Please take deep interest in Japan massive quake

As I am part of anthropologymatters.com mailing list, today I received this email, which I post here. It touched me as it more than speculative or empirical accounts of natural disasters is able to communicate the sense of disappointment of Japanese and it gives the world a fair glimpse on what is going on beyond media accounts. (For contacting the author of this letter, please post a comment)

Dear all,
 
I am a doctoral student at University of Tokyo, Japan.
All you may have known  that Japan was struck by the massive quake on 11th 
March.
I know that the media would love to report sensational images of Tsunami, but 
the reality is not so simply "shocking" or "spectacle" like "the Day After 
Tomorrow".
In Tokyo area, most things function as usual.  
My place is located 20km from central Tokyo, 150km far from the blasting nuclear 
plants. Still we have after-quakes day in and day out.
I would like to let you know that people living outside of the devastated area 
are in trouble with food, electricity and so on. Everybody around here goes to 
office as usual, but once you enter a supermarket,  we can find little stuff on 
the shelves. All gas, batteries, candles are sold out. Many people do 
speculative stocking of materials. This contrast is surreal in a way. And these 
"not-photogenic" things less interest mass media.
 
A few days have passed since the massive quake.  I would say that it is about 
time that we,some anthropologists, mentioned about this disaster from various 
angles.
So, those wishing to make donations, it is much appreciated if you would chip in 
for charity to some reliable accounts (it won't be appropriate for me to say any 
particular). 
 
Not only money, I would think it would be good chance to discuss a subject of 
anthropologists' possible involvement on new issue: a developed countries' 
complex disasters (stock market collapse, exposure to radiation, blackout, food 
shortage, multinational sufferers, conflict between the evacuees etc...). 
 
So, if you are just starting to look for your anthropological field to research, 
please think about it. Possibly this study of Japan should contribute to a 
disaster prevention planning in your countries.  I know some Japanese 
anthropologists studying about disaster-resistant city, and they are looking for 
international network with those who are interested. 
 
So, if you get interested in studying about Japan in after disasters, please 
contact me.

(Unfortunately, I have been studying about walking pilgrimage in Santiago de 
Compostela,  and just started to write the doctoral thesis, so will take time to 
get involved in this matter.)
 
I posted this message maybe because I am very upset, and apologies in advance if 
this posting is not appropriate for this mailing list.
Raising a discussion here is not my intention. 
It is wonderful if you keep in mind that one of the Japanese anthropologists ask 
you to get interested in various sides of this disasters, and think about suburb 
of Tokyo as your potential field to research (aside from your own countries or 
former colonies).
 
Thank you so much for reading this, 
 
warmest regards,
 

PhD candidate
department of cultural anthropology
University of Tokyo
Japan,