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

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