In Kobuchihama we unloaded some more furnitures and, as in Fukukiura, helped organize the temporary home complex’s common room. It was quite fun work and many of the local people helped out as well.

Once the common room was done the Toyota mini-van and the truck had to return back home. Ishihara-san that had been riding in the Toyota mini-van joined Chie and me in our car. We said our goodbyes and continued to visit some of the people that have become friends with Ishihara-san. First stop was a ryokan that was lucky to be on a small knoll or there would have been more damaged than it was.

When we got here today they had just finished renovating the water damaged parts. Looking out from one of the windows it was easy to see what could have happened to the ryokan if it would not have been on the knoll.

Our final stop was at a temporary home complex next to Coco’s convenience store. Here we had coffee and tea at some friend’s home. Besides donating things that are needed an important function is also to listen. To be an outsider that they can talk to about what has happened and difficulties that they have had since the tsunami.

The father of this family told us that the 3 first months after the tsunami they had a big fighting spirit. They survived such a big earthquake and the following tsunami while so many others died. “We will make it” was their thought at that time. Now, 8 months afterwards the fighting spirit is almost gone. They see no hope or future. They are basically back to where they were as a teenager though they are now 50-60 years old. No money, no house, no possessions. They have to rebuild something that have taken most of their life to build. It is difficult to imagine what that must feel like.

After the coffee and tea we (Ishihara-san, Chie and me) went back to Ishinomaki where we stayed at the Grand Hotel. After an hours rest we went out in hunt for a restaurant. It was Sunday night so most were actually closed. Eventually, on a dark back street, we found a really nice restaurant. We had sashimi, pork, fried octopus and more before we returned to the hotel for a well needed sleep.