The Tsunami of 1897

Over a hundred years ago. Same place, same disaster. In the photograph, a man sits listlessly on the beach. He is staring at his child, who was killed in the tsunami.

They had even less warning. It was May 5th, Children's Day. The villages were celebrating the holiday, as well as the triumphant return of the soliders from the war with China. As the evening went on, the revelry increased-- no one thought much of the series of small earthquakes throughout the evening. In the darkness, the sea retreated until the floor of the bay could be seen- a sure sign of a tsunami. Some travelers saw a mysterious flash out at sea and thought it was "fox fire," strange, inexplicible gleams in the darkness. In reality, it was the crest of a gigantic wave, glinting far out at sea. Then most people heard two huge roars, like thunder. Some thought it was an attack by the Russian Navy. Not long after, with no warning, a wave of water crashed through people's windows and doors. In an instant, the villages were swept away. In some villages with populations of a thousand or so, there were only a handful of survivors.

People like me who live on high, dry land wonder. How could people be caught, be fooled by a tsunami? There's an earthquake, right? Then you have a half hour to get to high ground.

As usual, people like me who don't know the real situation are the "wisest" in judging how to stay alive.

We were talking to Mr. Osaka, who lost his house in the tsunami. He watched the wave surge over the dike and wash over his village. At one point, he was so amazed he dropped his camera. For about 20 seconds, the camera is filming the sky.

"They fled along the coast," he said. "Look at this valley. There are only two roads out." I looked. The roads are very narrow. "They wanted to get to higher ground, but the road was jammed. They were still on their way up when the wave hit."

Other people didn't notice the siren. Some didn't even notice the quake. It's not as easy to feel if you're in your car.

Besides, one can't spend one's life rushing to high ground every time there's an earthquake. 299 times out of 300, it's going to be a false alarm.

Have you ever taken a chance? It usually works out, doesn't it. I sometimes walk outside in a thunderstorm. My chances of not getting struck by lightening are excellent. In fact, I frequently walk in the woods during hunting season. Sometimes I even wear brown. After all, it's our property. A woman should be able to walk on her own property without being shot! If they do shoot me, it's their fault!

If I lived in Otsuchi, Miyako or Rikuzen-Takata, I'd probably be dead.