(by Ms. Shigeko Hirayama, 45 years old, Nurse , Ofunato-cho, Ofunato-shi, Iwate Pref. (Ofunato-shi, Ofunato Junior High School gymnasium)
I am checking the blood pressure for the people at the evacuation center, and assist the doctors who visit here. I suffered a great loss, but I am grateful that I can be useful at the time of disaster like this. I have a daughter who will start a senior high school life, and a son junior high school. They’ve started to show the sign of exhaustion; that worries me. I hope that we will be able to move to some place so that we can live in better condition.
Asahi Shimbun, April 4, 2011, "Disaster Victims' Voice"
Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
I want to find my wife with all my effort
(by Mr. Haruo Teranishi, 65 years old, Otsuchi-cho, Kamihei-gun, Iwate Prefecture )
I was in Saitama City on business when the earthquake occurred. I returned in a hurry, but I found my house washed away. Currently I am staying at my daughter’s. My wife is still missing. I went and checked around many evacuation centers, but could not find her. I am going to check around the morgues in the area. I know it would be very difficult considering the extent of the damages, but I want to find her with all my effort.
Asahi Shimbun, April 4, 2011 "Disaster Victims' Voice"
Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano
I was in Saitama City on business when the earthquake occurred. I returned in a hurry, but I found my house washed away. Currently I am staying at my daughter’s. My wife is still missing. I went and checked around many evacuation centers, but could not find her. I am going to check around the morgues in the area. I know it would be very difficult considering the extent of the damages, but I want to find her with all my effort.
Asahi Shimbun, April 4, 2011 "Disaster Victims' Voice"
Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano
Friends from elementary school all scattered, I miss them
(by Ms. Maika Murakami, 12 years old, at Rikuzen takada-shi, Osabe Community Center, Kesen-cho, Rikkuzen Takada-shi, Iwate Prefecture)
I am going to junior high school this spring, but all items prepared for were washed away including the uniform and school bag purchased anew. All my friends from the elementary school expected to go to the same junior high school, but some might go to the one nearby where they are staying now so we all are separated. I miss my friends.
Asahi Shimbun, April 4, 2011, "Disaster Victims' Voice"
Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano
I am going to junior high school this spring, but all items prepared for were washed away including the uniform and school bag purchased anew. All my friends from the elementary school expected to go to the same junior high school, but some might go to the one nearby where they are staying now so we all are separated. I miss my friends.
Asahi Shimbun, April 4, 2011, "Disaster Victims' Voice"
Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano
The family of the late painter will donate the royalties on his book “The Old Man’s Mitten”
The family of the late Russian painter, Evgenii Mikhailovich Rachev, known for his illustration of the children’s book called “The Old Man’s Mitten” offered to donate the royalties on its Japanese edition published by Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers, Inc. to those affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake over the next year.
The story is about the mitten left behind in the woods that provides woodland creatures shelter from snowstorm and it is a folktale of Ukraine where the Chernobyl Disaster occurred. The story enjoys high popularity in Japan since it was translated into Japanese in 1965.
Asahi Shimbun, April 5, 2011
Translated by Mikiko Yamashita
Visiting those disaster-affected areas will help restore the community
(by Syunji Hashimoto, factory manager of Hachinohe Ice Making, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture)
While I managed to resume shipping my products from the middle of March, one of the marine products companies with which I do business suffered significant damage due to the earthquake and an event to be held at a hotel was canceled as a result. However, tourist facilities around Hachinohe area are getting back on their feet. Although you might feel hesitant to visit our town for sightseeing, it’s one of those things that help restore disaster-stricken area.
Asahi Shimbun, April 5, 2011, "Disaster Victims' Voice"
Translated by Takako Takata
While I managed to resume shipping my products from the middle of March, one of the marine products companies with which I do business suffered significant damage due to the earthquake and an event to be held at a hotel was canceled as a result. However, tourist facilities around Hachinohe area are getting back on their feet. Although you might feel hesitant to visit our town for sightseeing, it’s one of those things that help restore disaster-stricken area.
Asahi Shimbun, April 5, 2011, "Disaster Victims' Voice"
Translated by Takako Takata
From the piles of rubble, I found a photo of my dog--he was my family
(by Mr. Tadaharu Yoshida at Miyako Daini Junior High School, Miyako, Iwate Prefecture) The tsunami made my house just piles of rubble. From there, I managed to find an album, which somehow keeps me going. A photo of my dog, Kotetsu. We've been together since he was a puppy. He is so good-looking while young, isn't he? He was my family. The tsunami took him away. It was going to be 17th year since we'd started living together. The tsunami took him... I regret he died like that.  Mr. Tadaharu Yoshida
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Concerned about kid's health, we decided to leave here
(by Ms. Kumi Yamane, Kazuma, and Momoka at Kuwagasaki Elementary School, Miyako, Iwate Prefecture) Kumi: We decided to leave this town. My 4 year-old son's health is my concern. I don't want him to be stressed any more. He started wetting his bed. He looks fine usually. But I guess he's stressed thinking of his bed-wetting. Momoka: Dear my class mates, I am moving to grandpa and grandma's. I'll try my best at my new school there. Thanks!  Kazuma, Ms. Kumi Yamane, and Momoka
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Thank you, all the customers, for your patronage for such a long time
(by Mr. Tadakazu Nakazawa and Mrs. Asako Nakazawa, at Atago Elementary School, Miyako, Iwate Prefecture) I was running a barber shop, which lasted for 86 years since my father's time. Asako: I thank all our customers, both young and old, who used to come to our place. We have to close our shop without saying thank you in person. I'm sorry. Tadakazu: I really thank all our customers. I will not forget them even though we move somewhere else. Thank you very much.
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Sole Survivor of Family of Eight Searches Rubble of Destroyed Home for Lost Memories
Misaki Miura, a third year student at Motoyoshi Hibiki High Shool, aged 17, who used to live in Hajikamisuginoshita, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, lost 7 members of her family including her parents and sisters by Eastern Japan’s Great Earthquake. Only she was left alive in her family. Her home near the coast was swept away by tsunami. She stays at her relative's home and goes to her house torn down to rubbles to search for family mementos. Nearly 3 weeks have past ever since she plumbed the depth of sorrow. She keeps telling herself, "let's look into the future."
Her family members consisted of her parents, Yoshihiro, aged 43 and Mieko, aged 41, and sisters, Miho, a 9th grade student at Hajikami Junior High School, aged 15, and Miki, who used to go to a kindergarden, aged 6. Her grandfather, aged 74, grandmother, aged 72, and great-grand mother, aged 93, used to live with them as well.
Misaki was in a shopping center in Kesennuma when the earthquake hit Japan on March 11th and didn’t encounter tsunami. 5 of her family members including her father were likely to have been at home. The car driven by her mother who went out to pick up Miki from the kindergarten was found nearby.
She exchanged mails with her mother on mobile in a short time between the earthquake and tsunami. She mailed to her mom, “I’m all right.” Her mother returned to her, “Where were you?”. She told her mom that she had been in the shopping center. That was the last communication with her mother.
Later on, she was told that all of her family members were likely to have been engulfed by tsunami. She cried almost to the point of losing her mind. She was able to stay at the place of her aunt, aged 47. A few days later, her sister Miho was found dead. Other 6 members are still missing.
She went back to her home. Nothing remained. All the houses nearby were reduced to a mere wood debris.
She found a picture. She was playing with her mother and her sister on a slider in the picture. That was a picture taken when she went to a farm with her family last year. She also found her parents’ engagement ring and her sister’s school bag. She wore her bracelet on her wrist. Tears come to her eyes. The memory of her family is brought back.
Her father used to grow strawberries. He used to frequently ask her to take over his job. But she was reluctant as she wanted to be a national registered dietitian and told him that her sister can do that for him. She used to turn down his request to help him. Now she apologizes to her father, saying that she is sorry.
Her mother was a good cook. But she felt too shy to tell her mom that her foods are delicious. Now she regrets that and wishes that she had expressed her feeling honestly. She hasn’t deleted the last mail from her mom and keeps it.
Her youngest sister Miki liked her so much that she wouldn’t leave her sister for a minute. Misaki feels as if she can still hear her sister’s voice calling her “Mi-chan”. Misaki used to fight with 2ndeldest sister Miho over trivial things. Misaki sometimes scolded her sister saying that she should study hard for the entrance exam. Miho took an exam to enter the high school same as Misaki. The names of students who passed the exam were announced after the quake. Miho passed the exam and would have become Misaki’s junior if she had survived.
Miho was cremated on the 21st. There was a graduation ceremony at her junior high school on the next day. Misaki attended the ceremony to receive a graduation certificate on behalf of Miho.
Her aunt is nice and caring. Her friend cheers her up with words of encouragement.
The calendar show April. Misaki says, “I won’t cry anymore. Otherwise I won’t be able to see my family with my head up.”
Written by Natsuki Sato, Kahoku Shinpo
Monday, April 4th, 2011
Translated by Yuka Horino
After the Quake Local People Reaching Out to Help Each Other
(by Mr. Toshiro Ohwada, evacuee at the Goishi District Community Center, Massaki-cho, Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture)
People are starting to reach out to each other in these hard times. Worried about blackouts, a company in our sister city sent solar panels. Some evacuees created homemade hot baths. A local construction company lent us bathtubs at no cost. Among the evacuees you have business people, electricians, plumbers, and even public servants. They’re all doing whatever they can to make life better for everyone.
Mr. Toshiro Ohwada
From NHK website "Those Affected by the Disaster: What I want to tell you now" on April 4, 2011
http://www.nhk.or.jp/dengon/photo/index44.htmlTranslated by Craig Dandridge
Weeks After Quake Most Shops Remain Closed, Merchandise Scarce
(by Ms. Naomi Murakami, evacuee at the Goishi District Community Center, Massaki-cho, Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture)
Most of the shops are closed, and those that are still open have almost no merchandise. While people in evacuation centers may be getting by, people living in their homes are struggling. I’d like to see more shops open with enough merchandise to support our lives.
Ms. Naomi Murakami
Most of the shops are closed, and those that are still open have almost no merchandise. While people in evacuation centers may be getting by, people living in their homes are struggling. I’d like to see more shops open with enough merchandise to support our lives.
Ms. Naomi Murakami
From NHK website "Those Affected by the Disaster: What I want to tell you now" on April 4, 2011
http://www.nhk.or.jp/dengon/photo/index44.html
Translated by Craig Dandridge
Translated by Craig Dandridge
Left with Nothing After the Quake It's the Little Things that Matter Most
(by Ms. Kinuko Mitsui, evacuee at the Goichi District Community Center, Massaki-cho, Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture)
We’re almost out of daily necessities. It’s the little things. Like, I could really use some nail clippers, and my eyeglasses are broken. These things seem so mundane that saying them out loud feels extravagant. Especially when TV and newspapers are filled with reports that many have yet to receive any relief at all. Life is so uncertain now. I hope everyone can get the help they need to survive. We all need your help.
Ms. Kinuko Mitsui
We’re almost out of daily necessities. It’s the little things. Like, I could really use some nail clippers, and my eyeglasses are broken. These things seem so mundane that saying them out loud feels extravagant. Especially when TV and newspapers are filled with reports that many have yet to receive any relief at all. Life is so uncertain now. I hope everyone can get the help they need to survive. We all need your help.
Ms. Kinuko Mitsui
From NHK website "Those Affected by the Disaster: What I want to tell you now" on April 4, 2011
http://www.nhk.or.jp/dengon/photo/index44.html
Translated by Craig Dandridge
Translated by Craig Dandridge
Tsunami's Gushing Water Filled My House within Minutes
(by Mr. Kenji Murakami, evacuee at the Goishi District Community Center, Massaki-cho, Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture)
Standing at the back door, it happened in a flash. The gushing water filled my house within a minutes. I began to swim. I swallowed water. That dirty water full of debris got into my lungs. Now, I can't catch my breath when I walk, and my voice is raspy. When I finally made my way here, people made a big fuss, saying, “We're so glad, We're so glad.” I thought, “Hey, what’s the big deal?” Then I found out that I had been listed as “Missing.” Well, it’s just all a little too overwhelming.
Mr. Kenji Murakami
Standing at the back door, it happened in a flash. The gushing water filled my house within a minutes. I began to swim. I swallowed water. That dirty water full of debris got into my lungs. Now, I can't catch my breath when I walk, and my voice is raspy. When I finally made my way here, people made a big fuss, saying, “We're so glad, We're so glad.” I thought, “Hey, what’s the big deal?” Then I found out that I had been listed as “Missing.” Well, it’s just all a little too overwhelming.
Mr. Kenji Murakami
From NHK website "Those Affected by the Disaster: What I want to tell you now" on April 4, 2011
http://www.nhk.or.jp/dengon/photo/index44.html
Translated by Craig Dandridge
Translated by Craig Dandridge
Separated from friends with whom I was going to go to elementary school this spring
(by Ms. Maika Murakami, at Rikuzen takada-shi, Osabe Community Center, Kesen-cho, Rikkuzen Takada-shi, Iwate Pref. )
I am going to junior high school this spring, but all items prepared for were washed away including the uniform and school bag purchased anew. All my friends from the elementary school expected to go to the same junior high school, but some might go to the one nearby where they are staying now so we all are separated. I miss my friends.
Asahi Shimbun, 4/4/2011 , "Voices of victims to be heard"
Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano
I am going to junior high school this spring, but all items prepared for were washed away including the uniform and school bag purchased anew. All my friends from the elementary school expected to go to the same junior high school, but some might go to the one nearby where they are staying now so we all are separated. I miss my friends.
Asahi Shimbun, 4/4/2011 , "Voices of victims to be heard"
Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano
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