A Woman Who Moved to Tozawa Village from Tokyo Experiences the Fear of Torrential Rain Damage and the Road to Recovery in Tozawa Village, Yamagata Prefecture

The torrential rains that hit Tozawa Village in Yamagata Prefecture on July 25-26 caused extensive damage to the entire village. The rich nature that normally soothes the soul of the villagers was like a bitten fang on this day. The Mogami River, which had been supporting our lives, became a raging torrent that swept through the village.

Ms. Nobuko Segoguchi, who became an “advisor for regional revitalization” for Tozawa Village in Yamagata Prefecture in September 2011, said, “The village was hit by a torrent of water.

She started and developed her business in Tokyo in 2010 after leaving a major department store company. After becoming an advisor, she rented a house in Yamagata and lived half her life in Tokyo. She was still living in Yamagata when torrential rains hit the area.

On his way to the town hall, he felt the strange air and ever-changing weather. Soon after the evacuation began, the national highway was cut off, and I realized the scale of the disaster. The entire village was united in taking countermeasures.”

At 11:40 p.m. on the 25th, a second heavy rain special warning was issued for the Mogami region, including Tozawa Village. The heavy rain continued for a long time, and at around 4:00 a.m. on the 26th, the Mogami River overflowed and the village was swallowed by the muddy waters.

About 300 buildings in the village were severely damaged, including the first floor of the village office, which was flooded.

After the disaster, the staff at the village office had to work hard to cope with the situation, even while they slept. I was forced to stay at home and was distressed by the damage reported in the media. I was particularly lost for words when I saw images of the town hall being inundated.

As the damage gradually became more and more apparent, the village was hit hard by flooding, landslides, damage to crops, and the loss of a portion of the national highway, which affected traffic. Firefighters used boats to rescue people in flooded areas, and some areas had power outages.

Mr. Seikoguchi, who had been waiting at his home in a neighboring town, returned to the village on the 28th. The sight of the utterly transformed landscape took his breath away.