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15 Years Since Great East Japan Earthquake: A 'Symbol of Sorrow' Remains, Search for Missing Unending
15 Years: The Former Disaster Prevention Center, A Symbol of Sorrow
Now, 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the former Disaster Prevention Center in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, remains preserved as a 'symbol of disaster,' recalling the ferocity of the tsunami at the time. This three-story building served as the town's disaster response headquarters when the disaster struck. Miki Endo, a staff member at the time, pleaded with residents to evacuate until just before the tsunami hit, ultimately sacrificing her life. Of the 53 people who sought shelter in the building, 43 lost their lives, and only 10 survived the massive tsunami by clinging to an antenna.
To prevent such a tragedy from recurring, Minamisanriku undertook large-scale land elevation work, raising the ground level of current residential areas to a height of 10 meters, similar to the roof of the former Disaster Prevention Center. The newly built Sansan Shopping Village is situated overlooking the former Disaster Prevention Center, and with its 28 vibrant shops, it has become a resting place for town residents and a new tourist attraction. However, despite the changing face of the town, many are still searching for their missing family members.
The Unending Search: Yearning Amidst the Sea and Time
As of March 9, 2026, the number of missing persons from the Great East Japan Earthquake still stands at 2,519. The Miyagi Prefectural Police regularly open consultation centers to receive information from families. Last year, the jawbone of Natsuse Yamane, who was 6 years old when she went missing in Yamada Town, Iwate Prefecture, was discovered after 14 and a half years, and through DNA identification, it was returned to her family.
Yasuo Takamatsu, 69, a resident of Onagawa Town, has been searching for his wife, Yuko (then 47), who went missing in the tsunami, by diving into the sea himself for 15 years. He obtained his diver's license at age 57 and has since made over 750 dives, searching for traces of his wife in the cold, dark waters at a depth of 35 meters. His wife's last text message, "Are you okay? I want to go home," was sent just before the tsunami engulfed the harbor, and a subsequent message, "The tsunami is huge," never reached her husband. Takamatsu described the temporal gap with his wife and his unending longing as "like muddy water," expressing how his feelings seem to clear only to become murky again.
*Source: YouTube: ANNnewsCH (2026-03-11)*
