Memorial Held for Kumamoto Quake Victims 10 Years On

Mashiki, Kumamoto Pref., April 12 (Jiji Press)–A memorial ceremony was held in Kumamoto Prefecture on Sunday for the victims of powerful earthquakes that hit the southwestern Japan prefecture 10 years ago. At the ceremony, held by the town of Mashiki in Kumamoto, 184 participants, including bereaved families, observed a minute of silence, offering prayers for the victims. “Disasters can strike at any time and in any place. To ensure that deep sorrow is not repeated, we must promote the development of disaster-resilient communities,” Mashiki Mayor Hironori Nishimura said at the ceremony. Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura said, “We will continue to provide strong support so that recovery can progress further and the region can become a safe and secure place to live.” Mashiki was hit by two quakes both measuring the highest reading of 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, with the foreshock occurring on April 14, 2016, and the main shock two days later. The quakes and aftershocks have directly and indirectly resulted in 278 deaths in Kumamoto and neighboring Oita Prefecture, including 45 in Mashiki. Ryoko Matsuno, 69, who lost her mother, then 84, in the main quake, spoke on behalf of the bereaved families, saying, “We must never allow the lessons of the Kumamoto earthquakes to fade and must pass them on to future generations.” She went on to say, “Passing on these memories is an important responsibility entrusted to us.” Later in the ceremony, bereaved family members and town officials placed white flowers before the altar for the victims. Yukuaki Kubo, 83, who lost his wife, Masuko, then 72, due to causes indirectly related to the disaster, said to reporters after the ceremony that he attended the event feeling that 10 years marks a kind of milestone. “I’m happy to see the town making progress in its recovery,” he added. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]