Three firefighters told me to cover the earthquake disaster March 14, 9:13

I am a 29-year-old news photographer in the 7th year of joining the station.

Last year, I was assigned to the Sendai Broadcasting Station.

When I was interviewing, I felt that I was close to myself, who did not know directly about the time of the disaster.

Three firefighters of the same generation have taught me that.

(Sendai Broadcasting Station Photographer Miki Uebayashi)

Huge video recording that time

In the reference room of NHK Sendai Broadcasting Station, videos of various places are stored immediately after the earthquake.

Not only the short edited footage for broadcasting, but also the material that has been shot remains, and there are tens of thousands of tapes and discs lined up on mobile shelves.

If you look at this, you may feel the situation at that time as your own feeling.

From last fall, I started watching the video with my colleague's cameraman and director little by little as I found time.

For example, four days after the disaster, a long line was formed at the school that became an evacuation center.

The desks in the classroom are lined up, and white telephones that seem to be satellite phones are lined up on top of them.

There was also a person who was crying while holding the handset, perhaps because he was relieved to get in touch with someone.

Who is he talking to?

What did you think when you heard your voice?

I thought about the circumstances of the people in the video.

Resignation ceremony for new firefighters

Meanwhile, I was attracted to a certain image.

This is a video of the "New Firefighter's Resignation Ceremony" taken on April 1, 2011 in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, which was severely damaged by the tsunami.

Only 3 weeks after the disaster.

While witnessing unprecedented damage, he received his resignation as a firefighter with a straight look, without losing his expression with a decent attitude.

Looking at the news manuscript at that time, it is written that 10 firefighters were killed in the tsunami in this area alone.

What kind of preparedness and feeling did you receive this resignation?

I decided to visit them because I wanted to know what kind of 11 years the young people of my generation had accumulated.

Each 11 years that firefighters have walked

The first person I visited was Kota Sudo, who expressed his determination on behalf of the newcomer at the resignation ceremony.

Currently, I was working at the Kesennuma Fire Department as the chief firefighter.

I had them watch the video at that time and listened to it.

Kesennuma Fire Department Kota Sudo

"I wanted to be useful as soon as possible because it was a disaster just before I became a firefighter."

After completing one year of basic training at the fire department school, I was first assigned to the Minamisanriku Fire Department.

Mr. Sudo's role was to provide fire prevention guidance in temporary housing.

As a firefighter, Mr. Sudo came to want to protect the lives of the people who lived there as he interacted with the people who lived in evacuation.

Kota Sudo:

"You're a new firefighter, do your best. I was very impressed by the residents who spoke caring words in the most difficult situation. "

Now, Mr. Sudo specializes in the work of "prevention".

It is a job to check the storage status of fire extinguishing equipment and dangerous materials and prevent fires and disasters.

Kota Sudo

"I think that firefighters have a strong image of extinguishing a fire and rescuing people. Although it doesn't show up very often, the work of prevention is alive in the area of ​​disaster prevention. At that time, I realized that the job of a firefighter is not only to put out the fire, but also to prevent it from happening. "

Mr. Sudo, who missed the video at that time and had a gentle expression through the mask.　

That straight look that I was showing at the resignation ceremony did not seem to change.

Longing for a rescue helicopter and becoming an aviation member

By seeing the rescue helicopter immediately after the earthquake, some people aimed to become aviation crew members and realized their wishes.

When I visited the Miyagi Prefecture Disaster Prevention Air Corps at Sendai Airport, the person wearing orange clothes greeted me.

This is Yuta Gunji, who belongs to the Disaster Prevention Air Corps in Miyagi Prefecture.

In the event of a fire or disaster, the disaster prevention aviation corps will quickly rush to the site by helicopter to extinguish the fire from the sky and carry out rescue activities.

Two days after the disaster, Mr. Gunji, who escaped the disaster at his home, was helping at a shelter in Kesennuma City.

At that time, he noticed a loud noise and looked up at the sky, and many helicopters were flying around.

Helicopters from various organizations rushed to the town that was devastated by the tsunami from all over the country to rescue those who were left behind.

Yuta Gunji, Disaster Prevention Air Corps

"I didn't know that there was an aviation corps in the fire department at that time. I can help people from the sky even in places that are inaccessible from the ground. I wanted to help. "

I want to join the disaster prevention aviation corps.

After the resignation was issued, Mr. Gunji was assigned to the fire department in Kesennuma City, and while gaining experience as a firefighter in fire extinguishing and emergency transportation, he continued to wish to join the disaster prevention aviation corps.　

And then he became a long-sought aviation member.

Helicopter rescue operations often face one person because they cannot help many at once.

It is important to identify the person's injury and mental state so that they do not feel anxious.

At the scene of daily training and rescue, Mr. Gunji always keeps an eye on the other person's facial expressions and always tries not to miss the sign.

Yuta Gunji

"I want to help a lot of people this time, like those people I saw at the time of the earthquake."

I felt the strength of the core that keeps the same feelings as a firefighter in the disaster area in the appearance of Mr. Gunji who speaks looking straight ahead.

Firefighter of the same age

There was another person I would like to meet.

This is Shota Miura.

He was 18 at the time of the earthquake.

He was the same age as me, so I felt a sense of intimacy.

But 11 years ago, when I was still a student, Miura-san has already taken a step toward contributing to society.

I thought he was really good.

What did Miura think and experience?

He wanted me to talk to you.

I visited the Kesennuma Fire Department.

When I was waiting at the reception, Shota Miura, who was shown in the video of the resignation ceremony, came down the stairs.

He doesn't wear glasses, but his look hasn't changed much, just as it was then.

Mr. Miura, who had dreamed of becoming a firefighter since he was a child, immediately after the disaster, asked, "Is there anything I can do?" It is said that he rushed to his senior.

However, his senior firefighter said, "Go home. There is nothing you can do if you are not a firefighter yet."

On the other hand, it is said that this experience became the starting point for Mr. Miura as a firefighter.

The reality of the disaster area faced

"I want to be a firefighter who can help people as soon as possible."

Mr. Miura worked diligently as a rescuer to transport suddenly ill and injured people.

Mr. Miura still has unforgettable events.

It's been about three years since he became a firefighter, and he was confident that he had learned his job.

It was a temporary housing that rushed to report that the woman was self-harming.

When I entered the room, I was lying down in front of the Buddhist altar.

In the story of her family, I learned that this woman had lost her child in the tsunami.

During the emergency transport, Miura casually asked the woman, "Why do you self-harm?"

Then she replied with a voice that seemed to have lost her emotions.

"It was hard for me to lose my family. (Self-harm) I feel like I'm alive."

When I heard that word, Miura was surprised.

Maybe he has done something like questioning a woman who is suffering.

As a firefighter in the disaster area, he should have been close to his heart and cared for him more.

Mr. Miura, who wanted to help people as a firefighter, said he regretted it.

Victims have different circumstances and are not the same.

Mr. Miura was pointed out about that.

He seems to have been an opportunity to reconsider how to deal with people.

Nowadays, he is worried that he can imagine the feelings and circumstances of the other person and treat each person in a way that suits them at any time.

Shota Miura, Kesennuma Fire Department

"I think we have no choice but to face each other as a single person, rather than grouping them together as a victim. I noticed that when I was in contact with the victims. You may not have understood. "

Facing the earthquake

Three firefighters who were able to hear the story this time.

I felt that there was no looseness in my original intention 11 years ago.

At the end of the interview, I asked Mr. Miura of the same year, "What do you think about us who are not directly aware of the earthquake?"

Mr. Miura said, "Rather, I don't know about the earthquake, and I think there are things that can be understood from the outside. It's something I can't do. I think there are things that can be understood, heard, and conveyed only by Mr. Uebayashi. I want you to continue to convey it from the perspective of Mr. Uebayashi. "

I wanted to convey the disaster in my own way while facing each and every person and listening to and learning from as many people as possible.

Sendai Broadcasting Station Photographer

Miki Uebayashi

Joined in 2015

After working at the Nagoya Station and Kofu Station, he has been a member since last year.