Great East Japan Earthquake

[mostakimvip04]

A town hit by a tsunami and covered in rubble - Shizugawa, Minamisanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture. I was shocked and horrified by the power of the tsunami that swallowed the whole town through the television images and newspaper photos. However, I will never forget this day, when a definite pain was engraved on both of my shoulders that could never be conveyed through the images and videos.

I, who live in Tokyo, received a phone call from the disaster area the night after the main earthquake. It was from Masashi Hijikata (48 years old), the CEO of the Sendai-based publishing company "Ara Emishi Ezo." Hijikata, who worked as a freelance writer and editor in Tokyo until a dozen years ago, founded "Ara Emishi" in support of the "Tohoku Studies" advocated by folklorist Norio Akasaka. For about 10 years, I, who am originally from Yamagata Prefecture, have been walking around Tohoku with Hijikata and his colleagues.

Of course, Minamisanriku Town is no exception.

"The shaking was the most violent I've ever experienced. I thought I was going to die."

Hijikata's words, who has covered many disaster areas for remove background image many years, including the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, gave me an idea of ​​just how devastating the disaster sites were. All of the staff were safe, but Hijikata's apartment home was half-destroyed and inaccessible. The building that houses the editorial department is also leaning slightly, and he said he was worried about whether it would be able to withstand the successive aftershocks. He and his wife and staff were sleeping in their car or at a nearby temple. Some of them are unable to contact any of their family members who live in Kesennuma city, where the damage was severe. Hijikata said, "Right now, there is simply not enough food."

On the 13th, I packed 20 kilograms of rice, 40 liters of water, preserved foods such as instant noodles and Calorie Mate, a tabletop stove and gas cylinders so that I could cook my own meals even without gas. People in Tokyo had already started buying up water and other items. I went to several supermarkets but couldn't find what I needed. I also loaded supplies that were provided by acquaintances.

Because the Tohoku Expressway was closed, we headed north through Niigata Prefecture on the Kan'etsu Expressway. We entered Sendai City via Yamagata Prefecture and were able to meet up with Mr. Hijikata and his team around 7:30 p.m. on March 14th. We left Sendai City behind with Mr. Hijikata and his team, who wanted to evacuate to Yamagata Prefecture temporarily to consider restarting their business.