Tsunami and Okawa Elementary School: many children died & bodies still missing
Tsunami and Okawa Elementary School: many children died & bodies still missing
Pierre Leblanc and Lee Jay Walker
Modern Tokyo Times
March 11, 2011, in Japan will always remain vivid because of the utter destruction and mayhem that was caused by the tsunami which followed the 9.0-magnitude earthquake. Since this day great strides are continuing in the field of reconstruction, future developments, and laying the foundations for regeneration. However, the huge loss of life and utter devastation that was caused on this tragic day will always remain within the “psyche of Japan.”
The first anniversary will soon occur and throughout Japan and in many places throughout the world special vigils will take place. Therefore, Modern Tokyo Times will continue to look back at the various realities of March 11 in order to pay respect to the people who died.
Also, while the first anniversary is near it is clear that much work still needs to be done and “the community spirit” which helped so much is still needed in 2012. At the same time, while buildings can be restored the psychological impact of losing loved ones is enormous and each individual will cope differently. This means that great emphasis is needed on helping people who feel vulnerable and isolated.
In this article of “remembrance” the focus is on the tragedy of Okawa Elementary School in Ishinomaki. This school was hit the hardest in terms of the death ratio because out of 108 children who attended this school a shocking 74 children died because of the brutal tsunami of March 11.
Sadly, even today the bodies of four children and one teacher are still missing despite many searches to find the missing. Therefore, for these parents and loved ones who are connected with all the individuals who are still missing, they have no closure and no grave to visit.
Ishinomaki and Okawa Elementary School
(Looking back on a past article and conclusion)
The Okawa Elementary School in Ishinomaki is where the single most devastating loss of life for children occurred. Of the 108 children who went to Okawa Elementary School a staggering 74 children were swept away by the brutal March 11 tsunami. The cries of pain were intense and sadly by early 2012 four children still had not been found and the search continues.
Tens of thousands of people were killed by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake which unleashed such a potent and deadly tsunami on March 11. Therefore, it may appear insensitive to highlight one single tragedy when so many tragedies occurred. However, the death of so many children “hits you deep inside.”
Also traumatic, is the feeling of parents who had the opportunity to collect their children but stayed home. After all, of the 34 children who survived this tragic day the main reason behind this figure is because 26 children were picked up by their parents. Therefore, only 8 children survived under the care and supervision of teachers from Okawa Elementary School.
One parent called Katsura Sato who lost her daughter Mizuho, stated “After the quake, I heard there would be a tsunami, but she was at the elementary school, so I thought she would be safe…….I just want to know how she spent her last minutes.”
Therefore, the majority of children who survived did so because their parents collected them. The psychological impact of this fact is enormous and while grief, questions asked to school authorities, anger, and other factors will have been strong at first, in time “what if” will enter the psyche even more. Also, the sight of seeing surviving children in the local community is a grim reminder that the outcome could have been so different.
This isn’t intended to pin the blame on anybody because March 11 was just a tragic day whereby events engulfed many communities. However, the psychological impact of the tragic loss of life and why the majority of children picked up survived, will torment the souls of the living for the rest of their time on this earth.
Even more galling for all surviving parents is that other schools in the same area escaped the deadly tsunami and parents demand to know what really happened on this fateful day. However, just like parents who had the chance to pick up their children, it was just a tragedy that was never intended and school teachers did everything in their power to protect the children in their care.
Sadly, however, events transpired negatively because all good intensions were cut off and the initial decision to take the children to high ground was changed because many trees had fallen. Therefore, the route became hard to climb and teachers feared that falling trees and the environment may harm the children.
Apparently, teachers then debated on the best option and many vital minutes were lost. After this, the fateful decision to walk to the elevated bridge was taken but by this time the tsunami was engulfing everything in its way.
The final minutes will have been a nightmare and desperation will have led to internal chaos and fear. Therefore, the day which began so normal had turned into “a sea of death” because 74 young children, alongside teachers who perished, were cruelly taken from this world. Also, for the children who are still missing then the grave lies empty and this is clearly causing added pain and anguish.
Many parents showed their anger when a special meeting was held but others tried to understand that the school authorities at Okawa Elementary School had tried to protect the children.
In time, the true events of what happened will become known and in the cold light of day the facts will come together like a jigsaw. However, the speed of the tsunami was great and damage by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake meant that many trees, buildings, and roads will have been damaged.
The teachers who perished did everything in their power and just like parents who had the chance to pick up their children nobody had made their decisions on ill-will. On the contrary, everybody believed that their decisions would safeguard the children and parents and teachers only wanted to protect the kids from danger.
Today the community is rebuilding without the children and adults who perished and clearly nothing will ever be the same. However, somehow individuals and the community must work together and re-build but the road ahead will be fraught with pain and emptiness.
Individuals are complex and children who survived may appear weak but often children are much stronger than adults think. Therefore, everybody will deal with the trauma differently.
Okawa Elementary School in Ishinomaki will always be remembered and it is essential that strong support mechanisms are provided by the local authority and central government.
“The ray of sunshine” that the dead children provided in their life will always “burn bright” in the hearts of parents and grandparents of the dead children. Therefore, one can only hope that all surviving people involved in this tragedy will one day find peace.
Conclusion
Sadly, even by the middle of February in 2012 four more child bodies are still missing and one teacher. Throughout the region thousands of bodies still haven’t been found therefore the grieving process can not heal. Instead, people are still searching for their loved ones and the psychological effects of this are great.
One mother called Naomi Hiratsuka who is still looking for her daughter called Koharu commented that “I’ll never be at peace if I don’t find her…She also won’t be (at peace) where she is.”
Therefore, parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends connected with Okawa Elementary School are still searching and helping the families who have missing children and the same applies to the body of the teacher. The magnitude of what happened to this single school will never be forgotten by all those who know about this tragedy.
It is hoped that one day all the missing children and the body of the teacher will be found and of course the same applies to the thousands of missing bodies throughout the region. Therefore, while the first anniversary in 2012 is only around the corner the sad reality is that the grieving process still can’t happen for many people because even now many individuals are still missing.
Japanese Yen Exchange Rate
