A Story from 3.11

Characteristics of Odanohama Beach

In the pitch-black night, I could see something burning far out at sea...

(Direct voice from Maki Takahashi)

"That day, I was in the Seria parking lot. The moment I finished shopping and got into my car, it suddenly shook violently just before I started driving. I was on my way back from picking up my son and daughter from kindergarten. Since we were up on a hill, the shaking was terrifying—so intense I feared the mountain might collapse. The surrounding utility poles swayed wildly, and I panicked, wondering what if they fell and hit the car directly.

It was the parking lot shared by Saizeria and Seria, and the sound of glass shattering inside the stores echoed loudly—clang, clang. I felt relieved thinking, Thank goodness we weren't inside. We were in the open parking lot, so nothing fell on us, but the swaying utility poles and the unstable ground were very unsettling. Instead of rushing home, I headed straight to my grandmother's place first. I needed to make sure she was safe.

Grandma's house had tilted slightly. The entire structure had sunk about 5 centimeters, making the doors difficult to open and close. All the glass from the cabinets was scattered everywhere. The second-floor room was completely filled with books and belongings, leaving no space to step. I moved the futon to a safe spot, cleared away the glass shards, and made sure Grandma could sleep safely.

I returned home in the evening as darkness began to fall. Fortunately, my house had suffered almost no damage, and nothing had fallen over. However, the electricity wasn't working, and there was no running water. Gas was also unavailable, leaving the house pitch-black and making it impossible to see my hands. Looking down from my house on the hill, most buildings were shrouded in darkness, with only scattered lights dotting the town. The phone had worked briefly right after the quake, but after that, all communication was lost. My father was driving home, and we couldn't even confirm everyone's safety.

That night, we relied on candles and flashlights for light. The Bisco snacks I'd bought in bulk earlier proved useful as food. We also had a tabletop stove and rice, so we managed to eat and get by. We fetched water from my sister-in-law's house, bringing back two large plastic tanks, but the tap water didn't come back for about a week. Electricity finally returned after about three days.

In the pitch-black night, I could see something burning far out at sea. It was the petrochemical complex engulfed in flames. The next morning, I learned from our neighbor's son that a tsunami had struck, causing devastating damage. Since our neighborhood wasn't facing the sea, I could confirm my family was safe, but I was worried about friends living along the coast, and everyone was desperately trying to find them. Smartphones and social media weren't widely used yet, so information was scarce. We had no idea what was happening..."

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More information

Beach clean-up events and water rescue drills are sometimes held at Odanohama Beach.

kesennuma-kanko.jp/kodanohama-event/