The torch relay of the Tokyo Olympics moved to Miyagi prefecture, which is the end of the Tohoku region, on the 19th, and connected the torch at the coastal municipality in the northern part of the prefecture, which was severely damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake 10 years ago.

The Tokyo Olympic torch relay, which advocates the "Reconstruction Olympics," was handed over from the disaster-stricken area of ​​Iwate Prefecture to Miyagi Prefecture, and 281 runners from 16 cities, towns and villages, mainly in the coastal areas, took over for three days from 19th to 21st. Connect the torch.



On the 19th of the first day, a relay started from Kesennuma City in the northern part of the prefecture after 10 am, and the torch was connected in the order of Minamisanriku Town, Ishinomaki City, and Onagawa Town.



Of these, in Ishinomaki City, Noriyuki Suzuki (56), who lost his second daughter who attended Okawa Elementary School, where 84 children and faculty members were killed in the tsunami, served as the first runner.



In addition, Kenichi Kurosawa (50), who holds up the sign of "Let's do our best! Ishinomaki" and works on activities to convey the earthquake disaster, became a hand-held boat called "Sonbei Ship" on the former Kitakami River that flows through the center of the city. I got on and carried the torch.



Then, in Onagawa-cho, which was the last day of the first day, two sandwichmen from Sendai City, who had been supporting the disaster area, acted as runners and ran on the school ground with a smile.



The torch relay in Miyagi Prefecture will be held on the 20th of the second day in seven municipalities, mainly in the coastal areas of the central part of the prefecture.



The prefectural executive committee recommends relay viewing via the Internet as a countermeasure against the new coronavirus, and only locals can watch along the road with masks and applause without making a loud voice. I am calling for things.

The bereaved family who lost her second daughter Okawa also participated

Noriyuki Suzuki (56), who was the first torchbearer in Ishinomaki City, lost his second daughter Mai at Okawa Elementary School, where 84 children and faculty members were killed.



Mai was a sixth grader at Okawa Elementary School at the time, and belonged to a local basketball team, and Suzuki also ran around the court as a coach with parents and children.



Mr. Suzuki, who is a storyteller in the school building of Okawa Elementary School, said, "I want you to remember that the children were sacrificed" and "I want to run with my deceased daughter." I applied for the torch relay from.



Before leaving Ishinomaki Station, Suzuki put a name tag in the right pocket of his pants that Mai had forgotten to bring it from home to school on the day of the earthquake.



After the earthquake, I never took it out of my house and kept it in a safe place, saying that it belongs to my daughter.



I also wore the shoes I used to play basketball with my daughter.



When the torch was ignited, Mr. Suzuki smiled and shook his hand to the people along the road and ran slowly.



Then, I made a high five with the next runner with "air" to connect the torch.



After finishing the torch relay, Mr. Suzuki visited Okawa Elementary School at around 5:30 pm to report to the other children who died, and held the torch toward the school building and said, "I ran."



Mr. Suzuki said, "Today, before I ran, I visited the grave with my daughter's name tag, said in my heart,'I'll go with you,' and took me to the venue. I thought I would tear. I didn't cry when I saw the smiles of the people along the road. I think it was because I was with Mai. "

Mini-presentation Welcome the arrival of the torchbearer

At Ishinomaki City Sports Park, a mini celebration was held to welcome the arrival of the torchbearer.



On the 19th, before the mini-celebration, a donation ceremony was held for the "Kyokadai", which has the same design as the torch stand of the former National Stadium, which was given by a committee made by local volunteers. It was.



Then, after 5 pm, a mini-celebration began with the arrival of the torch, and local elementary school students waved flags to welcome the runners.



A visitor to the venue said, "It was a valuable experience to see the torch relay. I hope that Ishinomaki City, which is recovering from the earthquake, will be an opportunity to spread throughout the country."

Sandwichman Date "I want to continue to convey the disaster area"

Mikio Date and Takeshi Tomizawa, sandwichmen from Sendai City who served as holy fire runners in Onagawa Town, visited Kesennuma City on the location of a TV program at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake and were affected by the disaster.



Since then, we have continued support activities in the disaster area, such as collecting donations.



At the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, he was appointed as the "official ambassador" to liven up the torch relay, and in March of last year, he lived up the arrival of the torch at "Matsushima Air Base" in Higashi Matsushima City.



The two who ran on the ground of "Onagawa Elementary and Junior High School" as torchbearers finished the relay while smiling and talking to the locals watching from outside the school grounds, saying, "The torch has arrived in Onagawa."



The two said that they showed off another laughing combination, "Kyaeen" gag at the time of "Torch Kiss" to transfer the torch. I wonder if I will get angry because I haven't done so, "he said, inviting laughter.



In addition, Mr. Tomizawa joked, "I ran on the school ground in the rain, so I wondered what kind of punishment game it was." I felt that I had a heavy responsibility. I want you to put the torch in the casket when you die. "



On the other hand, Mr. Date said, "Onagawa has been visiting since kindergarten, and I was glad that she was far away from me when I was asked by the roadside. I ran too fast and asked," Can I make another lap? " I was told that it was no good, "he recalled.



He said, "I think the ability of human beings to recover and regenerate is really amazing. Every time I come, the city becomes cleaner and everyone smiles more, so I would like to continue to tell you about the disaster area." I did.