In addition to all those things, in the worst recession since the World War II, we have now entered the 5th year since the Great Hanshin Earthquake.
More than one and a half years have passed since I moved from the temporary dwelling into permanent public housing. Compared with those days in the temporary housing, my living environment has now improved a lot. But I still have a lot of anxiety in my daily life, mainly economic, as there is not so much business as before. This recession seems to give hardships to the self-employed like me in addition to ones caused by the Earthquake. 　I think I must do something, but I'm at a loss.

　The followings are extracts from a recent newspaper featuring " The lost economic momentum in Kobe".
　 ・ The number of suicides due to financial troubles in Kobe City has reached to 232 between Jan 　　to Nov 1998 according to the Hyogo Prefectural police.
　・ Someone said, "Until recently I was able to expect a job in the near future even though there 　　were no jobs at that time. But now I can't."
　・ The wound that had been closing was opened again.
　・ Worn out, we just manage to survive.
　・ In 1998, the recession hit the disaster-stricken area doubly. The unemployment rate in Hyogo　　 　Prefecture recorded the second highest next to Okinawa Prefecture in the 　　　nation.
　　　　　　　　　　　　(From the article of "The Restoration Fading Away" Kobe of Jan 11)

　But we have gotten over that Earthquake and managed to survive so far. For a while, I will live with a "so-what" attitude.