Fifteen years have passed since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, yet the footsteps of volunteers in the Tohoku region have never ceased. In Miyagi Prefecture, the Tzu Chi Ishinomaki office continues to serve the community by organizing reading clubs, vegetarian cooking classes, and elderly care programs. Every year, volunteers gather with local residents to host blessing and gratitude events to honor their resilience and enduring friendship.

On January 16, a group of volunteers traveled from Tokyo to visit the wife of the late Masayuki Okuda (奧田正行). Following the earthquake, when emergency cash relief was distributed across 25 municipalities in the Tohoku region, many residents, including Masayuki, responded by adopting bamboo coin banks to help others. He donated continuously for over a decade, building a deep bond with the volunteers. Though he passed away three years ago, the team still visits Ishinomaki to pay their respects to him and spend time with his wife.

A gathering of old friends

The following day, volunteers arrived at the Aoi West Community Center in Higashimatsushima to host a blessing and gratitude gathering. Community Center Director Takeichi Ono (小野竹一) has been instrumental in connecting volunteers with local residents for over a decade. Over a warm cup of tea and handmade Japanese sweets prepared by volunteer Hao Chang (張好), attendees reviewed Tzu Chi's global charitable efforts from the past year.

During the event, Higashimatsushima Deputy Mayor Tetsuya Yagi (八木哲也) expressed his sincere appreciation for the annual gathering. He also extended his sympathies to the residents of Hualien, Taiwan, who experienced severe flooding and earthquakes over the past two years, wishing them a swift recovery. He noted that while the city's physical reconstruction—such as levees and evacuation routes—was completed three years ago, the emotional healing of the residents requires long-term companionship.

Miyagi Prefectural Assembly Member Shuya Takahashi (高橋宗也) reflected on the journey since the disaster. He recalled losing almost everything 15 years ago but gaining something invaluable in return.

When the volunteers first prepared to distribute cash relief, I worriedly asked if they could truly come into an environment with no accommodation, no running water, and not even enough toilets. Seeing them arrive with sleeping bags and staying in the community center to carry out their relief work is a scene I will never forget. Having everyone gather here with smiles today, sharing a cup of tea, truly heals the heart and gives us the strength to move forward.
— Shuya Takahashi, Miyagi Prefectural Assembly Member

Attending for the first time, Higashimatsushima City Council Member Naomi Asano (淺野直美) was moved to tears while watching a video recap of the relief efforts.

When my home suffered massive damage, the first to arrive with care and support were the people from Tzu Chi. They provided immediate cash assistance, for which I am deeply grateful. It is because of their warm intentions and support that we were able to survive the hardest times and continue living as we do today. This warmth not only encouraged me but gave me the strength to keep going.
— Naomi Asano, Higashimatsushima City Council Member

Among the familiar faces was Yuriko, an elderly resident who is a long-term care recipient. She happily shared how volunteers had helped repair her torn traditional paper sliding doors last October. With the cold wind no longer blowing into her home, her cat has even become cleaner and less mischievous.

Enduring connections in Ishinomaki

On January 18, the group moved to the Watanoha Community Center for a second tea gathering. Local volunteer Chiyoshi Kameyama (龜山千代志), who has tirelessly helped set up the venue for 15 years, wrote the event's banner in bold calligraphy and invited many community members to join.

Ishinomaki Mayor Masami Saito (齋藤正美) took time from his busy schedule to attend. He conveyed his gratitude for the extensive aid provided during the disaster and for the fact that, 15 years later, the volunteers have not forgotten them. He hopes the deep bonds formed between Taiwan and Japan will continue to flourish.

Ishinomaki City Council Member Kiyoshi Tanno (丹野清), who has served for 30 years, shared a candid reflection. He admitted that immediately after the earthquake, he initially declined the relief out of unfamiliarity with the organization. However, the sincerity of the volunteers kept the connection alive. After learning more about their selfless giving, he realized this embodies the true spirit of compassion and mutual support that all religions strive for.

Adding a musical touch to the afternoon, accordion teacher Yasushi Senda (千田康司) performed two songs. During the disaster, his family received emergency cash relief. Finances were tight, and work was demanding. Over the years, as his children grew independent and his financial situation stabilized, he felt a strong desire to give back. Last December, carrying a poster he had kept since the disaster, he traveled to the Tokyo office to make a donation. When he heard about the recent earthquakes in Hualien, he immediately contributed to the relief efforts.

Though they may only meet once a year, the residents and volunteers greet each other like family reuniting after a long absence. As they exchanged warm smiles and bid each other farewell, everyone looked forward to the continuing friendship that was forged in the hardest of times.

Written by Li-Shing Lin Shyu (許麗香)