It has been six years since the second Kumamoto earthquake that killed 276 people, including disaster-related deaths, and observed a second earthquake with a seismic intensity of 7.

In the heavily damaged Aso area, while the main transportation infrastructure is being restored, the impact of the new coronavirus has hit tourism in major industries, and the issue is how to support reconstruction.

The second earthquake with a seismic intensity of 7 was observed in a series of Kumamoto earthquakes, which caused great damage such as the collapse of the 206-meter-long Aso Ohashi Bridge in Minamiaso Village.

As a result of the rapid restoration work, the main transportation infrastructure such as the national highway and the JR Hohi Main Line has been almost restored after 6 years.



Along with this, tourism in major industries in the Aso area gradually regained its vitality, and the number of guests was recovering. rice field.



In addition, the Minami-Aso Railway, which was used for sightseeing and connects Minami-Aso Village and Takamori Town, is still out of service in 60% of all lines, and restoration is underway for next summer.



With the completion of restoration work in the disaster area, the issue is how to support reconstruction such as revitalization of tourism.

Parents of college students who died in the collapse of Aso Ohashi mourn near the scene

The mainshock of the Kumamoto earthquake caused a large-scale landslide in Minamiaso Village where the Aso Ohashi collapsed, and Akira Yamato, a 22-year-old university student in Aso City who seems to have been driving near the site, died.



Before dawn on the 16th, Akira's parents and brother visited near the discovery site.



He then laid flowers and lit a candle, and quietly prayed at 1:25 am when it occurred.



His father, Takuya Yamato, said, "By spending this time here, I thought it would be great if we could share and alleviate the pain that my son felt. Six years have passed since he died. Over the years, Akira is an important and important son for us. "

Silence in Minamiaso Village, where three students were killed

In Minamiaso Village, Kumamoto Prefecture, where three Tokai University students were killed, students visited the village before dawn and offered a silent prayer at the time of occurrence.



In Minamiaso Village, the second Kumamoto earthquake that observed a seismic intensity of 7 collapsed an apartment near the campus of the Faculty of Agriculture, Tokai University. Mutsumi and Keisuke Kiyota, a first-year student, have passed away.



Before dawn on the 16th, six years after the earthquake, about 10 students and graduates visited the site of the collapsed apartment.



Then, at the time of the earthquake, he silently prayed to the deceased students.



Sakura Hashimura, who was in the third grade at the time of the earthquake and was acquainted with Mr. Kiyota who died, told the juniors who entered the school after the earthquake about the students who died and the state of the village at that time.



Yuna Watanuki, a third-year student in the Faculty of Agriculture, said, "It makes me feel painful when I think that the people who died were'someone's important person.' I want to live from now on without forgetting. "



Mr. Hashimura said, "I realized that six years have passed since the damaged road was paved and the lamps were restored. I would like to continue talking about the importance of preparation so that people can protect me. "