Six women (two women in their 60’s, three women in their 70’s and one in her 80’s) ６人（二人が６０代、三人が７０代、一人が８０代）

August 22, 2016 I have been repairing the roof which had a hole caused by the Tsunami. It is dangerous to depend on electricity only. The life in old times was better. Now everything is so convenient and we have no knowledge to survive. We need to learn by experiencing it. For example, Hemp palms were planted in order to clean the water of the rice paddy and wells years ago. When 3.11 happened, old landline phones connected immediately. Current senior citizens learned the survival skills from playing outside. Sometimes they ditched school and went fishing at the ocean and found food in the mountains. There were neighbors who scolded other neighbors’ kids as if they were their own. When disaster happens, victims are all suffering so they can’t rely on other victims. So volunteers really helped us, like cleaning dirt. My house was on the hill so there was no damage. I took care of many evacuees in my house. I cleaned vegetables with snow. We used a portable stove, and a clay pot and an oil heater were useful. For a bathtub, we brought water from a nearby river. On the 4th day, fried tofu was delivered. On the 6th day, I went outside for the first time and learned that a person who returned home to recover jewelry was victimized while holding them. I would like to suggest that greeting neighbors, having a neighborhood field day, knowing who lives where, and also a list of evacuation spots would be good to do. When living in temporary housing, each community should be grouped together so that the community ties which have been built for many years wouldn’t be cut. Even being able to move into the temporary housing, some people passed away shortly after. I feel so fortunate that I didn’t get affected, but on the other hand I feel guilty for not being affected. For this reason, I gave away as many vegetables as possible. For people who lived in a house on the hill, there was no support materials provided. So, we appreciated very much that there was a store that quickly sold us diapers and milk for a 2-year old baby within 5 minutes of the earthquake. Despite my life was spared, it is still hard to live. One of my friends is still missing, and there is no body. My husband became ill at the age of 50. I have been thriving without his income since then. After the earthquake, the experience I had as a volunteer in the past had really helped me. An evacuation map is helpful to have when you’re at home, but it doesn’t help if you don’t even know where you are. We need to practice how to build a fire. Things like where to evacuate and how to save your own life is necessary to know. Being healthy is also important, trying not to be on a wheelchair or bedridden. We can't run away leaving a bedridden child behind. I was feeling at ease thinking the tsunami wouldn’t come this far. I’m lucky just to have a house. I made a fire with woods that I had collected to warm up. Insurance is also an important thing to have. There is a lower risk to die if you evacuate by yourself than two people. Now my reason for living is volunteering. I'm happy to receive support from overseas, too. Friends are important. Women have a role to protect their family. I feel my life was spared in order to save my family. Women have the nerves of steel and can stay calm, and first of all we ask question like “Did you eat food?” We stay calm and take action. I was able to live by being relied on by others using knowledge and patience. People can't live alone. I like to be with my husband even though he has been bedridden. Kitchen and cooking are important, and eating is most important. I am happy when someone greets me. Being optimistic is the way to overcome and move forward. I sometimes reward myself to be happy and take care of myself. If I have to live, I rather enjoy my life. Smiling makes my heart full. I am a widow and feel I was made to live with my strong luck. Do we need the coastal levee which is too high that we can’t see the ocean? I feel better sharing my experience with others. We can’t remove the ocean from Ishinomaki even it may bring tsunamis….. Ishinomaki without the ocean is not Ishinomaki. Making collage with pieces of color paper, dress making, cooking, socializing with friends, flower arrangement, playing with my 3-year old grandchild, karaoke and crafting with Chirimen fabric are what I live for. Being healthy is important. I don’t want to be a burden to my children. My schedule is full, and I have no time to think. I have to save money for my old age. There used to be moats where ships came in and Ishinomaki was surrounded by waterways. Do we need Olympics? Ishinomaki needs materials and labors to recover, but cost of labor and materials have been rising due to the preparations of the Olympics to be held in Japan in 2020. I oppose having the Olympics. Unplanned development of Ishinomaki is a waste of money. We can’t see the ocean because of the raised ground level and tide embankment. I think people won’t live this close to the ocean any more no matter what you do.