"Kokoro" is a circle of prayer which started to keep the memory of the March 11th Great East Japan Earthquake and its victims forever in our hearts. On Thursday May 10th at 11 pm New York time, which is Friday 11th at noon in Japan, we ask you to join us.
The Sanriku Railway, which used to run along the beautiful Sanriku coastline of Iwate Prefecture, was an important means of transportation for the locals. However with last year's tsunami, stations and railways were washed away and most of the 107.6 kilometers tracks suffered catastrophic damages.
Winding tracks and stations with just the foundations remained. The once serene landscapes around the stations were now full of debris. In the midst of desperation right after the earthquake, the thing that moved the president of Sanriku Railway Company to restore the railway was the snow he saw covering the tracks--he saw footsteps of the local people continuing along the tracks for miles and miles. With people without cars and the transportation coming to a dead halt because of the debris yet to be removed, the only hope for the people was the railway. "Sanriku Railway is an important means of transportation for the local people. We're definitely going to run the trains again," said he. After the earthquake, all the railway workers worked as one and toiled day and night to restore the railway; part of the service was back in operation. Starting with the restoration of the tracks that were least damaged, they were able to operate limited sections just 5 days after the earthquake. The locals called to railway workers again and again to thank them.
"The restoration of the railway leads to hope for the Sanriku coastal area," they said. Aiming for a full restoration in the year 2014, the challenge of the Sanriku Railway continues. To support the Sanriku Railway, special tickets are being sold. The destination on the ticket says, "To restoration, to the future" and the expiration date is, "Valid as long as you don't give up." Carrying everyone's dream, the Sanriku Railway will keep on running.
This month, "Kokoro" will hold the prayer on Thursday May10th at 11 pm New York time, which is Friday 11th at noon in Japan.
Let us take a moment to send our support to Tohoku.