After relaxing at the Onagawa Train Station/Yupopo Spa, we headed to a quiet neighborhood where members of the nearby temporary housing complexes were able to gather at a community center. We shared our chants and hula with them before they returned the favor with two unique dance numbers. We ate yakisoba prepared by the inimitable Atsushi-san while enjoying reach other's company. After a fond farewell we were back on the road. We stopped at the site of what was formerly Okawa Elementary School. This quiet location nestled below some tree covered hills and a river is now a shrine dedicated to the community members who lost their lives in the disaster. The school itself is just a barely distinguishable building with toppled walkways and wall-less classrooms. I admit to being deeply moved by the site and took a moment to reflect on how I had previously complained about the lack of WiFi or a consistent cell phone network connection just minutes earlier. My inconvenience seemed so minor compared to the trials and challenges each survivor must have faced (and in some ways continue to face). There was an air of reverence in the bus as we quietly rode to Onagawa Collaboration School. We were greeted by the teacher who had helped coordinated this meeting, Rie-sensei. She cheerfully introduced herself before leading us to the front of the school abutted by more temporary housing units. Standing in front of the school stood the 14(?) students of the school who had been patiently waiting our arrival. The Bridge Club members were individually escorted to the classroom where the tireless Rie-sensei and Teppei-sensei led us in a series of ice breakers and dutifully prepared presentations. Before we left we were treated to their original dance that I had the pleasure of watching/learning last year, Sanma de Samba. We performed our chants and hula and participated in a group reflection of the day's activities. We took pictures and shared our omiyage before learning that a few of the students would be joining us on our bus to be taken home. What would've been another somber goodbye turned into just a few more minutes on a "party bus" that was filled with awkward conversations that punctuated with raucous laughter once connections had been made. We checked into our hotel in Ishinomaki and had dinner with Akari. Much like her namesake she was a bright conversationalist who taught us some words like kurage (jellyfish) and yuki daruma (snowman) in the course of our conversations about music, anime and food. Like every meeting with the Rainbow for Japan Kids participants this one ended with another difficult goodbye.
Daniel, thank you very much for all the great pictures and detailed write-ups of all your journeys. It's nice to know that the group are fine and it seems like the days are busy. I can only imagine how sad it was to have seen what remains of the school and how the community was and still are affected by their tragedy.
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