[vikkaboo]

I think it depends on the reason. If you left Japan because your electricity went out (which can happen in a thunderstorm) then that's pretty silly. If you were traveling with your job (like as an IT consultant working with another company) and your family wanted you to come back home, and your children were crying for you, or your company made you come back (etc., etc.,) then I should think your reason was genuine.

But if you abandoned Japan because you were scared your own @$$ would get hurt, then that's pretty shameful. What kind of mom would leave their children behind in a foreign country because she was scared for herself? Usually moms are concerned with getting their children out of the country first...

I recorded a program (DVR) that came on TV a few months ago that showed live footage from the earthquake that many people had taken. It was extremely sad, but it also showed how the Japanese teamed up together. A boy (I'm presuming a teenage boy) was video taping the earthquake, and started screaming, "Okaasaaannnn!!!!" and saying they had to leave immediately. They ran outside onto the street, and his mom started crying, and he held onto her while still filming. Another man was standing on a hill, and he was screaming, "Haiyaku!" (spell check) while people were coming out of their houses. He wouldn't leave until everyone came out and started walking up; he knew a tsunami was coming.