilst the rest of my family continued anxiously watching the news to see what to do The blaring earthquake alerts flashed on screen, and I kept telling them to come under the table to protect their heads It was what I learnt in school.

My family and I watched the black 40 metre high tsunami wipe out complete cities, destroying infrastructure and thousands of people’s homes through TV The most terrifying part being what followed with the tsunami destroying the barriers around the nuclear reactors in Fukushima and the resulting explosion and toxic radiation. I remember feeling petrified as I realized how enormous and cruel the sea could be I was so lucky to be living in Tokyo, nowhere near the east coast of Tohoku Just watching it all unfold on screen was enough.

The 40 meter high tsunami that reached Miyako City, flooding all streets in Iwate Prefecture, Japan and crushing all infrastructure, after 9.0 magnitude earthquake | Credit: Mainichi Shinbun / Reuters

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Credit: Mainichi / Nippon News The Atlanta

Part 4: Rumours like Wildfire

In the following weeks, rumours spread uncontrollably There was a shortage of water and food supply as the majority of it came from the Tohoku region. People thought the water was getting contaminated by the radiation That the radiation was going to affect the atmosphere That the winds were carrying the radiation all the way to Tokyo. Whether all of this was true or not, it was hard to tell at that time We weren’t sure what was rumour or fact Everyone was panicking and fear was being instigated in the masses through the rumours. Foreigners around us and friends who weren’t citizens were ready to jump on the fastest plane back home Many of them ended up running away, however my mother and father were conflicted We had a home here, a life we had built from scratch for more than 5 years. We didn’t want to just leave, so we stayed for another two weeks

Foreigners around us and friends who weren’t citizens were ready to jump on the fastest plane back home. Many of them ended up running away, however my mother and father were conflicted We had a home here, a life we had built from scratch for more than 5 years We didn’t want to just leave, so we stayed for another two weeks.

However, the rumours were getting worse At the office, my father’s Japanese colleagues who had no choice but to stay in Japan were asking him why we were staying here when we had another home in India and were telling him we should leave However, my mother still didn’t want to leave.

“What if we never came back?”

My mother wanted to stay and stick it through. My father on the other hand wanted to leave for the kids and play it safe He didn’t know what would happen, and if anything happened to his kids, he would be blamed He was trying to take responsibility for his family Their differing opinions on what to do caused a big fight between them, however after lots of debating, my mother eventually gave in We decided to follow the herd and leave

There were no direct flights from Tokyo to Hyderabad nor Delhi, so along with my father’s friend, we had to take a shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka and then a flight from Osaka to Mumbai.

We stayed there for several days before taking a connecting flight to Hyderabad The tickets were expensive, however my parents were willing to pay for it as well as for my aunt. Even during the journey, I was crying, wanting to go back to school where I felt safer My 3-year old brother was also sick with high fever, diarrhoea, and was vomiting at this time. Despite being away from danger, it was still a tense and agonising period where my parents couldn’t sleep well at night

We ended up staying in India for 6 weeks, however my father had come back after only 2 weeks because of work

“We stayed in Japan for so many years, enjoyed all the good things about Japan and when the country was in a bad situation, we were just running away I felt guilty for leaving. And we only just moved to a new house, and there were repairs going on, so I didn’t want to leave the house

What if we never came back again? We didn’t know the situation These kinds of fears were in my mind Your father had also said he would come back 2 weeks later, but what if something happened? I wanted to stay together as a family. During the whole time I was in India, I wasn’t happy. I was ready to stay in Japan even after the earthquake like the others,” said my mother 13 years later as I interviewed her

While my mother felt like she was abandoning her country and home, my father viewed us leaving as only temporary and that we would come back once things settled.

The full scale of the tsunami hitting north-east Japan on March 11th, 2011

Credit: Benjamin Lizardo

“The question was whether you wanted to be foolishly brave or smart about it because we were going to come back. I was thinking about the kids, my family If something happened and my family was affected by it during those 2 weeks we were there, I would never forgive myself about it,” said my father.

At last when radiation levels came back down and we felt it was safe enough, my mother, brother, and I returned to Japan. It was now mid-May

Part 5: The Aftermath

“Life was no longer the same. It was now about what we buy.”

Most of the food we usually bought before, like dairy products, fruits, and vegetables, came from the Tohoku region, where the nuclear radiation had spread to Nobody wanted to buy food from these northern areas anymore in fear of the contamination We avoided buying them for at least a year, however, in turn, the prices for food from the other regions shot up significantly, such as Hokkaido milk or eggs from the Northern regions We also stopped drinking tap water and had made the switch to mineral water during that time period, only going back to tap water 2 to 3 years later. We were careful about what fish we bought because the rumour was that the contaminated water had been thrown into the ocean

The tsunami led to a nuclear meltdown in Fukushima, leading to a number of hydrogen explosions | Credit: Product Safety Design

However, it is only in 2023, 12 years later, that the government of Japan has started to release the contaminated water from the nuclear plants into the ocean, after claiming the radiation levels to be low and receiving approval about it As a result of the earthquake, many family friends, classmates, teachers, especially those who were not citizens, left Japan permanently and never came back. International schools suffered significant losses classrooms were empty, and it took a while for international students to come back again

“13 years later, and the terror from 3/11 is still etched into my memory. It will remain with me until the end of my time.”

The tsunami overcame the sea wall, hitting three Fukushima nuclear plants | Credit: BBC

Creator: Toru Hanai | Credit: Reuters

Juicy Treasures of Japan

Anpogaki perssimons, also known as halfdried persimmons, are dried for a shorter period of time than full dried persimmons and then fumigated with sulfur to develop a soft, juicy, and sticky, jam-like texture. Relish them on their own or chopped finely with a spoonful of yogurt It can be stored in a cool well-ventilated place or refrigerated for three to six months. They are only grown in the Northern part of Fukushima as this is their specialty

Translation: The outside is moist, the inside is gooey (8 pieces)

Fukushima prefecture is known for it’s peaches, being the nation's second largest producer of it. Of all the varieties, Akatsuki peaches, named after “dawn” for its beautiful red colour, are the sweetest. Juicer and bigger than the peaches you find elsewhere, these peaches are especially succulent with a tender flesh, delicate sweet aroma, and a honey-like sweetness An abundance of peach trees can be spotted mainly in the Fukushima City and Date areas.

Translation: The authentic, juicy peaches everyone is obsessed with Fresh peaches picked in the morning from the Fukushima prefecture, one of Japan’s leading peach-growing regions, will be delivered to you straight from the production area

Fukushima prefecture is also the second largest producer of strawberries in Japan. It is known for “amaou,” the king of strawberries as being red, round, big, and sweet.

Translation: Luxurious fruits sandwich with amaou strawberries

Nashi is a type of pear fruit native to Japan and other Asian countries. One bite into it will reveal a satisfying crunchy texture complemented by a juicy and refreshing sweetness. This fruit will be the perfect snack on a hot summer day Ibaraki prefecture, being the second largest producer in Japan, has one of the most succulent nashis