Former UH DE Kevin Jackson talks about being in Tokyo when the earthquake/tsunami hit Japan

About how he felt when the earthquake hit the Tokyo office where he works, Kevin Jackson said:
"I thought there was a good possibility the building would collapse and we would all die. It was 3 or 4 minutes, but it seemed like a lot longer because it just wouldn't stop. I was sitting down, so I just stayed there holding on to my desk." (HSA)


HSA Note: ""KJ" has been in Japan since 2005, playing for the Obic Seagulls. As a rookie, he became the first foreign-born MVP as the Gulls won the championship of the X League, which is the highest level of American football in Japan. Obic won the 18-team league title again last season. This time another former UH player, Karl Noa, got the MVP honors. He lined up at the end spot opposite Jackson and delivered two sacks."


About how there are a lot of people with UH and Hawaii ties in Japan, Jackson said:
"There are so many Hawaii people and UH grads here. Any kind of event you go to, you run into them." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Those who Jackson knows made it through unscathed. They include Ian Sample and Derek Faavi, who both played for the Warriors. And there's Frank Fernandez, a Saint Louis and Harvard grad who also plays for Obic. (Noa was not in Japan at the time of the earthquake and tsunami)."


About how his best friend, Peter Sawka, was fortunate to live in Sendai and survive, Jackson said:
"He is one lucky guy. He was at the epicenter and near the water. But his house is high on a cliff. ... Everything around him was totally destroyed, but he's OK." (HSA)


About how both of his jobs have been affected by the earthquake, Jackson said:
"I deal a lot in trading metal. Titanium, aluminum. We buy from America and Europe and sell to heavy industries here. Shipping and air freight have been delayed and orders have been canceled. You can't get into certain ports. With electricity in several parts of the country being down, plants can't produce anything and can't keep up with orders." (HSA)


About how his company is gearing up to help Japan rebuild, Jackson said:
"Absolutely. We're getting crazy orders from companies. Big producers have big plans." (HSA)


About how he and other football players are making public appearances to help relief efforts, Jackson said:
"We have some recognition with a certain segment of the population. It's nowhere near soccer or baseball. But football's gained steadily in popularity the past few years, so we're trying to use that to help. We've partnered with several other community programs, doing what we can to raise money. We've been going to malls, train stations and setting up booths. Partnering with radio and TV stations." (HSA)


Asked if he had planned to live in Tokyo when he majored in Asian history and studied the Japanese language, Jackson said:
"Not really, I came here a few times while I was at UH. My church was connected to a church in Yokohama. There was an opportunity to visit. It was kind of a whim, but I was always interested in going abroad." (HSA)


Jackson said that he may not stay in Japan forever, but:
"I do believe this is where I belong now." (HSA)

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