I'm T, an editorial staff member.
It will soon be 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
I am self-employed as a video production director, and I have the opportunity to visit various locations for interviews.
Then, about a year after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 2011, 3, I met local people from all over Tohoku at the request of a certain foundation, and interviewed them to look back on the situation at the time, one year after the earthquake.
This time, we will be writing a "Special Feature Article" looking back at the coverage from that time with the intention of paying tribute to him.
March 3th: The earthquake occurs
March 3th, the sky was clear in Tokyo.
It was a typical afternoon, just like any other.
I was at the computer editing the video.
Feeling a little tired after staying up all night for days in a row, I decided to take a short break on the balcony of my office, gazing blankly outside.
Suddenly, there was a small tremor that gradually grew stronger, causing shelves and computer monitors to shake and eventually fall over.
Fortunately, I was on the balcony and escaped, so I took refuge outside just to be safe.
I remember looking up at the trees lining the street outside and seeing them swaying violently like waves.
A short time later, a second, more violent tremor hit.
It was bigger than the first time, and I fell to the sidewalk and prayed for time to pass by quickly, and somehow managed to escape.
I'm sure you're all already aware of specific details about the Great East Japan Earthquake from the news, so I won't go into them here.
Various parts of Tohoku suffered great damage from the nuclear accident and the tsunami.
As I mentioned in the lead article, a year later I was asked by a certain foundation to travel to various parts of Tohoku to conduct research.
Tochigi Prefecture ~ Orphaned Dog and Cat Rescue Team ~
We were leaving from Tokyo, and the estimate we gave to the client was a very tight budget, so the interview was only completed in one week.
First, I headed to Nasu City in Tochigi Prefecture with photographer W.
The place where we arrived was "Orphaned Dog and Cat Rescue Team"Mr.
At the time, the zoo was home to around 500 dogs, cats, and horses within its limited space.
In any case, there are not enough volunteers and not enough funds to protect the animals.
In such a situation,Dogs and cats are just like other living creatures, so we will not abandon them." As the facility's director spoke, I turned the microphone to him and asked myself about the importance of my own life during the interview.
After completing the interview, I realized that the lives of humans and animals are equal.
Above all, I feel so sorry for the animals that have been separated from their owners and the owners who have lost their beloved animals.
When I had the opportunity to look inside the facility, I saw a large number of animals being kept in a cramped space. In conditions that could hardly be described as sanitary, the staff were desperately trying to care for the animals with an insufficient number of staff, and I couldn't help but feel frustrated that I couldn't be of any help.
The Orphan Dog and Cat Rescue Team is still active, working hard every day to help the animals that still have no home.
【Link】Orphaned Dog and Cat Rescue Team
Gunma Prefecture ~ Katashina Village Office ~
After leaving Ibaraki, we headed to Gunma, which was a bit of an unconventional route.
Katashina Village, Gunma PrefectureI heard that it had accepted many disaster victims.
When we arrived in Katashina Village, we interviewed the village mayor at the town hall.
Katashina Village has a population of approximately 5200.
This very small village has allocated 1 million yen to its budget to help those displaced by the earthquake, and has agreed to accommodate 1000 victims.
How many people were saved by that bold decision?
While many volunteers and donations are being made across Japan, the huge action taken by this small village really touched our hearts.
"People are in trouble, so we help them.'
This simple act is not easy to achieve, especially when it comes to a group rather than an individual.
We left Katashina Village wanting to hear more stories.
※We will not list them here, but there are other places in Katashina Village called "MurantiaWe were also able to interview a volunteer team called "Mr.
Miyagi Prefecture ~ Veterans Association, Dr. Kamata ~
Due to article constraints, we will omit this detail, but our coverage will now move on to Miyagi Prefecture.
The reconstruction volunteer group "Veterans Association" and a doctor from the same prefecture, "Professor Kamata"We interviewed him.
Both of them were volunteers, and they used what only they could do to help the victims.
After leaving Miyagi Prefecture, we head to our final destination, Iwate Prefecture.
At this point, both my photographer W and I were tired from our daily trips, so we took naps while driving and were careful, and we also moved the schedule forward so as not to miss the appointed time for the interview.
Up until now, the content has mainly been from the perspective of volunteers, but the remaining two articles shift the focus to the harsh reality from the perspective of the victims and rescuers.
Iwate Prefecture - Ootsuchi Nursery School
When we arrived in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, we were greeted by a group of smiling kindergarten children with cheerful voices.Ootsuchi Nursery School (now Ootsuchi Children's School)"was.
At the time of the earthquake, the children had just woken up from their afternoon nap.
The earthquake caused the nursery school to shake violently, and the nursery teachers, sensing the danger, took the children and evacuated to the mountain behind the school.
Then, moments later, I looked down and saw everything being swallowed up by a black swell.
Trembling with fear, I could only wait for the tide to subside.
A few days later, the staff discovered a shocking truth.
Nine children from the kindergarten became victims of the tsunami.
I have children myself.
I simply managed to contain my speechlessness and continued with the interview.
But the feelings just seem to align.
I ended the interview in tears, which was embarrassing.
I visited the nursery school again in the afternoon to take some insert shots.
It was play time, and the innocent smiles of the children warmed us up as we shivered from the cold.
However, in contrast, there was a mother watching over her children with tears in her eyes, as if she was reminded of something that happened a year ago, and I will never forget that scene.
Iwate Prefecture - Ootsuchi Fire Brigade -
The last time I visitedThe Ootsuchi Town Fire Department.
Our exhaustion had reached its peak, but thinking of the victims and those helping them, we felt we had to persevere. Gradually, our spirits began to grow stronger as we continued our reporting.
Immediately after the earthquake, the Otsuchi Fire Department ran around town to inform residents of evacuation and the disaster.
He also contributed to evacuation and rescue efforts.
As a result, 11 members of the team were killed or went missing.
I had the opportunity to interview the fire brigade chief.
Looking back on the past year, what has emerged within the fire brigade is not a cycle of sadness,The bond between the members was born precisely because of their loss.
Those words gave me the push I needed.
Because every time we did an interview at a different place, we felt a strange depression. We were too affected.
However, the leader's positive words comforted us, and we were able to complete our reporting in Tohoku without any accidents.
After reporting from all over Tohoku
I also interviewed people at companies and private homes affected by the disaster, but the data is no longer on my hard drive, so I can't write an article about it.
What I learned from reporting 10 years ago is that in addition to the great number of lives lost, many people also lost their "assets."
Some have lost their homes, others their precious mementos.
Returning to Tokyo, I realized just how precious my current lifestyle and life are.
The moment when "ordinary everyday life" suddenly disappears.
Having experienced this reality firsthand on the ground, I wondered, what can I do now?
He believes that this can be turned into "film" through the precious resource known as "interviews."
I thought that this was something only I could do, so I set about creating it.
That interview still haunts me to this day.
The good and the bad.
Now that 10 years have passed, I feel like what I can do is write this article and share my experiences with everyone.
From the perspective of the reporter,
I will pray for that day.
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