“From the Era of Crisis to the Wra of Regeneration. No.2 – Abandoned Masue –“March 31, 2019
Kobe International Christ Church
Pastor Yoshio Iwamura
Theme Scripture: Isaiah 58:12“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will becalled Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”(The subject scripture is this year’s scripture of the Church and is used the fifth times in a row. All
scriptures from New International Version)<Introduction>
Every time a natural disaster occurs, we visit the site immediately. We cannot do anything special,
but we have been engaging in food distribution according to a request from the local government.
We directly went to shelters while following the directions from the local government, before
volunteer center or Social Welfare Council set up.
We received a request from the local government on April 15, 2016, to provide total of 2,000
meals to Aijien (Orphanage) at Masiki-cho in Kumamoto Prefecture. 10 people engaged in serving
home-cooked meals from breakfast on the April 16.1 The following year, due to the heavy rain that
occurred over Kitakyushu area on July 5, 2017, we gathered more than 7 people as a team toprovide 2,000 meals from July 7 to 9 and July 16 to 19 at the Masuki Junior High School
Gymnasium in Haki-Masue, Asakura City Fukuoka Prefecture where experienced the most severe
damage.2 The connection with the isolated victims of 270 houses at Masue has begun. After thedisaster, we served as the first-come group to do food distribution in any places. We visited Daini
Fukuda Elementary School from August 8 to 13 and 24 to 25 in 2018, immediately after the disasterat Mabi-cho Kurashiki City Okayama Prefecture. Our work is just a small thing.3
Kobe International Sustaining Organization has been establishing the relationship with the victims
through listening volunteer and hands-on approach as a cockroach for re-establishment, restoration
and reintegration of the damaged sites.
Due to the disasters that occurred in 2018, such as the Osaka earthquake, Heavy Rain of July in
Kyushu, Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake4, Typhoon Jebi and Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami
at Palu Indonesia5, and also disasters in 2015, Severe Tropical Cyclone Pam at Vanuatu6, Nepal
2016.Asahi Shimbun. April 20. (And other newspapers)
2017.Yomiuri Shimbun. July 8. (And other newspapers)
3
2018. Christian Today. July 9.
42018. Christian Today. September 7. 2019. The Christ Weekly. October 1.
52018. Chugai Nippoh. November 21. (And other newspapers)
6
2015. Kobe Shimbun. March 19. (And other newspapers)
2015. Vanuatu Daily Post. April 29.
121

Earthquake7, and Flood Disaster in Vietnam8 and Syrian Refugees9, zillions of people became
victims of natural disasters. My friend Head Chief Mr. Masaru Kawabata, who had supported mywork continuously, became tending to stay on bed because the cleaning-up his apartment due to theshaking from the Osaka earthquake in 2018, cut him down to his bone. In December 2018, there
was a great trial request of treatment for a boy named Takifu from Vanuatu.10
For re-establishment, restoration and reintegration, the year of 2019 become a year that makes me
think about how to face the people who cry out because of frequent occurrence of disasters. Whatshould we respond if there is even one victim who has been treated to “die” as same as otherdisaster affected places by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, prefectural
government, city administration and society?
(1) Cry of people who do not havea. The Crying – Salvation
Kogori area at Otoishi, Haki-Masue Asakura City Fukuoka Prefecture became an area whereresidence is restricted two years ago.
My friendship with the victims who I met at Masue while I was doing the food distribution at Haki
Junior High School at Asakura City right after the heavy rain on July 7, 2017, has been continuing.
Nowadays, we are welcomed as a family from Chairman of Masue local community council Mr.
Mutsuto Ito, Secretary General Mr. Shigeo Higuma, Mr. & Mrs. Toshie and Mr. Minoru Higuchi (78years old) who is leading us as our storyteller. We have been receiving advice from lawyer Mr.
Susumu Tsukui (Chairman of the Headquarters for Emergency Disaster Control of the Japan
Federation of Bar Associations) about legal matters such as disaster relief money.11 It will be 2
years in July 2019 this year. However, 83 people at temporary housing and 230 people at private
rental housing-turned-temporary housing units are forced to leave their living place. I heard from
Mr. Higuchi that there is no exception for extension.12

2019. Mainichi Shimbun. May 12. (And other newspapers)
2015. Nepal. September 4.
82016. Quang Binh. November 16. (And other newspapers and broadcastings)
9
2018. Sankei Shimbun. February 23. (And other newspapers)
10
2018. Japan Broadcasting Corporation. December 12. 6:30pm. (And other newspapers)
11
2012. Tsukui, S. Daisaigai to Hou. Iwanami Shoten. 45, 57-91.
“It is determined that food expenses should be within 1,010 yen per a day for a person. Shelter setting costs within
300 yen per a day for a person. The period of shelter opening should be within 7 days. Rescuing victims should bedone within 3 days. The cost of temporary housing per a house is up to 2,387,000yen.”
12
2019. Iwamura, Y. The 7th Masue Report. February 17~24.
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Dinner distribution at Haki Junior High School
Gymnasium
July 8, 2017.

“The Nishinippon Shimbun” (February 18, 2019)b. The Voice of the private rental housing-turned-temporary
housing units.
Mr. Shigemi Kojima (71 years old) from Shiragidani lived in a twostory house at Shirakidani Haki.13 There were about 30 houses at
Shirakidani area, and only 2 or 3 houses left. He used to be aplasterer. Although he had recovered from pharyngeal cancer in July
2018, he was encountered a sudden landslide. He was on the second
floor, but his wife Hatsuko was taking care of their pet at the firstfloor. They kept an abandoned dog at their home. Then, while there
was no warning and no time to get mind ready, she washed away by turbid flow for 1 km far away.
Currently, they live in the private rental housing-turned-temporary housing units.
“The Lord said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them cryingout because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down torescue them from the hand of the Egyptians.’”(Exodus 3:7-8) The faith that the people of Israel
possessed was to raise the “crying voicetsaqah”, as it is written as “crying out”, “heard”
and “rescue”. In such a way, they experienced that God is alive (Exodus 2:23-25, 3:7-8). God

hq;[;x]lx'n:respected the people from the bottom, pain and groan through “salvation
natsal”. On the other
hand, wealthy people, people who are benefiting from the current order, and people who aresatisfied with the current state are not related to “the crying – salvation”. They are indifferent to thecrying voice. They even don’t want God’s intervention. They feel relieved from what they know
from their home, school and society, and also the right of own and a secure old age. Those who
enjoy their good life do not consider God’s intervention, natsal and liberation as a boon thing.
Therefore, they become arrogant and they even do not try to move one finger to do action for“people who do not have” (Exodus 6:5-6; Judges 2:18b, 10:12b, 14; 1 Samuel 7:8-9; Zechariah
7:12). It is a human history that has repeated “the love of most will grow cold (Matthew 24:12)”,13

2017. Iwamura, Y. The 2nd Masue Report. July 16~19.

3

“without love (storgh, storge + negative prefix [lack of natural love, no love, heartless]) (2
Timothy 3:3)”, and “no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy (Romans 1:31)”.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism notified a unilateral eviction to the victimsof Otoishi area and Kogochi area on February 17, 2019 for the purpose of the sand control dam
construction. It was the day when we visited Masue as the 7th volunteer (February 17 to 20, 2019).
It will cost even if you move somewhere from temporary housing. It is a merciless policy that only
asks for self-responsibility. Should the government at least buy the land where people lived for,shouldn’t them? Why is the national mass media keeping silent? I cannot control my anger toward
my country’s acts of violence.
c. Isolated villages where received eviction orders. ⇒ https://youtu.be/0EQmlL6cpjE
Mr. Yasutsugu Kajiwara (born in August 30, 1939 [Showa 14]), who lived near the upper area of
Otoishi area, passed away on February 7. According to his wife Misumi (born in April 18, 1939),
Mr. Kajiwara died at the hospital by the strain of grief for the tragedy that caused from the eviction
order for the sand control dam construction. Unwellness condition because of not being allowed tolive in a home that has lived for many years is clearly disaster related death. Since 3.11 in 2011,nearly 3,700 in Tohoku disaster affected area lost their lives according to unwellness condition
through living at evacuation shelter. If include the disaster related death, the response of the country
and the disaster affected area’s local government is slow, so the life that could be saved leave for
die.
After the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995, a maximum of 5 million yen will be provided
if it is recognized as a disaster related death. I don’t think that Asakura City Hall aware about thisfact. Ms. Misumi has also served as a social welfare worker throughout Masue, so she is trusted inher local community. He told me about his mortification that he had to leave his house due to theSand control dam construction, even though there was no damage from the debris flow last year.
Safety mythical mind control of the sand control dam is done from the governmental office. They
don’t do any single explanation about that if covers the bottom of the river by concrete, the amountof water which is discharged from rain, heavy concentrated rain and flood-control dam, will be notpenetrated into the ground, and it will create the human-made flash flood. The public office justbelieves the safety myth of concrete.
The tragedy of Masue is not only about the sand control dam and the new hazard map. Moreover,victims are feeling lost because they don’t know where to go after being expelled from temporary
housing in July this year. Although 3 million yen was provided to the victims under “the Disaster
Relief Act”, their money has been gone for the living cost in about two years, and their future life
planning has stopped. Unlike Watanoha Ishinomaki City Miyagi Prefecture, Mashiki-cho Mashikigun Kumamoto Prefecture and Mabi-cho Kurashiki City Okayama Prefecture, residence at disaster
affected site Masue is prohibited. Even the partially destroyed houses or intact houses, people are
not allowed to live and a permission to restart agriculture and forestry is also not issued. It is said
4that “safety” has not secured yet. It is because that there is an order to obey the new hazard map(Emergency evacuation map. It predict the damage cause by natural disasters and map the estimateddamage area), which is created on the desk.
If there are any concerns about safety, all areas of theJapanese archipelago must be careful about base ground,risk of flooding of rivers, and land sliding due to heavy
concentrated rain. In other words, it is a principle of“Kan-son-min-pi (官尊民卑. Authority / respect / citizen /denigrate. Respecting the authorities and denigrating
ordinary citizens)” that force people a standard of “Safety
Empire” rather than victim’s lives, livings, and a purposeof life.

Ms. Midori Kajiwara who is angry about the mercilesseviction order from the temporary house at Hayashidaarea. February 18, 2019.

At Masue, I met with Ms. Midori Kajiwara (Born in March 17, 1939 [Showa 13]) who lives in
Otoishi area, and I heard from her while I was doing the listening volunteer on February 18, 2019.
Her house was drained completely by flood of the Otoishi River at 2pm on July 5, 2018, and she
spent overnight at the river side with only covering her head by tinplate board. Currently, she lives
in a temporary house in Hayashida area. She was really angry about the notice of eviction orderfrom Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Asakura City Hall since there is
no promise to purchase of a land. On February 18, 2019, I confirmed the same merciless assault
from other victims and posted on my Facebook on that night, but the most unresponsive people formy post were religious people who believe that they were saved.
(2) Natural Disastera. Lost of old village
At the mountain area of Masue, it was one of the heaviest concentrated rains in the history of
weather observation for 9 hours. In side of the Masue Elementary School gymnasium was filledwith mud and large stones that flowed from the upper stream of the Otoishi River came into theclassrooms.14

Masue Elementary School. August 21, 2017.

Did the disaster that was indicated in the hazard map, could not be prevented? People might be
14

2017. Iwamura, Y. The 3rd Masue Report. August 20~23.

5giving up and saying, “We could not do anything since it was the heavy amount of rain in thehistory”. What should we think about the cause of abnormal weather and global warning? It is
recorded in the Bible that the cause of disaster may come from God. God is described as the one
who brings “disaster (in Hebrewra)”, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heavenagainst all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
(Romans 1:18)”, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, theLord, do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7)”
At the time of the Great Kantō earthquake (1923 [Taisho 12]), as “Tenkenron (天譴論. Divine
punishment theory)” was appeared, there were remarks that God has given a punishment. In thediary of Kanzo Uchimura, who is one of the representative Christians in Japan, says in his diary that[r;

“I was astounded. I made to be heard a lot of horrible stories. The honor of Tokyo, the importantcenter capital of Japan, was taken away in a day. I feel like an angel rise up its sword and give a trial
over the whole city”.15 Another Christian, Gunpei Yamamuro [1872-1940] also says, “This timeearthquake disaster was an opportunity to give great remorse to my people who had been drowningin materialistic desires.
It was enough to give excessive aspiration and repentance by deal a great hard blow toward people,
who stays at the bottom of the corruption.”16
Also Immediately after 3.11, the famous pastor in Korea was also interpreted the disaster as it was aheaven’s punishment for Japanese.17
b. Is Ingaouho (因果応報. What comes around goes around) the teachings of the Bible?
Rather than thinking “cause” and “result” as a reflection of karmic thinking way of Ingaouho,, theviewpoint of how did your “act” relates to God’s will is the biblical thoughts.
For example, from Proverbs chapter 12 verses 14, I will stand and interpret on the side of humanactions and God.
It is written as “From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of theirhands brings them reward.” “Brings” isshuwb in Hebrew. shuwb is translated as “giving
reward (The Bible, The New Interconfessional Translation in Japanese)” and “reward (NewbWv

Japanese Bible)”. “Interconfessional Bible translation of Japan Bible Society” translates as “back”
and “the orally translated Bible” translates as “return”. In other words, the actions of the human side
can be assured, compensated, developed and completed by God. Furthermore, in the Bible, Jesus
Christ taught not to think about natural disasters by a retribution thought of Ingaouho.18“Jesus answered, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other
Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all
15

2011. Iwamura, Y. Why do we think about the death? (“Think about the ‘death’ together” lecture. Kobe Shimbun
Kaikan. April 12.
16 ibid.
17 2011. The Christ Weekly. April 12.
18 2011. Iwamura, Y. Why do we think about the death? (“Think about the ‘death’ together” lecture. Kobe Shimbun
Kaikan. April 12.

6perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they weremore guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too
will all perish.’” (Luke 13: 2-5)
Jesus Crist asks us about the Galilean of Israel either “worse sinners” or “more guilty”. And hesaid “No!” and is denying the idea of Ingaouho.
“Repent” means in Greek language is to change direction and change your mind. It is same as
Hebrew word shuwb. I think we need to change our view point the way to acknowledge somethingrather thinking about this time disaster as the heaven’s punishment.19
c. Ecosystem of the Hometown
We humans have destroyed the nature by our selfish way of life. It is just like a prodigal child who
forgot own hometown. On the other hand, there are rice terraces which is the original scenery ofJapan that people has been built for over 100 years in theupper stream of the Otoishi River at Masue. Even fromthe last year’s debris flow, stone wall of rice terraces still
remains.
Japanese original scenery, rice terraces.
Toho village, Oita Prefecture. Photo of July 21, 2018.

As “I will set out and go back to my father”20, for theson who admires the nature of the hometown, the place
to return is the forest. It is written in Genesis of the Bible
that there were “the tree of life” and “the tree of theknowledge of good and evil” at the forest of the Gardenof Eden.21 Humans have repeatedly wondered whether
to protect forests or build roads, tunnels and dams. Farmers in all around Japan are having trouble
with deer. “The tree of life” can be established by taking care of the seedlings of the forest andcaring the natural “ecosystem”. On the other hand, “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”
2009. Iwamura, Y. Kirisuto-kyo to Shikei. Kobe City University of Foreign Studies. May 24.
Mistranslation of “metanoia” in the New Testament and “shuwb” in the Old Testament pervasive not only to the
publications from the Japan Bible Society, but also to “New Japanese Bible”. The verb “repentance / metanoe,w(metanoew, meta ‘change’ + now ‘think’ = ‘change the view point’, ‘logic of negation’ (Mark 1:15)” appears 33 times
in the New Testament. The noun xxx appears 22 times, and also xxx appears 22 times. It means changing 180 degrees
from the fixed concept of customs, traditions and common sense rather than “repenting of sin”. The Hebrew word
“shuwb” is also used 1075 times in same way.
20
2013. Iwamura, Y. Resurrection of Rice Field, Mountain, and Bay. Japan Assosiation of Religion and Ethics. Asuka
Institute of Kansai University Ueda Memorial Hall. 3. Luke 15:18. 1985. The New Testament. Translated by Naoyuki
Yagyu. Shinkyo Publishing.
21
Genesis 2:9. The Bible, The New Interconfessional Translation.
19

7

take importance on human “life” that dominates the nature. It means that in order to maintainhuman “life”, we kill animals and plants in the natural world without hesitation. We give priority tohuman health care, lifespan and daily life; therefore we do not feel any guilty nor symphonize totake life away from smaller animals by doing animal experiments, to make fur and to have habit ofhunting. For example, even in Hyogo Prefecture, where there are plenty forests, the discussion on
how to decrease the number of deer comes up very often. The animals come down from themountain to seek for their food. Then, from the view point of “the tree of the knowledge of goodand evil”, we exterminate the “life” of animals as problem animals. Human is the king. However, is
it fine to set us the top of primates because of a thought that we are far better than other animals?
“Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: Asx;Wrone dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath (In Hebrew
ruwach ‘spirit’); humans haveno advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 3:19)
Unlike the values of the Bible, Western ideas have been conquered, controlled and destroyed thenature. We must not think in dualism about whether we should think first, the natural “ecosystem”
or human “life”. “Resurrection of Rice Field, Mountain, and Bay” think about both and it will open
the path that everyone agrees. Human beings can reconcile with the nature for the first time only byhaving relationship, connection and empathy with other living things. Therefore, the Volunteer-Dō(The Principle Way of volunteer) has a mission of reconciliation to connect human and the nature.
(3) Natural Disaster or Human Disastera. Limitation of Human Technology: A perspective from the Western Japan Heavy Rain Relief
Volunteer.

Japan Broadcasting Corporation(July 19, 2018).
Nine people died at the Hiji River in Ehime
Prefecture.

Due to the heavy rain over northern Kyushu through July 11 to 14, 2012, produced 816.5 mm (in72 hours) amount of rainfall, and 30 people lost their lives and 27 people were injured at Aso City
Kumamoto Prefecture. Asakura City was a region where both local governments and residents’association had a strong awareness of disaster prevention. They were paying attention about
disasters on a daily basis and prepared their hazard map of expected the Chikugo River flood8

damage areas. However, the case of July 5, they were not attacked from the river, but by debris flow
with many drifted woods from a distant mountain. The hazard map was not perfect either. Whilethey were worrying about the increasing water amount of river in front, a turbid blow came to themfrom the mountain behind suddenly.
On July 6, 2018, the embankment of Oda River, which flows into the Takahashi River, was broke
at Mabi-cho area in Kurashiki City Okayama Prefecture. The amount of water more than 6 metersin height attacked the Mabi area. 51 people became victims in Mabi area alone. Over 80% were
found dead on the first floor of their house. As of August 12, 850 people were living in evacuation
shelters. What was the cause of the destruction of the Oda River that attacked up to the second floor
heights of the house?
According to the local newspaper “the Sanyo Shimbun”, it was reported that it is suspected that anincreasing water quantity in the Takahashi River due to drain from the Nariwagawa River Dam gave
an influence to its tributary the Oda River was the cause of the tragedy. In other words, it became
obvious that the discharging to prevent broke of the flood-control dam when it increased the amountof quantity because of the heavy rain brought up the flooding at the downstream area.22 We also
visited the Nariwagawa River Dam along the Takahashi River on August 8 and 13, 2018.23On theway, there was a painful situation due to the over flooding of the Takahashi River at Bitchū-Hirosearea, and it was worse than Minagi area where we visited one week before. Mr. Shinsaku Tamura
pointed out that two telephone poles were bended and one of them was twisted at the 2 meter highpoint. Together we said with tilt our heads in confusion, “How were they bended at such an upper
place?” We were surprised at the power and height of the water pressure on the night of July 6,
2018. (The 5th Western Japan Heavy Rain Relief Volunteer Report) 24
Does it fine not to look back the dam overemphasis flood control administration that there was noproblem? Unfortunately, the media, the government the local government have not examined therelationship that two dams, the Shin-Nariwagawa Dam and the Koumoto Dam, at upstream of the
Takahashi River led the Oda River destruction. Even the Koumoto Dam was a flood control dam
with a flood control function, but on the day at 23 o'clock, it was switched to emergency flood
disaster prevention operation (discharge all inflow water). According to the responsible official ofdisaster prevention in Takahashi City, “Actually, I went to the Koumoto Dam and to say ‘Please
stop, please stop discharge the water anymore, it will over flood the river’. But people at theKoumoto Dam told me, ‘If we don’t discharge the water, the dam will be destroyed. It is impossible
to stop because it will cause more serious damage if we don’t.”25 Emergency discharging is
considered as the last measurement of overflow prevention that causes dam destruction.
However, a river engineering scholar, an honorable Professor, Mr. Hirotake Imamoto (78 years
22

2018. The Sanyo Shimbun. August 10.
The 4th Western Japan Heavy Rain Relief Volunteer Report. August 7 ~ 8, 2018.
http://kisokobe.sub.jp/article/12172/
24 The 5th Western Japan Heavy Rain Relief Volunteer Report. August 12 ~ 13, 2018.
25 2018. Prime Sunday. July 16. 13:50.
23

9old) from Kyoto University is pointing out a doubt that “Inherently, the country has not been able toverify how dangerous the overflow from the dam is properly. “He also said about emergency
discharging that “It has higher possibility that overflow from the dam would likely to be slower thandischarging”. Therefore, Professor Imamoto give a frost look to the country’s statement since there
is no case of breaking the dam when the water overflow from the levee crown (highest part of thedam) of the dam, because the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the side thatbuilds dams, insists that “If the water overflow from the dam, the dam will be destroyed, so
discharging is necessary”.26
On the other hand, some scholars day that if there is no dam, it will cause a greater damage.
Professor Eiichi Nakakita (Disaster Prevention Research Institute Kyoto University) says that “Ifthere is no dam, much more water will flow to downstream and there is no doubt that it would cause
the greater damage.”27 However, it is an unfounded Professor Nakakita’s opinion that is based on
speculation. Because it is lacking a perspective that if there is no dam, there would be the time for
evacuation. It is the same principle of sour grapes that some people still say that it would become
more serious without the tide embankment, even after people of Tarō-chō, Iwate Prefecture, became
victims for flooding by the 3.11 earthquake since they had full of trust on a tide embankment.28“From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practicedeceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say,when there is no peace.”(Jeremiah 6:13-14) There will be no peace in people as long as thehappiness of the triangle of industry (business operator), government (prefecture, prefectural police,
and prefectural education commission) and academic (scholars, medical personnel) is intoxicatedwith idolatrous self-amplification.
Did only the flood damage of Yata, Mabi-chō Kurashiki City Okayama Prefecture expose thefragility of flood control administration that put the first priority on the dam?
b. Dam damages in other disaster affected areas
Due to the heavy concentrated rain in June 1999, landslides occurred in new residential area in
Hiroshima City. 32 people died or were missing. In August 2014, debris flow attacked residential
areas in both Asaminami-ku and Asakita-ku area where are the northern part of the city and 77
people lost their lives including disaster-related death. Take occasion to this 2014 debris damage,2018. The Kobe Shimbun, August 18.
2018. The Asahi Shimbun. July 11.
28
2015. Iwamura, Y. Quoted from the series of Resurrection of Rice Field, Mountain, and Bay (8). Seasonal magazine
Shien. No. 10. February 21. 4.
In 1933, 500 houses out of 559 in Taro Miyako City Iwate Prefecture were drawn away by the Showa Sanriku
Tsunami. Humans have been fighting to decrease damages. The tide embankment s and breakwaters are like the lastline of defense. In 1966, the world’s largest tide embankment was built in Taro. It is made of thick concrete with 10m
high and 2600 m length. It is very tall so you need to look up to see it. It was said that the modern “Great Wall”, sopeople came to see it even from other countries. Residents were relieved and kept building houses more and more. The
town became to be known as the “Disaster-preventing town” both domestically and internationally.
However, the Tohoku earthquake and Tsunami destroyed this tide embankment from the bedding just like other tideembankments of the Sanriku coast. Taro was swallowed by the Tsunami, and 179 people were dead and 6 are missing.
26
27

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the country and prefectures proceeded to establish “sediment control dam” and it has completed theemergency projects at 57 locations. However, the safety myth of dam broke down.
Due to the dam was built in Saka-chō located in Aki District Hiroshima Prefecture, where was also
affected as same as Mabi-chō, people lost their lives. “Mainichi Shimbun” reported as, “About
1,800 people were living in the lower area of the dam at theKoyaura area. It was covered by debris
completely. In the same area, 8 people died as of the 12th, and some people are still unsure of theirsafety.” 29 All the sediment control dams, which were under processing to construct as an
emergency project in the area affected by the landslide disasters 3 years ago in Hiroshima City, hascompleted, and Mr. Takahide Maruyama, Director of Chugoku Regional Development Bureau of
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism reported to Mayor Mr. Matsui of Hiroshima
City on 17th. In response to the landslide disasters in 3 years ago, Chugoku Regional Development
Bureau of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism preceded a construction of
sediment control dams to prevent the secondary damage at 25 locations in both Asaminami-ku andAsakita-ku area. On this month 14th, the last sediment control dam construction has completed atMidorii 8 street in Asaminami-ku. On the 17th, Mr. Takahide Maruyama, Director of Chugoku
Regional Development Bureau of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, visited
Hiroshima City Hall and reported the accomplishment of all sediment control dams to Mayor Mr.
Matsui. 30
In Hiroshima City, before this, evacuation information has been issued earlier than usual for areas
where the sediment control dam has not been completed. Landslides, collapse and flood damage
should be anticipate of occurrence in other cities. It is dangerous to be bloated with pride for the
Rokkō mountains, where even have incomparable developed sediment control dams in Japan.
Many of “sediment control dams” have constructed at the Rokkō mountains based on the “Sabo-ho(Erosion Control Act [March 30, 1897. Law No.29])”, and residents of the Hanshin area werefeeling secured. There was a heavy rain of 461.8mm in the Flood Disaster in the Hanshin area (July
3~5, 1938 [Showa 13]), and there were 695 dead people in the prefecture. River floods happened in
Kobe City and various places, and also landslides occurred at about 770 locations in the Rokkōmountains area.31

29

2018. Mainichi Shimbun. July 12.
2017. The Chugoku Shimbun. May 18.
31 2016. Iwamura, Y. Christianity and Volunteer-Dō (The Principle Way of volunteer). Tokyo University. 24. The 1stWestern Japan Heavy Rain Relief Volunteer Report. Kobe City experienced an unparalleled difficulty by the Flood
Disaster in the Hanshin area in 1938. (933 deaths. 72% of Kobe City was affected. 696,000 victims.)
30

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Flood Disaster in the Hanshin area (July 3~5,
1938 [Showa 13])
It covered entire Kobe City.

It conflicts with God’s intentions that bring about credible justice.
Even a civil engineering construction method sacrifices civil society, family time and relationshipwith community, it is continuously repeated as “safe”. The sense of order to maintain the order inchaos is far from considerateness, caring and joy. The Bible does not say that a flaw-freecommunity will not come naturally and automatically in a matter of time.
It is written that “the wicked” does not respect the innocent people, “But the wicked are like thetossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.” (Isaiah 57:20)
The people are wishing for a vision that brings happiness to people that can take care of people
who have been oppressed, victims who are neglected from their human rights, and those who
cannot even live by themselves, and share hope together as an individual personal.
The act to save the victims is the God’s will. “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil
deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Takeup the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”(Isaiah 1:16-17)
c. The contrast of the people between the people who can have and the crying of people who
cannot have.
It is a common thought among religious people to belive that God intervened for salvation in our
history. However, those religious people, who receive God’s grace, blessings and prosperity,
magnify the “works of blessings”, but they won’t do any move on God’s “works of salvation” andkeep in silence and indifferent. The confession of “saved (natsal)” make the differences
bettwen “blessing of grace” and “liberation for salvation” ambiguously. People who are saved areintoxicated by the stability, calmness and singing that is able to receive by the salvation of the soul.
Therefore, it seems that people are indifferent to God’s “powerful work of salvation” for the poor,
the weak and the victims. Rather, people hope the world, orderly rules and the perseverance of theblessings that continue to bring benefit to the believers who enjoy a comfortable life. They keepsaying that even when they will be exposed to powers, aspersions and countries that threaten thegroup that confesses “has been saved”. “It was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, thesaving of many lives.”(Genesis 50:20)

lx'n:

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“I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from beforeyou. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.” (2 Samuel 7:9)
“But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed
from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me ; your throne will beestablished forever. ” (2 Samuel 7:15-16)“The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drankand they were happy.” (1 Kings 4:20)“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who i have beencalled according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in
Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Those are part of the bible that can be read with positive thinking.
However, it has no image of the dialogue of “the crying – salvation” and “I and Thou” of the poor.
There is no state that the person begs for God because he/she is suffering from oppression,
discrimination and persecution from his/her opponents. The pattern of “the crying – salvation” isexactly the opposite of the life of believers in grace who confess “has been saved”. The religious
people are satisfied if the present situation is “happy” because their condition would stay as it is andit will not change. Now, here, I, such view of the world is spreading. Do not expect the interventionof God and it is not necessary and I do not wish it. Now, Here, I, there is a tendency to give anaffirmative grunt on this world “Everything is OK”. Any politicians are not matter for us as long as
they keep their public pledges to promise confidence; security and assurance of preserve my own
benefit and interests. For those who enjoy the good life, natsal (salvation) for the poor is notimportant. They feel happy and celebrate for their life foundation that they already have orsomething that they won to get, and they try not to lose those things. Invisible boundaries lie
between those who “already” have and who “not yet” have. We are insensitive to the North–South
divide. I don’t feel any newness to the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council,
world institution, and religious elite empires. The values of the world believe a system that canmaintain “now”, “here”, “I” is the best32. For those who have, it is a sincerely wish to be as they arecontinuously now and forever. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons arealso quickly tamed. If we cannot tame it, we will be pushed away or crushed down by the law, orderand regime. The technical spirits, professional experts and medical technologies will give influenceon the disaster areas.
“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write thisdown, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” (Revelation 21:5) However, medical, technicaland numerical supremacists are experts in prediction and management by a manual. They don’t
32“Changes in values read by data on the history for 30 years of Heisei consumers” (Hakuhodo Life Research Institute 2019, p.

66-67).

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want “new” regenerations. In the 1st century, Jesus Crist stood up for people to make them free.
“He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He
was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.” (Mark
6:5-6) Since that time, humanity has not wanted God’s salvation, intervention or liberation. In aclass-based society with a power structure, the voice of the prophets will be dismissed. They will
not be respected. Because the “new” regeneration is dismissed as a source of confusion, destruction
and heresy. Therefore, it is only a stranger, a person hired with money, a madman to claim still on astreet. “God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.’” (1 Corinthians
5:13) Jesus also said and it is recorded as a strange talk between him and his disciples. “He replied,‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes andscorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.’” (Luke 10:18-19)
Have fear, anger and threat by snakes, scorpions and enemies from the world gone?
However, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Jesus won on the cross. The
seat of Satan, who is the king of this world, was shaken so he dropped from a high place. In otherwords, the crushing death by the rubbles, the water flood death and the destruction of the housewere defeated. The person in charge of civil engineering work, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism, the chief of the administration and the chief of the hospital seems like a
responsible person, but they are not. Jesus said that “I am making everything new!” There is nolonger something that makes people, who don’t have, feel sadness. God promised us, “And I hearda loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and hewill dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or
pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” (Revelation 21:3-4) Satan has already been
defeated. He is just a defanged lion. About 2,000 years ago, God had already brought the “Newworld” into our history. It has already happened.
Or more specifically, he told us to act for the cry of hurt “people who don’t have” in a gap between
the two directions that has not yet happened. The fulfillment of justice will be not done by the worldorder, approvals or AI (Artificial Intelligence). It is because that the world does not believe in “thenew world”, but looks at a vision and proceeds while calculating numbers. We have to resist
injustice that has been continuing in a global scale and a mighty river of oppression. Jesus said,“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he notleave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?” (Matthew 18:12)
He goes to the place if he finds the one who has anger, suffering and frustration.
“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write thisdown, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” (Revelation 21:5) However, medical, technicaland numerical supremacists are experts in prediction and management by a manual. They don’t
want “new” regenerations. In the 1st century, Jesus Crist stood up for people to make them free.
“He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He
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was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.” (Mark
6:5-6) Since that time, humanity has not wanted God’s salvation, intervention or liberation. In aclass-based society with a power structure, the voice of the prophets will be dismissed. They will
not be respected. Because “new” regeneration is dismissed as a source of confusion, destruction andheresy. Therefore, it is only a stranger, a person hired with money, a madman to claim still on astreet. “God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.’” (1 Corinthians
5:13) Jesus also said and it is recorded as a strange talk between him and his disciples.
“He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on
snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.’” (Luke
10:18-19) Have fear, anger and threat by snakes, scorpions and enemies from the world gone?
However, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Jesus won on the cross. The seatof Satan, who is the king of this world, was shaken so he dropped from a high place. In other words,
the crushing death by the rubbles, the water flood death and the destruction of the house were
defeated. The person in charge of civil engineering work, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism, the chief of the administration and the chief of the hospital seems like a
responsible person, but they are not. Jesus said that “I am making everything new!” There is nolonger something that makes people, who don’t have, feel sadness. God promised us, “And I hearda loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and hewill dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or
pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” (Revelation 21:3-4) Satan has already been
defeated. He is just a defanged lion. About 2,000 years ago, God had already brought the “Newworld” into our history. It has already happened.
Or more specifically, he told us to act for the cry of hurt “people who don’t have” in a gap between
the two directions that has not yet happened. The fulfillment of justice will be not done by the worldorder, approvals or AI (Artificial Intelligence). It is because that the world does not believe in “thenew world”, but looks at a vision and proceeds while calculating numbers. We have to resist
injustice that has been continuing in a global scale and a mighty river of oppression. Jesus said,“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he notleave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?” (Matthew 18:12)
He goes to the place if he finds the one who has anger, suffering and frustration.
<Conclusion>
We have been tracing together the fact that the artificial concrete construction method that humanhas caused great damage. The country has built dams, roads and tunnels at everywhere in Japan thatbased on the Sabo-ho. However, every supremacist of technology, economy and military lost theescaping way from the “crisis era” tunnel of the “Ring of Fire” since we have entered in the 21st
century. And we are overwhelmed by fears from volcanoes, the Nankai megathrust earthquakes and15

global warming. As it is written, “People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on
the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken”, we will “faint from terror, apprehensive of what
is coming on the world”. (Luke 21:26) The responsibility of humans to take care the earth has
transformed into a selfish, intimidating and sybaritic “ruler”. We forgot the original mission and role
to govern the creations that of “You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put
everything under their g feet”.
The poor, orphans and widows are waiting for the restoration of the structure of “the crying –salvation”. It is hoped that appearing of a person who empathizes, sympathizes and shares
sufferings with hurt people. Only a few insignificant people might be stood up.
Humans are faced to change perspectives from supremacism of technology, economy and military,and reconcile with the nature world to restore from human side. It is humans who have destroyed
the nature, used it as a subject of profit and left it behind. It is not natural. The gospel ofreconciliation, which will end the use of pesticide in rice fields, leaving trees after cutting, humansewage and kill of plankton due to the concrete-made tide embankment, from Japan will change“the Ring of Fire”, and the world. Where is God hiding the minorities who precede responsibilities
to shift to a time of regeneration that take care of people’s lives, life and human rights?

Acknowledgement
I received a proofreading of my sermon manuscript by Mr. Mitsuru Murata, a board member of theKobe International Sustaining Organization. Also, I would like to thank Ms. Yumi Tokudome(translator), Ms. Miwa asaki (student at Graduate Schools of Osaka University, doctoral course) and
Ms. Yukiko Doi (a committee member of office) for pointing out unclear sentences and parts of mywriting.

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