Graduated from college at the age of 72 March 25, 2011 17:46 walked with his late daughter
Graduation ceremonies held in various places this time.
At a private university in Tokyo, there was a person who started at the age of 72 with many young people dressed in sunny clothes.
The driving force behind my continued learning was my thoughts on his daughter, who died at the age of 23 while attending the same university.
(Sendai Broadcasting Station reporter Orie Sugimoto)
Diploma I got at the age of 72
Sachiko Kato (72), who attended from Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, said,
"I received a wonderful thing. I did it!"
She happily expanded her diploma, which is her diploma.
She shared her joy at her college graduation ceremony in Tokyo on March 18th with her husband and her son.
There was another person who brought me in my heart.
Sachiko took out an important photo from her bag.
In the picture is her daughter Ayako.
"During the ceremony, I was talking to Ayako,'It's a great ceremony, I'm glad.'"
23-year-old daughter who left for mid-career
Ayako has been fond of entertaining people by devoting herself to theater since she was a child.
When she sees someone in trouble, she says she has a gentle personality that cannot be left alone.
She studied language education in a college correspondence course and she said she wanted to be an actor and voice actor after graduation.
Her mother, Sachiko, always supported her Ayako by her side.
The Great East Japan Earthquake struck on March 11, 2011.
Ayako, a fourth-year college student at her home, was hit by a tsunami on her way to a shelter with her grandmother.
According to her witnesses, she was trying to protect her grandmother until the end, even when the water level rose.
Twelve days later, her body was found.
She was 23 at the time.
I said I couldn't have a daughter
Sachiko decided in the sadness of losing her daughter.
"Ayako was working hard to learn, but she remained a college student all the time. Then I decided to be my successor. I don't want to end the death of Ayako and her grandma. Something. I thought I had to make it. "
Immediately after the earthquake, Sachiko submitted an application to the correspondence course at the university where her daughter was attending.
She entered the school at the age of 61 after screening documents.
She said she wanted to complete her graduation on her behalf, which her daughter couldn't fulfill.
I chose the Faculty of Law.
Many people were worried about rebuilding their lives due to the impact of the earthquake, so I thought that acquiring knowledge of the law would help people.
Her home was flooded near the ceiling on the first floor due to the earthquake, but Sachiko repaired it and continued to live.
She didn't want to leave her house full of memories with Ayako.
At her home, where her daughter also liked, Sachiko's days of studying her began.
More difficult than you can imagine
The learning path was harder than expected.
Since it is difficult to see the small letters of the law book with presbyopia, Sachiko repeatedly read aloud while holding the loupe.
Many sticky notes were attached to the textbooks and law books lined up on the bookshelves.
Even more difficult was the operation of the personal computer.
As the number of online lessons and exams has increased due to the corona sickness, the use of personal computers has increased.
It was an unexpected hurdle for Mr. Kato, who is not accustomed to handling keyboards.
It sounds like "Mom, do your best"
Still, Sachiko continued to learn.
Where she can graduate in as little as four years, she has spent more than ten years steadily earning the necessary credits.
She said she kept trying because she always felt Ayako's presence by her side.
"I didn't think I would give up because I heard" Mom, do your best "because I promised that my mom would do what Ayako couldn't do."
This January, Sachiko took the exams for the last two subjects required for graduation.
In the morning, she appeared at the venue in Sendai with a handwritten note, and she entered the venue with a smile saying, "I'm short of sleep yesterday and today."
The person who wants to report first after graduation
In February, when the Doll's Festival was approaching, I received a notification from the university.
"As a result of the examination, she decided to graduate in March 2022."
Sachiko, who read the notice, headed to her every year in front of her Hina dolls.
She was swept away by the tsunami and was repurchased with Ayako in mind.
Sachiko spoke gently to her Hina doll with her tears in her eyes.
"I can finally graduate. Congratulations to Aya-chan. Mom, it's a little difficult to put on a hakama, so I'm thinking of making a new suit. Thank you so please rest assured. "
11 years supported by my daughter
"Once I decide to graduate, I have something I want to do," Sachiko said for some time.
It is to take a commemorative photo of her with her family in front of the statue that Ayako took a picture of her on the day of her entrance ceremony.
That dream came true on the day of her graduation.
In both hands of Sachiko standing in front of her statue, a picture of Ayako standing in the same place with a slightly tense expression was firmly held.
"I'm glad I came back here. I feel like I can meet Ayako."
Sachiko has been trying hard to accomplish what her daughter couldn't do.
It's been 11 years since she was supported by her daughter and walked with her.
In the future, she wants to make use of the experience she learned at university to help people in areas with difficulty in living and children with difficult family environments.
"I've been desperate to fulfill my promise with Ayako, so now I feel like I have a hole in my heart. Thank you for letting me do my best. It's been a meaningful 11 years. I think it's good. "
Sendai Broadcasting Station Reporter
Orie Sugimoto Joined the station in
2007
At the time of the earthquake, he worked at the Sendai Station
International Department, and after working at the Asian General Bureau, he is trying to face the victims of the earthquake again at the Sendai Station.