[Volunteer Concert in Kesennuma DAY1] Members' Report

This volunteer performance project took place in Kesennuma City over two days, February 3rd and 4th.

A total of 15 members took part in the performance, and including chaperones and administrative staff, the total number of people was 22.

Let's start with a report on the activities on the first day!

On February 3rd, the first day of our activities, we started with travel. Here is a photo of the Sendai group, who departed around 10am. First, we set off for the Otani Kaigan Roadside Station, where we were to meet up with the Fukushima group!

They seem to be having fun on the way. This is a photo of the Fukushima group at Minamisanriku Sansan Shopping Street. The Wagatsuma siblings and the captain are taking a break from crab soup.

After about two hours of travel, we arrived at Otani Kaigan, a roadside station in Kesennuma city! Here we all had lunch.

The Fukushima and Sendai groups gathered together and took a commemorative photo on a nearby beach.

Now that we've filled our stomachs, we set off on our training tour of Kesennuma's earthquake ruins.

After meeting up with the storyteller, we first headed to the memorial monument in Suginoshita district.

The group visited an 11m high hill that was designated as an evacuation shelter for the Suginoshita district at the time of the disaster. Many residents had taken refuge here, but the tsunami reached a height of about 18m, far exceeding expectations, and 93 people died in the entire district. The memorial was erected in 2012 by the bereaved families' association.

Next, we headed to the "Dragon Pine" at Iwaizaki. The Dragon Pine is a single pine tree at Iwaizaki, which is also known for the Spouting Rock. This pine tree, which has continued to stand despite being damaged by the tsunami, is one of the symbols of Kesennuma's recovery.

The last place we visited in Hashikami district was the "Zelkova Tree that Saved Lives." This zelkova tree grows on a cape where only one house stands. Residents who had fled the tsunami climbed ladders to cling to it, saving the lives of eight people. The zelkova tree was apparently planted after the Meiji Sanriku tsunami.

Here we also met Mr. Ashikaga, who connected us with the LAFFOO Kansai branch, which supported the project.

Moving on from Hashikami district, we visited the former Abe family residence, the "Spiral Staircase of Life." This is a private vertical evacuation shelter that was built four years before the Great East Japan Earthquake, as a lesson learned from the 1960 Chilean earthquake. As a result of regular training, 30 people were able to evacuate on the day of the earthquake.

The first day of training was drawing to a close. Our final destination was Kesennuma City Reconstruction Memorial Park.

After visiting the monument bearing the names of those who lost their lives, we took another look out over Kesennuma Bay, where we had spent the day.

After more than three hours of training, we headed to the practice venue!

This time, they borrowed a music studio at Kesennuma City Town, People and Work Exchange Plaza, a facility facing Kesennuma Bay, and practiced for the performance the next day.

They showed no signs of fatigue from the trip and focused on their practice seriously.

After practice, it's time to fill your stomach! We left our bags at the hotel and had dinner at Anchor Coffee, who helped us with the promotion!

Now that we've regained our energy, the first day is over and the real action begins the next day.

The second day's events will be continued in the second half!

Tohoku Youth Orchestra volunteer performer Tb. Mayon Fukusumi