Ehime mandarin oranges Going to the disaster area in Tohoku February 10, 17:41

In Ehime, the "Kingdom of Citrus", the peak shipment of oranges continues.

Among them was a truck heading to Tohoku with oranges on the loading platform.

Exchange between Ehime, which is connected by oranges, and the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

There was a deep "love" of the people of Ehime.

(Matsuyama Broadcasting Station reporter Shunsuke Goto)

1000km one way Going to the disaster area 50 times

Last December, Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture.

About 10 people gathered at the mandarin orange collection facility and loaded the mandarin orange boxes into one 4-ton truck.

The owner of the truck, Chitose Kondo (73 years old), went to the disaster area as a volunteer immediately after the earthquake and continues to deliver Ehime oranges.

The mileage to Tohoku exceeds 1000 kilometers one way.

I go there about 5 times a year, and the total number of times is about 50 times.

Mr. Kondo:

"I don't think there is a turning point in the earthquake.

People who lost their families in the tsunami remember the faces of those who died at some point.

Even when eating oranges .

I'm glad if you think about Ehime, think it's delicious, and smile. "

The origin is in the disaster of oneself

Mr. Kondo runs an electrical company in Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture.

It is said that the origin of his volunteer activities in Tohoku lies in the natural disasters he experienced in the past.

It was a disaster that struck Mr. Kondo's hometown, Niihama City in 2004.

A total of 26 people died in the prefecture due to heavy rain caused by a series of typhoons this year.

A landslide disaster also occurred in Niihama City, killing nine people and forcing many to evacuate to temporary housing.

At that time, Mr. Kondo served as the chairman of the local autonomy and continued to work toward restoration, but at that time, it was said that support from all over the country supported his heart.

And in March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred.

Immediately after saying "I want to give back," Mr. Kondo rushed to Tohoku and volunteered to remove debris.

It's been 11 years since that day.

As the memories of the earthquake have faded, the number of volunteers visiting Tohoku is decreasing.

When I asked Mr. Kondo why he would continue to volunteer, he laughed and answered, "Because it's my life work."

Mr. Kondo

"The reason I still go to Tohoku is not because I have a sense of mission to do something, but because I am looking forward to it.

It is my old age that I can associate and interact with people I met in the disaster area .

It's fun, it's life work.

It's my life to hear stories about these activities in Tohoku right now. "

Circle of support connected by oranges

Activities to deliver oranges, centered on Mr. Kondo, are expanding.

Junko Umemura, a mandarin orange farmer in Uwajima City, participated for the first time this winter.

The mandarin oranges provided free of charge weigh about 1600 kg, and the mandarin orange juice is a large amount of about 1000 bottles.

Mr. Umemura also had an opportunity to support Tohoku.

The gust of wind that struck Uwajima in 2020 blew away an agricultural house that was growing oranges.

After that, he managed to restore the house with the help of local people, and he was keenly aware of the gratitude for the help of people.

Ms. Umemura, a mandarin orange farmer

"It's not comparable to the Great East Japan Earthquake, but when something hard happened to me, I couldn't help but wonder what people with similar experiences are doing now.

I decided to offer mandarin oranges this time because I wanted to tell the people of Tohoku that "I haven't forgotten you" and "Support will not end."

Mandarin oranges with thoughts To Tohoku

Full of Ehime oranges on the truck, Mr. Kondo started running toward Tohoku.

It's a 7-day round-trip itinerary, taking frequent breaks and staying in the car.

The first person to arrive was Hiroko Niki, who lives in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture.

Six months after the earthquake, he met as a volunteer at a temporary housing and has continued to interact with him, and he is looking forward to Mr. Kondo coming every year.

Mr. Niki, Minamisoma City "Immediately after the nuclear accident,

we

could not cultivate in the field due to the influence of radiation.

At that time, Mr. Kondo brought vegetables such as onions from Ehime.

I am always encouraged by the warm and watchful attitude. "

After Fukushima, Mr. Kondo visited Kesennuma City and Minamisanriku Town in Miyagi Prefecture, and distributed the oranges raised by Mr. Umemura.

Mr. Kondo enthusiastically says that he wants to visit Tohoku as long as he continues to be physically fit.

Mr. Kondo: "

I

feel that the victims will be pleased by the fact that they will come to us many years after the earthquake and think that they have not been abandoned.

I want you to maintain a connection with the disaster area and raise your feelings for reconstruction.

I think that is my role. "

After the interview

Before I arrived at Matsuyama Broadcasting Station last year, I was mainly interviewing nuclear power plants at the Minamisoma branch office in Fukushima prefecture.

It will be 11 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake.

I feel that the chances of hearing the word "volunteer" have gradually decreased as the recovery and reconstruction progresses, such as the removal of debris and the construction of new buildings.

However, the recovery of the hearts of those who lost their families in the tsunami and those who lived in evacuation due to the nuclear accident is still in the future.

Interviewing Mr. Kondo, who takes it for granted that "going to Tohoku is a life work," made me think that it is important to continue "people-to-people connections" in order to achieve true reconstruction. Was done.

I also value the connection with the people who took care of me during the interview with Minamisoma, and I would like to continue to give Ehime oranges at the end of the year.

Matsuyama Broadcasting Station Reporter

Shunsuke Goto

Joined in 2016 The

predecessor was the Minamisoma branch office in Fukushima prefecture, covering the earthquake and nuclear accident.