The school building of the elementary school at that time in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, which was damaged by the tsunami and fire of the Great East Japan Earthquake, was constructed as the remains of the earthquake, and 11 years after the outbreak, it began to be open to the public.
At Kadowaki Elementary School on the coast of Ishinomaki City, the first floor of the school building was flooded by the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and most of the school building on the sea side was burned by the fire that occurred after that. It was safe to escape to.
Since many victims were killed around the school, opinions were divided on whether to preserve or dismantle the school building, and the city decided to dismantle and preserve a part of the school building in consideration of people who are "difficult to see". We have decided and have been working on it so far.
A series of construction work was completed, and 11 years after the outbreak, the exhibition began on the 3rd.
The burnt school building is off limits, but there is a passageway beside it where you can see the damage such as the safe that collapsed due to the tsunami, the charred desk, and the burnt ceiling. increase.
On the other hand, the school building on the mountain side, where the damage was small, was maintained as an exhibition facility, and the route where the children and faculty members who were in the school at that time evacuated to the back mountain was shown all over the wall, and people visited.
A man in his 60s from Sendai said, "I came here for the first time, but I felt the power of the tsunami and the terrible fire. I haven't experienced it directly, so I'm glad I could learn the lessons of that time as a remains." I was talking.
A former teacher in his 60s from Osaka said, "I'm afraid of the great damage. I thought that teachers had to imagine what could happen in a disaster and prepare for it in order to save the lives of their children." I was there.
"Earthquake Remains Kadowaki Elementary School" is open from 9 am to 5 pm except every Monday, and is open even on Mondays on the 11th of every month.
Principal at that time "For future children to learn lessons from the earthquake"
The principal, who evacuated more than 220 children who were in the school building at the time of the earthquake to the back mountain, wants to focus on handing down activities through the school building, saying, "I want to convey that the lives of people living in the future can be protected." It is said that.
Yoko Suzuki (71), who was the principal of Kadowaki Elementary School at the time of the earthquake, immediately evacuated 224 children to the back mountain after the shaking, and the people inside the school building were spared the damage.
She was trained in anticipation of earthquakes and tsunamis every year, which led to her evacuation behavior.
However, more than 500 residents, including seven children who were not in school, were killed in the surrounding area, and residents disagreed on whether to preserve the school building.
Mr. Suzuki participated in the review committee set up by the city and appealed for preservation, saying, "We must face the difficult facts and make it a place for future children to learn the lessons of the earthquake."
She said that after a long discussion, she said, "I feel it was a long time, but I'm glad you can finally see it."
As a storyteller, Mr. Suzuki has decided to carry out activities such as a storyteller that conveys lessons learned through the remains of the earthquake. I want to carry out activities that allow people to learn about the facts of the day through school buildings and exhibits, replace them with the area where they live, and think about disaster prevention. I want to convey the power to protect the lives of people living in the future. " It was packed.
History of preservation, dismantling, or publication
Regarding Kadowaki Elementary School, which was damaged by the tsunami and fire caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, opinions were initially divided over whether to preserve or dismantle, and the city decided to dismantle a part of the school building before preserving it.
According to the city, at the beginning of the earthquake, people who lived in the area said that they would "evoke a painful memory" and wanted to dismantle it, while experts said that "it should be left to convey lessons learned."
Two years after the earthquake, the city set up a committee to discuss the ideal state of the school building with residents and experts, and after continuing discussions, decided to preserve the school building five years after the earthquake.
However, we decided to dismantle both sides of the school building due to consideration for residents who wish to dismantle it and problems with maintenance costs.
After that, a local inhabitant group independently conducted a questionnaire to local residents and submitted to the city the result that 80% of the respondents requested the preservation of the entire school building, but the policy did not change and it was from the earthquake. After 11 years, it was released after being partially dismantled.