May 30: Driving to Rikuzen Takata

In only 20 minutes by car, we reach Rikuzen Takata from our camp site. A typhoon is sweeping through the area today; a surprisingly cold wind blows, and the rain is strong. We can only imagine how cold it must have been nearly 3 months ago on March 11 when the earthquake struck. Many people we visit in evacuation centers and shelters in and around Kesennuma have fled from these areas.

On the top left is Rikuzen Takata Hospital which has been taken up by the media time and again. More than a hundred people fled to the roof of the hospital and called for help when the tsunami inundated the area.

This used to be a rice field area dotted with farmhouses.

A location flooded by the tsunami has been marked with a big-catch banner of a fishing boat along with many small yellow flags in memory of the owner.

Text and photos: Kanazawa Daisuke
(translated and edited for the English version by B.Y.)