Hokkaido family killed by Japan's Earthquake & Tsunami
March 24 2011, The Hokkaido Newspaper
A husband and wife from Hokkaido who owned a small processed marine products business in Otsuchi-cho, Iwate prefecture, and their 2 year old son were killed by the Killer Tsunami in Japan. Their bodies were found by family members who took their bodies back to Hokkaido to be buried in the husband’s hometown in the Otofuke-cho,Tokachi area. The family held a funeral service on 23rd March 2011.
Mr. Masanao Masuda (age 38) and his son Rui-chan were found inside a car near their house located about 500 meters from the seashore while his wife Miho (age 40) was found in another location.
After the 9.0 earthquake occurred at about 2:50pm on 11th March 2011, it was reported that Mr. Masanao had telephoned his older sister, Mrs. Ayumi Orita (age 44) and told her “A big earthquake has occurred here, please careful maybe it might happen in Hokkaido too! The shaking is getting stronger now so I have to go.” These were his last words as it was not possible to contact him anymore.
Mrs.Orita received the tragic news that the bodies of her brother and family when she was searching for them on the 19th. of March 2011. She was finally able to go with her other brother Mr.Yoshihito and other family members to Iwate prefecture with his car to collect the bodies on March 21st morning. They bring back two bodies to Otofuke-cho Hokkaido by the car and arrived in 22nd while it took some time to verify and identify the body of Mrs Miho which finally arrived in Hokkaido on 23rd of March.
Mr. Masanao’s father was in the hospital fighting against cancer in Obihiro Hospital in Hokkaido and he finally past away on March 22nd evening while waiting for the arrival of his son Masanao.
Mr. Masanao was a student of Judo since elementary school and had graduated in a local junior high school in Hokkaido. Subsequently he attended school in the Asahikawa University High School and was part of the top Judo team there. He was also active in Judo in Doto University too and met his wife Miho and later married her after graduation. He became very interested in processed marine products when he helped his wife‘s father in the fishing business. They had decided to move to Otsuchi-cho, Iwate prefecture to start their own business to be close to Miho’s parents’ home.
Their son Rui-chan was born after 13 yeas of marriage and he was the darling of the family. Masanao used to explain to friends and family that their company was named after their son Rui because he believed that “my son will inherit this company from me”.
About 40 people attended the funeral service. Mr.Masanao’s close friend who is a fireman was emotional when he said “He (Masanao) used to always smile to make us feel relaxed. I wish he and his family will live happily in heaven”.
Translated by Kayo Sunazawa, Hokkaido Japan.
No comments:
Post a Comment