Shoichi Miyakoshi sits at his temporary housing that was built for people who lost their homes during the January 1, 2024 earthquake, which is currently damaged by the floods caused by heavy rain in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture on September 22, 2024. --Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP
WAJIMA, JAPAN—Two huge earthquakes 17 years apart robbed Shoichi Miyakoshi first of his wife, and then his home. Now, his temporary dwelling flooded after heavy rains deluged Japan’s Noto Peninsula, he must start afresh again.
Record rainfall inundated the former sushi chef’s small two-room home in a temporary complex built after an earthquake on Jan. 1 devastated areas on the Sea of Japan coast.
A photograph of Kiyomi Miyakoshi, wife of Shoichi Miyakoshi, who was the only victim in 2007 earthquake, is pictured at Shoichi’s temporary housing that was built for people who lost their homes during the January 1, 2024 earthquake, which is currently damaged by the floods caused by heavy rain in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture on September 22, 2024. Rescuers combed the debris-strewn banks of a river in central Japan on September 23, searching for drowning victims after homes were swept away in flooding and landslides that claimed at least seven lives. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)
“It’s now September and will soon be October, then the winter will be right here,” Miyakoshi told AFP, sitting on a folded futon covered in mud, sorting through his belongings.
“I thought I was finally settled here and would have a warm winter around the next New Year’s Day,” the 76-year-old said.
“I have to start over, through another cold winter.”
Shoichi Miyakoshi walks out his temporary housing that was built for people who lost their homes during the January 1, 2024 earthquake, which is currently damaged by the floods caused by heavy rain in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture on September 22, 2024. Floods and landslides left one dead and at least six missing in central Japan, with rescue and recovery teams at work on September 22 in a remote peninsula already devastated by a major earthquake earlier this year. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)
Six people were killed as the Ishikawa region was blighted by landslides and burst rivers over the weekend, with military personnel sent to aid recovery efforts.
Around 4,000 households still had no power on Monday in an area still reeling months after a magnitude-7.5 earthquake wreaked widespread destruction and killed 374 people, according to the Ishikawa government.
Miyakoshi’s wooden home was badly damaged, one of the many structures that succumbed to the violent shaking which also triggered tsunami waves and a major fire.
Shoichi Miyakoshi looks for his valuable belongings at a temporary housing that was built for people who lost their homes during the January 1, 2024 earthquake, which is currently damaged by the floods caused by heavy rain in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture on September 22, 2024. Floods and landslides left one dead and at least six missing in central Japan, with rescue and recovery teams at work on September 22 in a remote peninsula already devastated by a major earthquake earlier this year. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)
But it wasn’t the first time that a natural disaster had brought tragedy to his life.
‘Only victim’
In March 2007, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula and killed his wife Kiyomi Miyakoshi, then aged 52.
“She was the only victim in that earthquake, 17 years ago,” he said.
Shoichi Miyakoshi looks for his valuable belongings at a temporary housing that was built for people who lost their homes during the January 1, 2024 earthquake, which is currently damaged by the floods caused by heavy rain in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture on September 22, 2024. Floods and landslides left one dead and at least six missing in central Japan, with rescue and recovery teams at work on September 22 in a remote peninsula already devastated by a major earthquake earlier this year. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)
Kiyomi was in the garden, taking a washed rice container out to dry in the sun, when the strong tremor hit and knocked over a stone lantern, which delivered a fatal blow to her chest.
Miyakoshi continued working as a sushi chef until around 2014, when severe back pain caused him to be hospitalized.
When he was discharged, a photo of a young Kiyomi shyly smiling in a red kimono was there to greet him in his living room, he recalled.
Shoichi Miyakoshi checks a circuit breaker at his temporary housing that was built for people who lost their homes during the January 1, 2024 earthquake, which is currently damaged by the floods caused by heavy rain in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture on September 22, 2024. Floods and landslides left one dead and at least six missing in central Japan, with rescue and recovery teams at work on September 22 in a remote peninsula already devastated by a major earthquake earlier this year. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)
After the most recent massive quake hit Noto in January, the former chef spent a few months at an evacuation center, then moved to another shelter.
“I had left pictures of my wife in the destroyed house, but one night, she appeared in my dream,” he said. “She told me to take the pictures with me wherever I go.”
Resilient smile
So Miyakoshi returned to his half-standing house to retrieve the precious memories, which also include a picture from their wedding.
He brought the photos and Kiyomi’s ashes to the temporary accommodation in the city of Wajima—but now, they are soaked by brown water.
Shoichi Miyakoshi looks for his valuable belongings at a temporary housing that was built for people who lost their homes during the January 1, 2024 earthquake, which is currently damaged by the floods caused by heavy rain in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture on September 22, 2024. Floods and landslides left one dead and at least six missing in central Japan, with rescue and recovery teams at work on September 22 in a remote peninsula already devastated by a major earthquake earlier this year. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)
For now, Miyakoshi is sleeping in the waiting area of a hospital lobby with other victims.
Because he is frail, he could only bring essential items with him from the temporary accommodation, but plans to return to collect the photos.
“I will see you again when the city recovers,” he said, giving a firm handshake and a resilient smile.
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