Even if we can't hold the graduation ceremony together, today is your graduation anniversary March 9th at 13:16
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"I'm Tsuchida, my homeroom teacher. I'm here to deliver your diploma."
A video I shot in Fukushima City 12 years ago showed a teacher visiting one of his students' homes to celebrate their graduation.
"Congratulations on your graduation!"
Read out your diploma at the entrance and hand it to the child.
It was a modest graduation ceremony held at home for just five minutes.
This year, many elementary schools were unable to hold their graduation ceremonies due to the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident.
(Video center cameraman Naoyuki Haramaki)
Minoru Tsuchida, who held his graduation ceremony at home, is still teaching in Fukushima City at the age of 59.
He is in charge of the 5th grade.
All of them are children born after the earthquake.
I want you to like my hometown
In addition to telling children about the experiences of the earthquake and nuclear accident 12 years ago, I am trying to teach classes that will make them love their hometown.
On the day I visited for coverage, the Fukushima dialect was being covered in a Japanese language class.
Professor Tsuchida
: “There was an earthquake, a tsunami, harmful rumors, and radiation. Somewhere along the line, I want people to brag about Fukushima and say with confidence that they are from Fukushima.”
Time has stopped...
In 2011, Tsuchida-sensei was a 6th grade teacher at Watari Elementary School in Fukushima City.
March 11th was a day of appreciation for her parents and her teachers that her 6th graders had been looking forward to.
I was preparing for a meeting in the gym when the earthquake struck.
After waiting for the shaking to stop, they evacuated to the school grounds while the snow flickered.
Aftershocks continued, and it is said that he desperately soothed the children who were crying and crouching down.
All the children were finally able to return to their parents when it was completely dark.
Schools were closed from the following week, and a nuclear accident occurred.
There is no prospect of resuming classes, and it has been decided to cancel the graduation ceremony.
Tsuchida-sensei
: “It felt like time had stopped on that day.
I want to hand over my diploma
Even if we can't have a graduation ceremony together, at least I want to celebrate my departure.
Three 6th grade homeroom teachers set out to hand over the diplomas and souvenirs that had been prepared for the graduation ceremony directly to the children.
We split up and contacted 105 children.
Tsuchida-sensei's class had 35 children, including some who left Fukushima and voluntarily evacuated.
Ruka Taguchi, who was finally able to contact me around the end of March.
She was evacuated to Aizuwakamatsu City, where her relatives live, and it was difficult to get in touch with her.
modest graduation ceremony
On March 31, Mr. Tsuchida visited Mr. Taguchi's home after he returned from evacuation.
Mr. Taguchi greeted us with a shy smile, dressed in the same clothes as his friend, who had prepared for his graduation ceremony.
"Graduation certificate, Ruka Taguchi, congratulations on your graduation." While her
parents were watching, I handed the diploma to Taguchi-san, who looked a little nervous.
"Today is Ruka-san's graduation anniversary. Please do your
best in junior high school with confidence."
Just 5 minutes.
It was a small graduation ceremony at the entrance.
Tsuchida-sensei spent a week handing out diplomas to the entire class and finished his work as homeroom teacher.
Tsuchida
: "I spent more than a week from the day of the graduation ceremony without any milestones, and neither I nor my children knew whether school was really over or whether I had graduated. So, finally, put a stop to it, and use that as a foothold to move on to the next one.
A safe place for children
12 years ago, Ruka Taguchi received her diploma at her doorstep.
She turned 24 and now works as an NPO employee in Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture.
We support the learning of children who cannot attend cram schools due to financial reasons.
6 pm.
Children who have finished school come to the facility one after another.
Mr. Taguchi sat next to the students and answered in a gentle tone when the children stumbled and questions that were difficult to ask at school.
Ms. Taguchi
: “Not only for studying, but the most important thing is for the children to feel safe. I want to make it a place
Graduation Ceremony
After the Great East Japan Earthquake, Mr. Taguchi had a period of time when he stopped attending junior high school and high school.
When I was a university student, I lived a lonely and anxious life due to the corona misfortune.
After graduating, he was able to become a teacher, which was his childhood dream, but his stature collapsed and he was forced to retire.
Although it cannot be said that his life was going smoothly, he says that the fact that his teacher delivered his diploma at that time is a very important memory.
Mr. Taguchi
: “There were so many things to worry about, but it was a bright news. Graduation ceremony is a turning point. I didn't really feel it, so when I was in elementary school, I was glad that my parents saw it and handed it to me in person, which made me feel like I was graduating."
Now, while working with children at an NPO, he says that he has come to reconsider the meaning of Mr. Tsuchida's actions that day.
Mr. Taguchi
: “Even in my current job, I want my children to look back when they grow up and think that there were people who stood by them when they were having a hard time. I want to be conscious of being positive for that child and interact with them.”
The appearance of Mr. Taguchi, who spoke with a smile on his face, was impressive.
I want to keep watching over you
During my 30 years as a teacher, I experienced an extraordinary experience for children, the earthquake and the corona crisis.
Mr. Tsuchida, who will soon reach retirement age, told me that his role is to ensure that the children graduate from school as well as he did that day.
Tsuchida-sensei
: “I think it is the responsibility of adults to create milestones for children. They will live a normal life, play with their friends, and graduate naturally. sea bream"
Interview postscript
Immediately after the occurrence of the Great East Japan Earthquake, NHK has recorded images of various areas affected by the disaster.
Along with videos that convey the extent of the damage, there are also records of people like Tsuchida who acted "for someone's sake" even in the midst of ongoing anxiety and confusion.
In interviewing Mr. Taguchi, who is now in a position to face children, I felt that Mr. Tsuchida's thoughts have been firmly inherited through his diploma.
As a photographer, I would like to continue reporting on people living in the disaster area, never forgetting the "kindness" that I felt from past images.
Imaging Center cameraman
Naoyuki Haramaki
Joined in 2012
At the Fukui and Sapporo stations, covered groups supporting children who were unable to play outside freely due to the nuclear accident, and children who had moved from Fukushima to the disaster
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