Name: Yukie KARAKI

Age: 70

(Age 57 in March 2011)

Birthplace: Minamisoma City

Home address: Iwaki City

Occupation: Storyteller

‘As long you don’t lose heart’

① Growing up in Hamadori near the nuclear power plant, it was told time and time again that the nuclear power was safe. Even when I moved to Tomioka, the dangers of nuclear power plant were not in my mind at all.

② In Tomioka, there is a cherry blossom avenue. If you stand under them, it is like a long outstretching cherry blossom tunnel, from under which you can’t even see the sky. I really love those cherry trees in Tomioka.

③ My friend told me, “Don’t worry about me. Just make sure you get home quickly.” So, I went home. After a big earthquake, a tsunami may follow, so I decided to take the roads near the mountains. I didn’t know what to do, as many roads were closed off.

④ I was told to evacuate, so I made sure I at least had my bankbook and cash card, as well as one blanket per person, seeing as it was cold. My parents strongly protested: “We’re not going. We don’t know where to go, and we’re already old, so we’re staying here. You go ahead and evacuate without us”, they kept saying.

⑤ We evacuated with little more than the clothes on our backs, so I was full of anxiety. Inside my mind everything was dark, and I couldn’t think at all. It was at that time that a friend I respect very much told me: “As long as you don’t lose heart, you can overcome anything. Let’s do everything we can together.” In that moment, a light was sparked inside the darkness in my mind.

⑥ I started a new life, starting out without any of my old belongings. The town officials really went out of their way for me, saying “This is some old stuff, so go ahead and take it,” giving me things like a refrigerator and a laundry machine, as well as little things like knives and chopping boards.

⑦ In June, I was able to go home briefly for the first time. I had two clocks, but one had stopped at 2:46, and the other one was still working. I felt like it represented two sides of myself: One side that had completely stopped on March 11th, and one that had to live on through this reality.

⑧ Even after we moved to a stand-alone house, my mother said: “I don’t want to die in a place like this.” After moving, I first realized that what she really meant to say was that “she didn’t want to die anywhere that wasn’t Tomioka.”

⑨ Even if I had decided to leave the old house intact out of some sort of temporary sentiment, in the end that would just be for my own satisfaction. I decided I couldn’t pass on a house tainted by radioactive material to my children. Along came the decision not to move back to Tomioka.　Nonetheless, having visited Tomioka many times since, the feeling that this is the place to come back to someday is growing stronger.

CAPTION

Building blocks donated to Karaki’s 1.5 years old grandchild. They were given by one of the parents at the nursery in Nagano when Karaki’s grandchild stayed there for two months.

Children’s clothes donated to her 1.5 years old grandchild. They were given by one of the parents at the nursery in Nagano when her grandchild stayed there for two months. It was great to receive so many clothes, given that kids’ clothes get dirty so easily. These summer clothes were given on the occasion of her grandchild moving back to Koriyama. Even now, her cannot get herself to throw them away, and kept around two sets. She feels that her grandchild – already in middle school – is growing up really fast.

A picture made with pressed flowers by a friend from Okuma, saying “Magedetamakka” means Never give up. This was sent to her in April 2014, during her stay in Nagano. It really cheered her up.

A badge with the text “Magetetamakka!” means never give up. It was sent by a friend who lives in Minami-Soma, two or three years after the disaster during evacuation in Nagano. It was probably sent to raise her spirits. She received a lot of them, but only has one left, after giving the rest away to other people.

A photo taken during evacuation in Nagano. Besides Karaki herself and her parents, her old friends from Fukushima are also in the picture. Although it was only a short, overnight visit, she was happy that they came all the way.