I’m sharing this from Sendai, Japan where we just completed our press events announcing that Street View now shows before and after imagery in regions of Japan that were devastated by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.

I am tremendously honored to have worked on this important and meaningful project in Street View. I learned about this effort when I first joined Google in August and was deeply moved that Google has supported it. This has made me proud to be a Googler. It has helped confirm that my difficult decision to move from Hawaii to California was worth it because I’m able to contribute to products that change the world and help people like this one.

Since I lived right near the beach in Hawaii, my wife and I had to evacuate our home in March during the tsunami warning. I recall watching in horror as the devastation unfolded in Japan, and fearing that I would not have a home to return to the next day. I promised myself if Hawaii made it through safely (which we did), then I would do what I could to help the Japanese people recover. I made donations, wrote blogs, and helped raise awareness in Hawaii to get people to donate. I had no idea I’d be joining Google, working on Street View, or working on the Japan Street View efforts… but my promise is now appearing to come full circle.

Please read the blog and explore the new website “Memories for the Future” that we’ve launched today. You will be brough to tears as you see homes and villages literally disappear before your eyes as you switch from “Before” to “After” imagery. On a personal note, I hope that witnessing the impact of a disaster like this will move people to sympathize and send support when events like this occur.