Hikawa Town was hit by a magnitude 7 earthquake and suffered immense damage. One man, whose home was completely destroyed, is still living in his car and in makeshift shelters. We followed him for two months.

[CX News Anchor Enami]
"This is the Kashima district of Hikawa Town, which was hit by a magnitude 7 earthquake. Looking here and there,
wooden buildings are severely tilted or collapsed."

Two days after the earthquake, on July 30th, we met with Masayoshi, a resident of Hikawa Town.

[Anchor Enami]
"Your brother was at home at the time, wasn't he?"
[Masayoshi]
"Yes, he was. He was trapped inside, and neighbors gathered because they heard him crying. They used chainsaws and lifts to create gaps and pull him out."

His home, approximately 90 years old, was completely destroyed in the earthquake.

Masayoshi's brother, who was temporarily trapped inside the house, was rescued by local residents, but he is still hospitalized.

When we visited again, we found Yuki, Masayoshi's daughter, who had rushed from Tokyo out of concern for him.

[Yuki] "When I saw the house where I grew up in this state, I couldn't stop crying. My father and grandmother spent even more time growing up here, so I think it must be even harder for them."

"There are photo albums around here," she added. "We can't get them now."

Valuables and photographs of Masayoshi's father, Hayato, who passed away in April of last year, remain in the collapsed house.

Masayoshi is one of those who couldn't leave his home after the earthquake and was forced to sleep in his car.

[Masayoshi] "There are suspicious people around, and they even go to check on the rice fields, so I can't imagine living anywhere else."

Masayoshi, who is also a rice farmer, grows non-glutinous rice, glutinous rice, and rice for animal feed. The rice fields, which had been filled with water, dried up after the earthquake, resulting in this state.


[Masayoshi] "I was wondering what would happen to the rice crop. Would we even be able to harvest anything?"

The nearby river had dried up, and no water came out when the taps were turned on.

Agricultural water supply was also cut off.

[Masayoshi] "The rice crop is most important when the ears emerge and the white flowers appear, and it needs water then. If there's no water at that time, it's going to be tough."

Many volunteers gathered around Masayoshi, offering encouragement to his family.

"We found a few photos."

[Arai-guma Hitoyoshi] "Photos aren't essential necessities, so many people give up on them during the cleanup, thinking it's okay. They always regret it later."

The precious photos were in poor condition due to rain and other factors, but they were entrusted to a photo cleaning volunteer group. [Arai-guma Hitoyoshi]

[Yuki] "I'm so glad. I wanted photos of Grandma and Grandpa. I'm so relieved."

The following day, a volunteer group specializing in the rescue of valuables, including firefighters with knowledge of heavy machinery and various skills, also visited. "DGR119"

"This? Yay, I found it!"

A pouch containing Masayoshi's important belongings, such as his seal and bankbook, and a portrait of his father, were found inside his home.


[Volunteers]

"Grandma and Grandpa are back!" "I'm so glad Grandpa was found!"

On this day, Masayoshi received a great help.

A temporary dwelling, an "instant house," was set up on his property.

[Masayoshi]

"I want to stretch out and sleep here!" "It's a gift!"

With no end in sight to the reconstruction of his home, he now has a place where he can feel a little more at ease.


[Masayoshi] "I've been sleeping in my car so much that I can sleep really well now."

However…

Due to water shortages, the glutinous rice harvest was impossible.

[Masayoshi] "That field produced good rice. There was a lot of it, it was a field I really wanted."

September 30th, two months and two days after the earthquake

[Masayoshi] "It's more reliable to clear the land quickly and build even a small house here."

Masayoshi applied for temporary housing, but was unable to move in, and the demolition of his home began.

[Masayoshi] "This house is filled with memories, so it's sad to demolish it. It's hard to move forward. I have to accept it and move forward."

Besides his family, who else supported Masayoshi…?

[Masayoshi] "I think I was able to get to the point of demolishing and rebuilding on my own thanks to the volunteers. If it weren't for the volunteers, I might not have been able to have such a positive outlook."

A determination to protect the farmland.

And supported by the warmth of others, Masayoshi looks towards the future of rebuilding his home.