25 years since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Gathering preparations commenced January 20 20:18
Before the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake turned 25 years ago on the 17th, bamboo lanterns were lined up in a park in Kobe City, where memorial gatherings take place, in honor of the victims.
Every year at the East Amusement Park in Chuo-ku, Kobe, a bamboo lantern is lit on January 17 after the earthquake, and a gathering is held to commemorate the victims.
The executive committee started preparing for the venue on the 15th, and bamboo lanterns were arranged in the form of "1.17" and "Kizamu" on the day the earthquake occurred.
The word "Kizumu" has the thought of engraving the memories of the disaster in our hearts and passing them on to the next generation.
Members and guardians of the rigid baseball club at Shinko Gakuen High School in Chuo Ward participated in the work, bringing bamboo lanterns to the venue and handing them to other members.
Baseball club captain Toshiki Kawamura said, "I'm a generation that doesn't know about the earthquake, but I've heard from many people at that time. I want to leave my thoughts in shape."
Director Naoya Kitahara said, "Through volunteer work in this place, I think there are things students can feel about the disaster that occurred before they were born."