Previous Story: Episode 03 Inheritance Procedure Completed! What is the Future of Japanese Agriculture?
Nine months had passed since Yoko’s father, Shigeru, passed away. Yoko and her brother Shu completed the inheritance procedures and submitted the paperwork to the tax office, although they had some regrets about certain things that should have been done when their mother passed away and while their father was still living.
While preparing this paperwork, they also learned about Japanese agriculture, its terminology, and some concerns. Is the future of Japanese agriculture viable? They wander around Yodoe while discussing it. What should we do now?
Yodoe Project Episode 04 Prologue
Right before the inheritance procedure was finished, an earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 6-lower (Approximately magnitude 6.1)occurred in northern Osaka. Many transportation systems were shut down. Furthermore, two and a half months later, Typhoon No.21 (Typhoon Jongdari) hit the Kansai region (Osaka and vicinity prefectures)on September 4th of the same year. A major blackout occurred, and many apartments and stores around Yoko’s office lost power for over a week. Since she opened her office for those who needed to charge their electric devices and other items, neighbors occasionally visited her place. This experience drastically changed her thinking about what to do with her parents’ house.
Earthquakes and Typhoons: Disasters Occur One After Another in Kansai!
Right before all the inheritance paperwork was over, the Northern Osaka Earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 (maximum seismic intensity of 6-lower) occurred at 7:58 AM on June 18th, 2018. The epicenter was in the northern Osaka area.
Since Yoko’s house and her company, Wolisu Ltd., in Yodogawa district were near, an earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 5 high hit that area, and people felt vigorous shaking.
Many transportation systems in the Kansai region suspended operation at the end of the day, and people had difficulty going home. Shin Yodogawa Ohashi Bridge was filled with people heading home on foot.
On September 4th, two months after the earthquake, Typhoon No.21 (Typhoon Jongdari) hit the same region directly. Yoko was visiting a client’s company in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture that day.
It was quite a storm; many things flew around, and even buildings shook. Then, a large-scale power outage occurred.
After the typhoon had passed, she tried to go home by car at around 7 PM. Many trees and signboards fell, a bus stop signboard was crooked, and city lights were shut. She had to take many detours due to the road closure and got stuck in many traffic jams. She finally could go home by 10:30 PM through National Road 43, where she also saw some trucks overturned on the bridge. It took her three and a half hours for the 15-minute drive. She witnessed the ferocity of the typhoon.
The streetlights around her house had also gone out. Momoko, her daughter, welcomed her with a flashlight since their house had lost electricity, too.
No Electricity, No Water!
After returning home, Yoko visited her office, which was nearby. Luckily, the lights were on, and there were no signs of a power outage. Her lifeline was quickly restored as the electricity at her house returned around noon the next day. However, many shops and apartments in her neighborhood suffered long-lasting power outages for over a week due to broken electric wires.
The apartment of Ms. Niiya, one of the staff members of Wolisu, had more than a week of no power. Since an electric pump was used to get water, no water was available, which made her and other apartment residents’ daily lives quite difficult. Because of her suggestion, Yoko announced several times on Twitter (currently called X)that her office space is open for use by those affected.
Here is what was written on Twitter:
“Wolisu opens our office for those affected by Typhoon No.21 and the power outage. It is close to JR Tsukamoto Station. Please feel free to come and charge your electric devices, use the internet and toilet, etc. Please see details on this post.”
Neighbors who saw the post came to her office every day.
She heard from them about their hardships; since elevators did not work, they needed to carry heavy water using stairs. She witnessed the difficulties in the city when the lifeline stopped due to the disastrous events.
This Experience Drastically Changed Her Thinking
“It is quite difficult in the city when essential services are unavailable. When there is a blackout, shops are closed, and we cannot buy anything.”
“On the other hand, I won’t have much problem with food at my birthplace in Yodoe since it is surrounded by ocean and mountains. We also inherited some farmlands. We can warm up the bath and cook food with firewood. Even without electricity, we can get water from our wells using a manual pump. We can even get it from the nearby ocean and river. There are many places where we can set up tents. In the worst-case scenario, we can live without public transportation for a little while. It would be even better if we could produce our electricity.”
“There may be more significant earthquakes happening in the future. Maybe the house in Yodoe can be an evacuation site in case something happens in Osaka.”
Next Story: Episode 05 Let's Turn the Annex Into a Guesthouse!
The family gathered in Yodoe again for a first-year memorial service for their father. Yoko finished transcribing the love letters left by their parents and brought them to Yodoe. While reading them and looking at various photos, Yoko and Shu immerse themselves in memories of their parents. Then, the topic turned to what to do with the lands and buildings. Over the course of three days, plans to turn the annex into a guesthouse progress into concrete terms.
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