“That day” talks for the first time Otsuchi-cho staff and their bereaved family 8 and a half September 25 21:48

Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, a town on the Sanriku coast that was heavily damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The old government office was attacked by a tsunami over 10 meters high, and many staff members died. That time when the staff who barely survived were brought in. This was the first testimony in real name. What are your thoughts about the days you couldn't talk about? (Morioka broadcaster reporter Hiroshi Ichige Morioka broadcaster director Saya Hayashi Sendai broadcaster director Satoshi Hawai)

Death that has been overlooked – as the “total minister”

Death of staff not revealed

March 11, 2011. In Otsuchi Town Hall, just 0.9 meters above sea level, staff gathered at the Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters in front of the government building after the earthquake. There, a tsunami exceeding 10 meters high, and 28 people below the mayor died.

While the response of the government office that did not evacuate to the hill was blamed, it was not revealed how each employee acted, and distrust of the town swirled among the bereaved families. In response to the situation where townspeople were born, the town decided that it was necessary to share what happened at the government building that day.

The experience experienced by the staff was included in the “Earthquake Record Magazine,” which has been edited, and was completed this summer.

“There were so many voices that I didn't know what happened, so I first thought it would be important to hear the facts and reproduce them properly.”

Prepare the staff who took that day

“As soon as I went up the stairs, water broke through the wall of the deputy mayor's room.” “The water reached the ceiling.“ I can't breathe anymore. ”

Mr. Yoshiaki Miura, who testified for the first time with his real name, was a newcomer in the first year and was ordered to record the status of earthquake damage as a public relations officer in the General Affairs Division.

When I was taking a picture from inside the government building, my colleague helped me when I was caught in a tsunami and happened to rise up.

The photograph taken at this time later called an unexpected ripple.

It's 6 minutes before the tsunami hits the government building. Employees who set up a disaster response headquarters with chairs and long desks. There was no sign of evacuation, and criticized that the staff lacked a sense of crisis against the tsunami.

Miura-san was convinced that the behavior of the staff that day was not accurately communicated and that he wanted to speak but had no opportunity to speak. However, it was not easy to talk about that day because of the sequelae of the earthquake and the mental illness.

However, the old government building, which was a symbol of the damage, will be demolished, and what I experienced to respond to the voices of the bereaved families that the truth of that day will be lost. He said he started thinking that it was necessary to speak accurately.

“What was the seismic intensity, was the tsunami coming, or had to give an evacuation order? First, there was also a voice of moving the tide gauge.”

She testified as it was to the upset and confused government office right after the earthquake. Miura says that he wants to leave what the reader of the record magazine feels.

The last time of my brother

On the other hand, what kind of thought did the bereaved family members have? One of the survivors, Yasushi Kurahori, lost his parents in the tsunami, and his older brother, Ken, who was in the disaster response headquarters, was also missing.

The first clue of my brother can be found four years after the earthquake. Ken was reflected in the picture taken by Miura. This is a picture that criticized that the staff lacked a sense of crisis about the tsunami.

An older brother standing in front of the government building. I didn't know what I was doing there. I had asked the town for an explanation about my brother's last day, but I didn't understand anything and only time passed.

Mr. Kurahori received the long-awaited record magazine. There, it was written that his brother was working hard on disaster countermeasures.

“The late Mr. Ken Kurahori seemed to be willing and walked uphill just before the tsunami hit.”
“According to the fire department, Mr. Kurahori came to the fire department before the disaster prevention radio broadcast and tried to gather information.”

Mr. Kurahori, who finally got to know his brother's last moment, spoke with tears.

“I think it's like a big brother who has moved on to the previous action that accompanies people. I feel relieved that it is clear that the proof remains. I feel like my brother is back. ''

Mr. Kurahori visited the flower bed on the site of the government building for the first time with a record magazine. And I spoke with a gentle expression.

“(Mr. Yasushi Kurahori) It may be really small information, but for me, this record magazine will save me little by little.”

I can't read it now ...

On the other hand, there were bereaved families who felt confused about the appearance of a record magazine. It is Chiura Miura who lost the son who was the staff.

Even now, breakfast is prepared at the same time as when his son Tokuyuki was working.

In the Regional Development Division where Tokuyuki was affiliated at that time, 11 of the 13 members, including Tokuyuki, died. I had to avoid knowing my son's last moment without any clues.

Chieko received a journal from the town official, but did not read it immediately.

“I do n’t want to listen to it now, eight years after I ’m calm.”

Encounter with a staff member who knows his son

There was a person who visited Miura on the day of the ninth Bon Festival. At that time, Haruki Kubo, who served in the same regional development section as Tokuyuki.

Kubo-san said that day, he helped head to the hill to unlock the toilet at the evacuation site. However, he said that he had survived slightly in the same workplace.

However, after being asked to give a testimony to a record magazine, I decided to speak after worried. Kubo put his hands on the remains.

And I gave my honest thoughts to Chieko.

“Mr. Haruki Kubo) I was thinking of coming soon after the earthquake, but I was braked in the presence of various bereaved families.

And I started talking to Tokuyuki-san, who was a senior who took care of me since I got a job at the town hall.

“Tokuyuki-san, there is a patrol car, but next to me, it was the last time that I stood up like I thought. Tokuyuki-san took the initiative to bring a subordinate. I can only speak with speculation, but I think it was because of a sense of justice.

Chieko answered with a smile.

“Thank you for putting your hands together. It ’s always good to put your hands together.

Chieko who saw Kubo-san slowly opened a record magazine.

Take a new step

The bereaved who lived without knowing the end of the family, and the staff who sent days that could not be spoken. It was the first summer that I faced that day.

8 and a half years since the Great East Japan Earthquake.

I would like to continue to cover the appearance of the town that took a new step, triggered by a record magazine.