March 11, 2016 - Photo journal from Marumori branch Vol. 1

This is the report from Kazuma Ota from Marumori (Miyagi) branch.

He has started a new life as he is now a high school student.

He reports his feeling five years after the disaster.

3/11 Kids’ Photo Journal

Five years after the disaster

Five years after the disaster many things have changed about my life.

I became a junior high school student and also finished the high school entrance exams.

I got a girlfriend. I have been with her for six months.

We came from different elementary schools to the same junior high school.

It is the only one in this town and we were classmates for three years by chance.

She was evacuated from Okuma-town as The Nuclear Power Plant Accident happened.

I didn’t lose any major things due to the disaster so I cannot imagine how she is feeling every day.

What if I suddenly cannot go back to this place where I was born and grew up?

I always missed this town when I was away - even if only one week.

What if I lose this town forever or long enough as forever?

We do not know yet the terrible and sad feeling.

The disaster has not finished until everybody can go back to their home town.

This should be the finish of the disaster.

Kazuma Ota

Shining Japanese pampas grass.

At Rooftop. Only one bird is flying in the huge sky.

Only the sunrise has not change five years after the disaster.

Kazuma Ota, 15 years old / Marumori, Miyagi (3/11 Kids’ Photo Journal)

English translation: Kazuyo Kitada

English proofreading: Peter Schonstein