20A. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017. MIDWEEK NATION.

PEOPLE

Quake survivors
bounce backby BARRY ALLEYNE
in Matsushima, Japanthe road, was at work
telling tourists about thebeauty of the numerous
islands within theTHEIR WORLD WAS
ROCKED in the space of a Matsushima archipelago,when a sudden noise
few hours six years ago.
But not only have things from beneath the boat
returned to a semblance of left visitors speechless,thinking that Armageddon
normalcy for Shiga Kumi
and Kyo Amano, they have was upon them.
“I knew it was an
picked up the pieces andearthquake.
I could feelstuck them back together
from the force of the water
again in an effort to put
it was coming from thetheir little seaside town
sea bed,” she said throughback on the tourism map.
a translator in a quick
Both Kumi and Amano
interview between tours
live in the Japaneseover the weekend. “Buttown of Matsushima,
I was glad I was on thepart of the larger Myagi
water. I knew the people
prefecture, one of Japan’s
most beautiful and largest on the land would be in a
tourism-driven areas, with much worse position.”
Two hours later, her
its seafood and historic
temple built by a Samurai worst dream became areality.
warlord more thanHer home on the400 years ago, being themainland had no chancemain attractions.
when a 25-foot wall ofwater from a resulting
Massive earthquake tsunami tore through thestreets of Matsushima,
Both have a similar
coming to rest a mere
story to tell.
40 feet from the city’s
They were both at work,
most treasured asset, theabout a mile apart in
Zuiganji Zen Temple, aMatsushima, one on land,
structure dating back to
the other on water, when
before 1600.
Mother Nature played an
But not everyone inevil joke, coming up with
Matsushima was thata massive 9.0 magnitude
lucky on the fateful day.
earthquake on March 11,
The earthquake had
2011.
taken dozens of lives,
Amano had just said
and virtually most of
goodbyes to a groupthe housing stock wasof customers at her
demolished. Since thevegetarian restaurant
authorities had warned of
Umagi after 2 p.m., when
the pending tsunami, mostthe earth suddenly got
angry and sent everything villagers left their earthly
belongings and fled tofalling from the shelves
higher ground behindviolently.
In the space of minutes, the temple.
her restaurant and almost
Residents later learnt
every building around it
they were saved from a
was in ruins.
worse fate because theKumi, a tour operator
many islands nearby had
on a ferry a half-mile down helped reduce the wave

RESTAURANT owner
Kyo Amano had to
wait almost a year
before rehiring 12
workers at her seafood
establishment.
(Picture by Wakaphotos.)

her life in a new home,
and is once again behindthe microphone, telling
tourists not only about thebeauty of the Matsushimaislands, rated as one ofJapan’s three best scenic
sites, but also retelling
the tale of what her
countrymen now call 3:11.
In the face of both
women, behind thoseworldly wrinkles, soft
SHIGA KUMI speaking to tourists on one of the ferry boats which take visitors smiles and glimmering
around the Matsushima Bay. (Picture by Barry Alleyne.)eyes, is a resilience tonever let anything stop
size of the tsunami fromwith this growth, I cankilled in the earthquake,Matsushima from being
30 feet.
restart with the business,” but she quickly called
the best it can be.
Amano told a six-strong
the other workers andAnd now there is agroup of journalists
informed them of the fuki
No businesshustle and bustle in thefrom the Caribbean andflower and how she wascity once more, even as a
Pacific, part of a special
intent on reopening.
Back on land, Amano,super typhoon approaches.
programme organised
Now those same
faced with a crushed
Matsushima residents
by the Association forworkers shuffle throughrestaurant and every
may be wary of MotherPromotion of International the restaurant serving
visitor fleeing the city,
Nature but go about their
Cooperation and Foreign
guests in a much more
was forced to fire hereveryday lives ready toPress Centre Japan.
strong and earthquake12 employees.
build back better once
Amano revealed that aprotected building.
For almost 12 months,
couple of her staff had been
Kumi, too, has restarted again, if need be.
she had no business, andmade no money.
BARBADOS POLICE
But then in the middleof February 2012, aCO-OPERATIVE CREDIT UNION LTD
desperate Amano noticed
a special flower called fuki
Nexus House, Lightfoot Lanespreading from an earth
Bridgetown, St Michaelthat had been barren sinceTel: (246) 436-9355 / 61
the disaster.
(246) 426-2265, (246) 228-2131“When I saw the first
Fax: (246) 435-0788
flower growing, it inspired
E-mail: admin@policecoopcu.com
me. It made me feel that if
Mother Nature can restart
Notice is hereby given of a Special General Meeting of Barbados Police

Co-operative Credit Union Ltd to be held at the Prince Cave Hall, District “A”Complex, Station Hill, St. Michael on Thursday October 26, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.
AGENDA
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

Ascertainment of Quorum and Call to OrderPrayers
Amendments to By-Laws
Adjournment
Refreshments will be served

Members are asked to note that our office will close at 12:00 noon on the day ofthe meeting.
By Order Of
SECRETARY
Keith Hope