FIVE YEARS AFTER: Children adjust to new lives after hardships of 2011 tsunami disaster

[yuiyoshida]

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

A red school backpack is Futaba Omori’s most treasured possession, which survived the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami along with its owner.

Futuba’s elementary school in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, burned to the ground in the fires that broke out in the aftermath of the 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami.

Her family's home was also flattened. All the little girl had known was in ruins.

When she and her mother returned to the ruins of their home after the disaster, they managed to retrieve one of Futaba’s notebooks, some stationery and game software.

Sifting through the ashes of her school, an old friend and reminder of happier days was also discovered: her school backpack, which had miraculously survived unscathed.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/quake_tsunami/AJ201603110042