Descriptions:
On the 11th of every month, the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Sendai Broadcasting Corporation interviews people who lost loved ones in the earthquake. Kou Sato, a junior high school teacher living in Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture, continues to share with his students his experience of losing seven relatives in the earthquake. Kou Sato (32). I teach mathematics at Mangokuura High School in Ishinomaki City. Thirteen years ago, Mr. Sato, who had just graduated from high school, experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake at his home in Higashi-Matsushima City. Immediately after the earthquake, my family evacuated to a meeting place on higher ground, but I lost my grandmother’s brother and sister, their families, and seven other relatives in the devastated city of Higashimatsushima. He says he often played with his grandmother’s younger sister Kazuko when he was little. Kou Sato: “He came to my house, cooked me food, and then brought me a portion of food. He was fun, active and crunchy.” Kazuko said that even the day before the earthquake, Sato… I was visiting Mr. Kou Sato: “The day before the earthquake, he came to my house to teach me how to make cheesecake, and we talked about making it tomorrow.” Kazuko, her daughter and grandson were in the car after the earthquake. While trying to evacuate, he was swept away by the tsunami and never returned home. Kou Sato: “It was a big shock. I felt fine until yesterday and a few days ago, but in an instant I felt that I wished there was no tsunami,” Ms. Sato said. I wanted to become a teacher since elementary school. For several years now, I have set aside time each month for my students to think about their own earthquake experiences. Mr. Kou Sato: “There are times in life when we are faced with many choices and must make them. Today I would like to think about the choices we make in life. The textbook is…” What are we doing? That day in ethics class they said: About decisions and choices that affect life and death. Mr. Kou Sato: “Isn’t it hard when you don’t have a minute or a second to make a choice? There is no grace. I decided to share my experience as an example.” Sato said that 13 years ago, I spoke about Kazuko and her group’s actions that day as an example. Kou Sato: “My daughter went to middle school to pick up her grandson. What should I do? Should I take Kazuko or not?” Over time, while they were loading their belongings, all four were swept away and died.” Mr. Sato also believes that this happened because a lot of time has passed since the earthquake. Kou Sato: “Schoolchildren gradually reach an age when they understand nothing about earthquakes. If this continues, I have a feeling of crisis that the Great East Japan Earthquake will be forgotten. The same thing will happen to my children.” “I tell stories like this in hopes that people will be able to protect their lives when something like this happens.” So that people can “choose” actions that will save their lives. Kou Sato: “If an earthquake occurs, you may not be able to make the right decisions. That’s why my teacher wants you to talk at home about what you will do if this happens. I want you to set aside time at home to think about this, I hope you do.” Mr. Sato’s thoughts were conveyed clearly. Third-grade high school student: “Since we are the generation that did not experience the earthquake, we can only understand it if we hear from others, so I think it is useful to hear from people who have experienced it.” “Forget this past.” I think it’s something that should never be passed down, so I want to keep passing it on.” Sato says she likes to see children’s smiles. I will continue to advise you to take care of that smile. Kou Sato: “When disaster strikes, I don’t want my children to have to make difficult choices in a timely manner. They are very dear to me, so I want them to value their lives.”