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.

Everywhere around the building was covered with clay-like soil that would fill your boots, and the walls were covered with waist-high water marks. The beautiful Nishikigoi carp that had been kept in the pond were swept away by the overflowing water and disappeared.

Official vehicles that had been scrapped due to the flooding were towed away, and items that were no longer usable were also removed, creating a pile of rubble. Vehicles and personnel of the Self-Defense Forces were mobilized, and the sight of them made me feel a sense of fear and helplessness that I cannot describe.

What surprised him the most was that none of the villagers whined or complained, and they quietly proceeded to clean up the mess.

Mr. A, who works at the village office, was put in charge of the evacuation center at around 2:30 p.m. on July 25 to respond to the emergency. Other staff members were also evacuating, competing with the rising alert level, but some of them had their homes damaged, and Mr. A himself had to stay at the evacuation center with his family.

According to Mr. Sekoguchi, Mr. A’s house was flooded, most of the furniture on the first floor was unusable, and his car in the garage was a total loss. Even though he could not return to his home to rest his tired body, he had to start the restoration work for the entire village.

A Japanese man, Mr. B, and his Thai partner, a Thai woman, who had arrived in Tozawa Village from Thailand on July 24 under the “trial housing program” (currently suspended) available to those who wish to move to Tozawa Village, were also forced to live in an evacuation center.

Mr. B told us, “I was very much impressed when he said, ‘I realized that you really don’t know when and where a disaster will strike. He said, ‘We never expected that we would be caught in such a situation when we arrived one night and suddenly it was raining heavily. It was our first time in a new place and we didn’t know where we were going and she doesn’t speak Japanese. I was at a loss, but thanks to the warm support of the villagers, we were able to get through it safely,” he said, leaving Tozawa Village on July 31.

Five days after the disaster, the Self-Defense Forces, which had been working on the front lines of the disaster area for reconstruction, withdrew from the area. Witnessing this, Mr. Seikoguchi renewed his resolve.

After the Self-Defense Forces withdrew from the area, I realized that the real recovery work was about to begin. We were shown the horror of nature, but as long as there is a strong bond between the villagers and support from all over the country, I believe we will be able to rebuild.

Tozawa Village will build an even stronger community in the future. I would like to be a part of this recovery and walk with them as they take a new step toward the village’s future. I would like to play a role in supporting the recovery of this village to build a stronger community that will not be defeated by disasters, and to learn lessons for the future.

Tozawa Village is currently accepting applications for “Furusato Tax Disaster Relief”. Mr. Seikoguchi’s “power” to promote Tozawa Village, rich in nature, throughout the country will surely be needed for the restoration.

Nobuko Sekoguchi
Advisor for Local Development and Community Revitalization, Tozawa Village, Yamagata Prefecture
Born in Osaka in 1971. After joining Mitsukoshi and working in the women’s apparel department and sales promotion department, and then as a central buyer, she established Loco Promotion Inc. in ’10. Ltd. in ’10. He has been involved in producing uniforms for major apparel and esthetic companies and providing start-up support. Currently, as a regional revitalization advisor for Tozawa Village in Yamagata Prefecture, he is making efforts to expand Furusato tax payments and revitalize the local community.

Furusato Choice Disaster Relief
https://www.furusato-tax.jp/saigai/detail/2213