Kobe “Forget about the Great East Japan Earthquake” Pray for reconstruction and remain silent

At the "Higashi Yuenchi" in Kobe City, where a memorial service is held on the 17th, 26 years after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, people gathered at 2:46 pm when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck 10 years ago. We prayed for the reconstruction of the disaster area in Tohoku and offered a silent prayer to the victims.

Akiho Nakayama (47), an office worker whose home in Suma-ku, Kobe was completely destroyed 26 years ago, has been volunteering in Miyagi prefecture almost every year since March 2011, when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck. ..

Mr. Nakayama said, "I felt that we had to help this time because we were helped by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. There were places where we could understand each other's feelings. It was almost 10 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake. However, today I silently prayed with the thought of "forgetting". "

In Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture, a local volunteer group lined up bamboo lanterns to commemorate the victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Great East Japan Earthquake along with the victims of the Tohoku region who tied up online.

The memorial service was held by the volunteer group "Kobe Kokoro Kizuna" in Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture. About 20 people gathered on the 17th, and about 10 people from Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture participated online.

The group arranges bamboo lanterns in the prefecture in January every year and in the Yuriage district of Natori City in March and August to commemorate the victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Great East Japan Earthquake, and Yuriage on the 17th. We were planning to hold a memorial service in Kobe city by inviting the victims from the district.

However, as a countermeasure against the infection of the new coronavirus, the group moved the venue to Miki City and called about 800 bamboo lanterns with messages such as "bonds" and "hope" as "Kobe 1.17" and "Tohoku 3.11". I arranged them in a shape and turned on the lights.

Then, at 2:46 pm when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck, we silently mourned the victims of the two earthquakes.

Toshiyuki Naganuma (58) of Natori City, who participated online, said, "I was able to see the lanterns lined up through the screen and feel the connection. If Corona settled down on this day next year and I could meet everyone. I think it's good. "

Masahide Sugiyama (60), the representative of the group, said, "I prepared with the thought that the places are far apart, but the hearts are connected. I hope that the bamboo lanterns will continue to be the basis of everyone's hearts. I was talking.