孤立された！

While we had record snow in Tokyo, people in the mountains had impossible levels of snow in a country that usually doesn't have to deal with heavy snow that lasts for weeks. The Japanese Self Defense Force has been mobilized because of earthquake and of course the massive 2011 tsunami, but this year they were mobilized because of snow.

In watching the news reports we saw the Japanese word in the title, which is "koritsu", meaning "Isolation" Every night there would be a listing of the thousands, and then hundreds and tens of households completely cut off from the outside world by heavy snow. Dialysis patients were hoisted up by hovering helicopters, and food was dropped down to these isolated people. 

There's an ongoing isolation in Japan. In a modern affluent society, many people have no close associations with others, and in some cases shun them in a condition known as "hikikomori" 

Then there's the spiritual isolation people feel in this land, one we're trying to break through without the help of the Self Defense Force or a fleet of helicopters.