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HOME > Past
World Cultural Forum 2006 (4th) > Forum
: Literature and Disasters - Grief and Rebuilding
Past World Cultural Forum
2006 (4th)
2006 (4th)
Literature and Disasters - Grief and Rebuilding
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 (17:00-20:00)
MY PLAZA HALL (Tokyo)
Writers from Japan participated in a forum with fellow writers from Thailand, China and Indonesia who have experienced natural disasters such as tsunamis, floods, and earthquakes, on the potential of literature to help human beings come to terms with natural disasters.
After beginning the session with a series of images of natural disasters that have occurred around the world, writer Mr. Wahei Tatematsu delivered his keynote speech, "People and the Mt. Asama eruption", with reference to his novel based on that event, explaining how he depicted in his work the process of the survivors' recovery from the edge of despair. He noted that one of his reasons for working with the natural disaster theme is the potential literature has to give readers the will to live through the compassionate telling of stories of people's recovery from hopeless situations.
The chairperson, writer Mr. Takashi Atouda, then emphasized the significance of discussing the way in which disasters are transmitted in the form of literature in Japan, where natural disasters are commonplace, before proceeding to the panellists' presentations. Mr. Yang Liguang, Vice President of the Reportage Institute of China, noted that China is often beset by major floods, and these events have historically provided material for literary works such as mythologies. He stated that the peoples of Asia, an area where natural disasters occur frequently, have continued to build civilizations, having acquired endurance through overcoming these natural disasters. He also noted that while floods can have disastrous effects, water is the source of life and cannot therefore be separated from the human way of life.
Indonesian writer Ms. Linda Christanty, the Chief Editor of the Pantau News Agency, described the struggles of the people of Aceh affected by the tsunami caused by the great Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake, and of those helping them, and stated that recovery, whether from natural disaster or man-made conflict, is not possible without peace. She read a poem by a young girl from Aceh in the original language, communicating the grief wrought by the disaster through the inherent resonance of poetry.
Mr. Kwanyuen Lukchan, a writer from Thailand, found himself in a terrible predicament following the tsunami caused by the December 2004 Sumatra offshore earthquake. Merely surviving was a desperate struggle, and the writer told the forum of his realization that preserving one's family is of paramount concern. He also described how he established a writers' network as a form of aid, inspired by people's efforts to help each other without regard to linguistic or religious differences, and the sense of duty he felt in portraying these and other people affected by natural disasters.
In the panel discussion that followed, there was a vigorous discussion exchanging opinions on points raised by the panellists' presentations, after which it was stressed that taking a natural disaster as a theme in literature allows the realistic depiction of human morality and its at times egoistical side.
In conclusion, the chairperson Mr. Atouda noted that human beings cannot master the forces of nature, but they can reconcile themselves with the natural environment and recover from suffering; he urged writers to continue to produce literary works that depict such people and so give readers the strength to live.
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![Panels display on disasters, at the entrance of the venue [Cooperation : The Japan Committee for UNICEF]](images/report_07-3.jpg) |
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| Mr. Atouda chairing the Forum | Ms. Christanti speaking about disasters | Panels display on disasters, at the entrance of the venue [Cooperation : The Japan Committee for UNICEF] | ||
| [participant] ATOUDA Takashi (Japan), Writer; Managing Director, Japan P.E.N. Club TATEMATSU Wahei (Japan), Writer Linda CHRISTANTY (Indonesia), Chief Editor, Pantau News Agency YANG Liguang (China), Vice President, Reportage Institute of China Kwanyuen LUKCHAN (Thailand), Writer *Belonging and the official position are the one at the holding this time. |
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