A Story of Loss, Resilience, and the Enduring Power of Memory

A Story of Loss, Resilience, and Remembrance

Miyoko Sasaki's photograph captured the harrowing moment the tsunami struck the Ando district in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2011. The image shows people scrambling for their lives along the railway embankment as the massive wave surged over the 6.4-meter seawall.

Miyoko, standing on higher ground, felt a deep sense of guilt as she witnessed the devastation unfold. Her husband, Keiichi, who was working at a steel plant in Kamaishi, managed to escape the tsunami but lost contact with Miyoko and their daughter Ikumi.

Reunited at Daitokuin temple, which had become an evacuation center, the family witnessed the full extent of the destruction. The tsunami had completely destroyed their hometown.

Miyoko's photograph became a powerful reminder of the tragedy. It sparked discussions about disaster preparedness and the importance of passing down the lessons learned from the experience.

The Ando district had long been disaster-conscious, but the tsunami highlighted the need for better evacuation routes and plans. Despite efforts to create an accessible evacuation route, budget constraints and the presence of the seawall stalled the plan.

More than 10 percent of the district's residents died in the tsunami. Keiichi believes that many lives could have been saved with proper preparation.

Determined to keep the memory of the disaster alive, Miyoko and Keiichi decided to release the photograph and continue documenting the aftermath. In 2013, Miyoko's photo was displayed at the "Remember Otsuchi" photo exhibition in Tokyo.

Fourteen years after the disaster, the town of Otsuchi faces the challenge of passing on these memories to younger generations. To ensure the disaster is never forgotten, the town conducts annual evacuation drills and rebuilds a wooden monument dedicated to the tragedy every four years.

Keiichi, now a town assembly member, continues his efforts to protect lives, driven by the belief that "we must not let people die." The story of the tsunami in Otsuchi is a powerful reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness, resilience, and remembrance.