The Kumamoto Earthquake Report 1:
Accompaniment, a Strong Factor of Resilience

April 23rd 2016

The aftershocks from the earthquake has exceeded 800, and the slow pace of assessment of the damage hamper the recovery of the affected families. House and building assessment so far has indicated that close to half of the buildings assessed are not eligible to be used anymore. This would mean a massive challenge for those evacuees while thinking about their future.

However, there is a glimpse of hope. A story we would like to tell today.

Ms. Madoka Nakajo is five-months pregnant mother, with her 3-year old Yuzuki. While speaking to Otsuka of Yokohama YMCA, she shared that it is their 9th day at the evacuation center. While the life at the evacuation center is challenging for a pregnant mother, she says how her daughter Yuzuki encourages all adults in the family. Yuzuki stays smiling, doesn’t demand anything special, does comical gesture that puts smile on everyone’s faces.

It doesn’t mean that she is not feeling the shock. When the bigger earthquake hit on April 16th, she cried saying “I don’t want anything to collapse anymore”. She is not sleeping well at night as well. Otsuka said, “Don’t grow up too fast”, half as a joke, but half serious. Yuzuki seemed to have understood what he meant, and I felt that I am seeing a strong sense of resilience and responsibility in this 3-year old, with a confidence of strong love within their family.

“I still can’t accept what happened to us”, said Ms. Nakajo. Of course, losing their house and belongings all the sudden is not an easy thing to go through. Otsuka’s reply was, “Don’t try to accept everything too fast, it’s OK to take time”. She nodded and said, “Since Yuzuki is with us, we will hang in there”.

Evacuation center in Mashiki-Town, a center that accommodates 1,200 evacuees, is managed with such caring, love, and accompaniment. It reminds us that people’s recovery isn’t only material aspect at all, but these psychological factors matter a lot. With faith, principle, and value of YMCA staff on the ground, another day of accompaniment starts tomorrow.

You can help the operation on the ground. Please see below:
Emergency appeal of YMCA Japan
Facebook page of Kumamoto YMCA (Japanese only)

Bank Detail Name : The National Council of YMCAs of Japan
Address : 7 Honshio-cho Shinjuku-ku,Tokyo
Beneficiary Bank : THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ,LTD.
Branch Name : YOTSUYA BRANCH
Bank Address : 3-2-1 YOTSUYA SHINJUKU-KU TOKYO
Swift code : BOTKJPJT
Account Number : 051-0111494

The National Council of YMCAs of Japan and the Church World Service Japan are working together as partner for relief activities in Kumamoto Earthquake.
Here is English Report by Mr. Takeshi Komino of CWSJ about Japan YMCA’s relief works.

Interviewer and Photos taken by: Takeshi Komino

Yuzuki-chan, 3-year old, is relieved by Mr. Otsuka’s company