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Japan Earthquake Anniversary: Survivor Yoriko Miura Tells Of Daughter's Death

Japan Tsunami Survivor Yoriko Miura: 'My Daughter Died'
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Senior Editor, Huffington Post

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One year after the tsunami and earthquake that devastated the northeast coast of Japan and left thousands of people dead, Robert Michael Poole and photographer Benjamin Parks traveled to Ishinomaki, one of the worst-hit towns, to ask survivors how the recovery is progressing, about the government's response to the disaster, and how the people are coping.

Survivor: Yoriko Miura

65-year-old art gallery and cafe owner Yoriko Miura runs one of the few hives of social activity for the youth of Ishinomaki. The business displays her own work as well as exhibitions of other locals artists. Ms. Miura continues to receive regular visitors. Her strength and determination are visible as she holds back the tears from the loss of her daughter in the tsunami.

Where were you when the tsunami struck?[Miura] I was having the opening day of an event here at my gallery. People from Ishinomaki could get home quickly, but not people from Sendai. We all ran to the mountains. I suggested to the people from Sendai who don't know the geography around here that they go home over the mountains. They did so, and got home safely. I locked my house, and told my daughter to flee with our computer and her child. She went out of our house before me. As I was going out, water from the tsunami came in through the entrance hall, but I somehow escaped and got in my car. I drove to my deceased husband's graveyard with my dog 'Happy,' and stayed there for two snowy nights.

My daughter died. She had bought a new home, but when the tsunami came, suddenly it fell apart, and she was pulled into a whirlpool of water and washed away.

How did you survive?About 400 people from different countries came to help. I got home earlier than others; it was five days after the earthquake. My son's wife came here from Akita prefecture to help us. They used a pump to get water from the river and clean the mud in the house with it. At first there was no food, and we only got electricity and water in May. Until then we just used a candle, and had to pee in the bushes, instead of inside. So it was like medieval times, but slowly we got used to it.

How did it affect you?In my area, 38 people died. I'm thankful that I wasn't one of them. It's had a bad effect on this area -- all the buildings in front of my gallery were destroyed, and of course customers don't come as often. There are many people who can't even look at the river; it's too emotional for them.

What is your hope for the future?I will keep on doing my business for four or five more years. But I fear that the local authorities will not try to restore this city -- it's impossible -- and that they may try to vacate the land here.

Is the government doing enough?People in temporary housing are well-supported. But some people who feel a strong attachment to their own homes want to live there, even though life in the temporary housing is better and their individual lives at home are very difficult at the moment. And those kinds of people are not supported by the government at all.

What can we learn from this disaster?Nature is very strong, and it's important to get to an elevated place when a tsunami happens.

How are the elderly coping?I don't really know. When I was escaping by car, I saw two older people getting away, and I picked them up. Older people who live alone are in a very sad situation, especially when their relatives live far away and cannot visit them.

Click here for more Japan 2011 tsunami anniversary coverage.

About the co-author and photographer:Robert Michael Poole is a Tokyo-based writer, editor and entrepreneur whose work has been published by Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, CNN and Associated Press. He focuses primarily on the Asian entertainment scene, as well as lifestyle, travel and international issues affecting the region.

Benjamin Parks is a Canadian photographer based in Tokyo. He specializes in editorial and corporate portraits as well as product photography and videography. Some of his clients include Eurobiz, Metropolis, In Style, Columbia Law School and Bluetooth Signature magazines as well as Ferrari, DHL and United Colors of Benetton.

More Ishinomaki Survivors Speak:

Tsunami Survivor Stories
Junko Shinagawa(01 of11)
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Age: 76 years oldProfession: Clothing shop managerOn the Government Response: There wasn't enough planning by the government, but that couldn't be helped, I guess.On What Was Learned: The most important thing is knowing how to get to a high place. Also, not believing such a big tsunami could happen is dangerous - I mean, underestimating the power of nature.On How The Elderly Are Coping: It's been difficult for older people because of the cold, and also because climbing the stairs and other basic things can be tough for them. (credit:Benjamin Parks)
Amelia Gegante And Son Taku Togashi(02 of11)
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Age: 32 years old and 6 years oldProfession: Part-time worker/single mother and sonOn Hope: I just want success for my son, and to be healthy.On What Was Learned: If people come together, regardless of where they are from, they can have a better life. (credit:Benjamin Parks)
Manami Kumagai(03 of11)
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Age: 54 years oldProfession: Music shop worker and piano teacherOn Survival: About 15 to 20 of my relatives stayed in my home for two weeks. It's a 7-bedroom house, so it was OK. There was no electricity, water or gasoline for two weeks, but then we got some water from the well. My husband died of shock. I broke a bone in my chest while driving during the tsunami, and was hospitalized. I couldn't move, and my relatives came to help clean up. Nature is strong, but we can feel the warmth of the people, their kindness helps us survive.On Hope: I hope that the city revives, and that young people help in the process. We must all stay positive.On What Was Learned: We should always be prepared for earthquakes, and make ourself stronger - emotionally. Disasters can happen anytime. (credit:Benjamin Parks)
Kanta Abe And Naoya Endo (04 of11)
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Age: 17 years oldProfession: StudentWhere I Was: I was at home, and the water only came into my home once.On Hope: Everyone just wants things to go back to how they were, that's enough, we want to smile with other people like before, and go forward with our lives.On What Was Learned: We must prepare for disasters, and work hard in honor of the dead. Also, preparation for an evacuation route should have been done beforehand. (credit:Benjamin Parks)
Mikuni Fumitaka(05 of11)
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Age: 68 years oldProfession: RetiredOn Survival: I had a stove, so I felt lucky, but I had to fix it first. Of course, there was no water or electricity. The first thing for survival was the stove, then food - miso soup and food from the fridge. There was no electricity to power the fridge, but that didn't matter, because it was winter. There was no water, but I got some from a well. I'm pretty powerful - the well was ten meters deep, but I could get water. There are many wells in this area, but older people couldn't lift the water, if two people lifted the water it was OK. CLICK HERE TO READ HIS WHOLE STORY. (credit:Benjamin Parks)
Mori Heizaburo(06 of11)
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Age: 75 years oldProfession: Flower shop workerWhere I Was: When the tsunami happened, I was on the mountain.On The Effect On The City: There are many people who passed away, and the houses have become wreckage. Now we see few people on the street.On The Government Response: They are considering a tax and assistance grant. That's all. CLICK HERE TO READ MORI'S STORY. (credit:Benjamin Parks)
Toshinobu Sato(07 of11)
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Age: 75 years oldProfession: Sake store ownerWhere I Was: I was in my home, and when the tsunami came I rushed to the sixth floor of my house. It was OK because the water only came up to the second level.How I Survived: I got help from the community center, and electricity and water, after three days. There wasn't any water or electricity here, but the community center had some.CLICK HERE TO READ TOSHINOBU'S STORY. (credit:Benjamin Parks)
Yoriko Miura (08 of11)
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Age: 65 years oldProfession: Art gallery/cafe ownerWhen The Tsunami Hit: My daughter died. She had bought a new home, but when the tsunami came, suddenly it fell apart, and she was pulled into a whirlpool of water and washed away.CLICK HERE TO READ YORIKO'S STORY. (credit:Benjamin Parks)
Yuichi Kowata(09 of11)
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Age: 70 years oldProfession: Taxi driverOn Hope: Maybe in two years I will have to stop [working], because I'm getting older - I'm 70 years old, and just want to be healthy.On The Government Response: They reacted too late.On What Was Learned: Many people have helped - volunteers from abroad, the Japanese military, and many others. We all have to work together.CLICK HERE TO READ YUICHI'S STORY. (credit:Benjamin Parks)
Yuki Amano(10 of11)
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Age: 23Profession: HairdresserOn Hope: My hope is to rebuild the town, so I'm doing what I can, and painting murals.On the Government Response: The government's help is not enough, but I guess that can't be helped, and now there's the nuclear problem to worry about, too. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT YUKI.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT YUKI (credit:Benjamin Parks)
Mieko Hoshiba(11 of11)
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Age: 87 years oldProfession: RetiredOn Survival: There was no food and no water, so for two days we only ate tofu. We shared it and ate it with our hands. For two months there was no elecricity, and no water either, because the water system had broken, but finally we got some water from the school's pool.On How The Elderly Are Coping: At first people were trying their best, but then they got depressed because so many people had died. (credit:Benjamin Parks)

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