This is my mission to tell more people about disaster prevention as well as the importance of life through community development from the perspective of mutual help. A local community where residents can help each other will lead to actions that can save lives in case of emergency.

The students and teachers of Ukedo Elementary School were saved because of their usual communication, which is the base of mutual help. As a community designer in charge of disaster prevention and community development, I share what I experienced and thought during my interactions with local people in Namie.

The spirit of “mutual help” is clearly seen in the evacuation episode at Ukedo Elementary School. When evacuating to the mountains, one of the students told the teacher, “You can enter the mountains this way!”. As a result of the fact that the teacher believed the student’s words, everyone was able to cross the mountain without being swept away by the tsunami.

It is remarkable that a person in a higher position, like a teacher, would follow the advice of a student while running for their life. It can be said that the elementary school was a place where students could express themselves openly and their ideas and knowledge were accepted by the teachers.

There was also another episode in which a local resident helped the students and teachers into the back of his truck on the way to go over the mountain. That was very helpful because it was snowing that day and the students were freezing.

I think they normally had this spirit of “we’re in the same boat, so we help each other whenever we need help!”, and the relationship with the local residents led to the safe evacuation.

My first visit to Namie was in 2017. The buildings remained as they were at the time of the earthquake, and I could not feel any sounds, smells, or signs of life.

When I faced the current situation in the disaster area, I felt many emotions. I wondered how people would return to their hometowns in the future since it seemed as if people’s lives had disappeared from the town. I wondered how the residents felt and left their hometowns, and how they are living now.

On the other hand, it is true that the people living in Namie are facing the reconstruction and there is positive energy to make the town revitalize again. I became more and more convinced of that as I participated in the local events and interacted with the people. Also, as one who is involved in disaster prevention, I wanted to help the mutual help community strengthen more for everyone. 

Since moving here in 2021, I have continued to interview people in this town. I have heard from various people, because I am from outside the town, I want to know more about the local community and their thoughts and feelings.

Someday I would like to create a place where people can share their thoughts and experiences. Even if they live far away from Namie, they still retain a special fondness for their hometown. I believe that such a space will create a time for dialogue and an opportunity to face their life and experiences of the disaster.