Easter Island statue erected in tsunami-hit town

Thank you so much for an awesome gift! The three-meter Moai statue must be a big symbol for Minami-Sanriku recovery.

I'm not entirely sure how the statue symbolizes 'recovery', but it is a nice gesture, and a good way to strengthen ties and help the people here.

All well and good - but how about some houses, too? Anyway - a nice polynesian gesture.

Lovely gesture! Thanks to the Chilean president and people for your gift.

Chile rules in so many ways. Lived there for 5 years. Awesome country and people, they have everything there! Thank you Chile. Cheers!

Symbolism? The people on Easter did not recover, aren't they? I rather have the replica of the 'capsule' used to save the miners trapped in the mines.

Realizing that I only had to geological value. And would "walking" to the volcano ASO at coordinate 32 52 N - 131 11 L., and So I would be quiet with the Japanese ladies in the region of Kobe passed me this idea. And the other end of follow-up would be Miasaki from point 32 06 N - 131 29 L

Nice gesture. Every time I see a Moai these days I'm reminded of this poster; http://www.despair.com/priorities.html

All well and good - but how about some houses, too?

Ah yes, standard response every time news about moving forward that is not about new homes. The statue is a gift from Chile. Are you even talking about Minami-Sanriku?

Nice ceremony and plenty of smiles. Spoke with the wife of the Chilean ambassador and a number of the Chileans in Japan for five days, heading back today.

@ daijoboots - I invite you to come up here and chat to some locals. I doubt you will bother - but you'd find they have more pressing issues than polynesian statues. As everyone here has mentioned - yes - it is a very nice gesture from Chile.

It's a nice, symbolic gesture from Chile that will be a comfort to the people of Minami-Sanriku.

Of course, the real story in this article goes almost unnoticed at the end.

The statue was exhibited in Tokyo and Osaka before being officially handed over to Minami-Sanriku on Saturday.

The statue was actually sent over months ago by Chile. It could have been placed in Minami-Sanriku straight away, but the government and many people have seemly long ago forgotten the hundreds of thousands still living among the rubble and destruction, the Japanese government thought it more important to send the statue around on a tour "so everyone can enjoy the gesture." So sorry, Tohoku, you must gaman a little bit more while everyone gets a look at a real Moai first.

hundreds of thousands still living among the rubble and destruction

Where have you been that would match such a grand description?

The public far away may be forgetting it, and that can be expected with distance, but the government hasn't. People are moving into permanent accomodation. Some people will be waiting longer for completion. There are schedules.

.......the Japanese government thought it more important to send the statue around on a tour "so everyone can enjoy the gesture.......

Is that so? Maybe you should be made aware of the fact that the tsunami which came hurtling across the Pacific from Chile in 1960 struck Minami-Sanriku and other areas on May 24.

I invite you to come up here and chat to some locals

Sure. How about the weekend of June 8/9?