Trauma on Earthquake Memorial

After three years and nine months from the Great East Japan Earthquake and the accident of First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, families of victims still embrace traumatic memory of the disaster. It is common that all of them do not want that huge sacrifice any more. That is why people consider how their memory can be handed out to the future generations. Building memorials is one of the typical activities of them to do. However, before future generation learns about the disaster, living people suffer from frightening memories of their loss.

The east coast of Tohoku area has been devastated by tsunami for many times. “Escape First” is the golden word for residents of that area. Before tsunami reaches the coast, there is a certain amount of time, ordinarily less than an hour. “Escape First” means that do not look for personal treasures in that period. In Kamaishi City, Iwate, there was no student killed by tsunami, because they were told to run up to hill without helping anyone. For they believed survivability of friends, all survived the tsunami. That is why old lessons are important.

In Minamisanriku Town, Miyagi, there remains steel framework, devastated by tsunami, of former disaster prevention office of the town. On March 11^th, 2011, thirty office workers escaped on the rooftop, only ten of them survived tsunami. One young woman kept on broadcasting for town people to urge evacuation, which saved many lives, but caused her failure in evacuation and she was drowned. People in the town discussed preserving the structure of the building to memorize the disaster, but gave it up, because a number of people felt hard to see the building. However, government of Miyagi required to rethink that decision and experts are still discussing about it.

In Kesen-numa City, Miyagi, a big fishery ship with capacity of three hundred metric tons, #18 Kyotoku-maru, stayed on the land after tsunami brought it. It became a symbol of devastation in the city. Many news reports flew to the world from the place ship existed. So, the mayor of Kesen-numa proposed conservation of the ship. But seven citizens in the city out of ten opposed the mayor in the poll, because the ship was too big to avoid traumatic feeling of families of victims.

Those problems stem from declining interest of the Japanese in the disaster recovery. In the region out of Tohoku, people are more interested in economic growth, coming Tokyo Olympic or political events including general election of the House of Representatives. People in Tohoku are more worried about disastrous memories going away from people’s heart than ever. But their effort to appeal makes themselves down.