In October 2010 I took my first trip to Japan. PURE grips business has taken me back twice more since, in December 2010 and February 2011. It is safe to say that the people and culture of Japan has had a strong affect on me. I consider myself moderately well-traveled, having seen a fair bit of the world and an interest in seeing the rest. However, there is something in Japan that is unique and I find it more appealing with each trip.

With this fresh and growing love of the country, it has been a very sad process in watching the earthquake and tsunami damage that has taken place this week. I find my mind and heart focused on the beautiful people and country I have spent so much time with over the last few months. Fortunately, it seems my friends in Japan have all been safely accounted for but that is somewhat small solace in the grand scheme of what is going on there. It is a bit of a helpless feeling, but I am sending as much positive energy and as many of my positive thoughts as I can in that direction. It is pretty easy to look back at my recent trips and recall all of the pleasant encounters with friendly people and all of the beautiful places I have been fortunate enough to experience. At times like these, some memories are particularly poignant.

I am remembering the story of the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in in Kamakura. As you can see in the picture, this beautiful place is home to an impressive bronze Buddha. This place and this Buddha have seen much destruction over the roughly 700 years it has existed. The Great Buddha at Kamakura has seen many houses blown away by storms or washed away by tsunami, yet the Buddha still sits in contemplation. The legend says that he prefers to be outside, so there he sits in his beautiful gardens and hopefully can provide some inspiration to the Japanese people to pick up and move forward in the aftermath of this terrible week. I admire the heart and tenacity that is illustrated by the Japanese people in the history of their country. I will continue that admiration as this great culture defeats a new challenge, in the same way it has faced numerous challenges before.

So, I want to send out to the people of Japan the thoughts and well-wishes of the team at PURE grips. 日本の美しい人々に祝福。

—-Wes