Life in evacuation shelters continues for those forced from their homes by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto on July 28. At times like these, conversations with friends can provide much-needed comfort.
Among those sheltering together are two friends from childhood who reunited for the first time in about 70 years, rekindling a bond that had long been lost.
Although they say worries about the future sometimes keep them awake at night, they find comfort in each other’s words of encouragement.
Reunited at the Shelter
At the Ogawa Disaster Prevention Center in Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture, which is being used as an evacuation shelter, the two women found themselves sharing a corner of the facility. About 1,000 people were sheltering there as of August 9.
They are 76-year-old Taeko Kamie and 91-year-old Eiko Fujimoto. Despite their 15-year age difference, they spent much of their childhood together.
Kamie’s home was completely destroyed in the earthquake, and she sometimes finds herself voicing her worries.
“It’s so hard to fall asleep when I think about what I’m going to do from here. My house was destroyed, so I can’t go home,” she said.
Fujimoto looked at Kamie with a gentle smile and offered words of comfort.
“You shouldn’t think about it. Don’t worry about things you can’t do anything about.”
A Chance Reunion
Although they had known each other as children, the two lost touch over the years. They reunited on the night of the earthquake, when Fujimoto spotted Kamie at the shelter.
“Could you be Sakae?” Fujimoto asked, referring to Kamie by the name of her older sister.
Kamie immediately recognized her and replied using Fujimoto’s maiden name.
“Are you Ms. Honma?”
“I’m Fujimoto now,” she replied.
The two soon began catching up on each other’s lives. It was their first meeting in about 70 years, since 1955.
A Sister Figure
Back then, neighborhood children would gather at Fujimoto’s family home to do radio taiso, a series of exercises performed to a radio broadcast. Kamie, who was 5 or 6 at the time, was one of them.
Fujimoto was 20 and served as an older-sister figure to the children, but she also joined them in games such as kick-the-can and spinning tops.
They lost touch after Fujimoto married in 1955 and left her family home. Kamie later moved to Kumamoto city, where she lived for more than 40 years.
The two have since discovered that they both have homes in Uki, just about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) apart.
As memories of their childhood came flooding back, they began spending almost all their time together. Their cardboard beds are side by side, too.
Because Fujimoto has difficulty walking, Kamie helps care for her, including picking up their boxed meals. In return, Fujimoto listens to Kamie’s worries and offers advice like an older sister.
“Being together has made us feel stronger,” the two say in unison.
Relying on and encouraging each other, the longtime friends are helping one another through what may still be a long stay at the evacuation shelter.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Takahiro Ohmori, The Sankei Shimbun
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