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David Guttenfelder / AP
Tayo Kitamura, 40, kneels in the street to caress and talk to the wrapped body of her mother Kuniko Kitamura, 69, after Japanese firemen discovered the dead woman inside the ruins of her home in Onagawa, northeastern Japan Saturday, March 19.
AP photojournalist David Guttenfelder shares his experience covering the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
I saw Tayo Kitamura picking through rubble in the leveled town of Onagawa. She was looking for her mother who'd been missing since the earthquake and tsunami struck. She told some Japanese firemen searching the area that she had a gut feeling her mother was buried in a house nearby. Her mother's house had mostly vanished, but she recognized part of the outer wall and some of her family belongings lying in a neighbor's yard. The firemen started digging, removing piles of wood and sea fish. They finally found a body of a woman. Everyone went silent.
Two firemen whispered to one another. They seemed to be talking about how to break the news. They carried the body to the road and held up a sheet while Kitamura checked. When she stepped away she turned to me and said, very stoically, "Yes, that's her." The firemen left Kitamura to be alone. She kneeled and began to caress her dead mother through the blue plastic, speaking to her in a whisper as she wept.
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Vey sad. I can't imagine. My prayers are for you.
This is heart wrenching for all involved, the families, rescue workers etc. My prayers to the people of Japan and all whom are suffering on our planet. Peace and Light to all.
Thank you for sharing. My heart and prayers go out to these people who have lost so much.
This is so sad. But I'm glad that at least she has some closure now. So many people there will never be able to say goodbye to their loved ones. I feel for the firemen too. It must be so heartbreaking for them every time they find a body.
Breaks my heart.
My tears are followed by prayers for all of Japan and it's people.
My heart goes out to this woman and all the victims & their families.
If this does not sadden your heart, you do not have one.
Tayo. Know that many American hearts broke and hot tears flowed seeing this picture of you and your Mom. There but for the grace....
The pictures and stories are just heartbreaking. My prayers to the people of Japan who are struggling through this.
The Japanes people have displayed tremendous strength throughout this tragic ordeal. Tayo symbolizes the grace and quiet dignity of a nation. Our prayers are with you during your time of profound loss.
The world is mourning and crying with you still and forever.
My GOD. My heart is broken after seeing this picture. Go with Buddha, Miss Kuniko Kitamura and may you find everlasting peace.
tayo, and the people of Japan, I am so sad that you have to go through this horrable thing, I pray to god, to please help you. Tayo, I wish I knew you, you are so strong, and maybe if I did know you we could talk, I just would not know what to say, but I could listen. God bless you!!
I am sorry Tayo Kitamura. May you remember your mother in peace. The stoicism and social grace that you and your countrymen have displayed during this dispicable tragedy is commendable.
Embedded withing this avalanche of disasters are countless tragedies like this. This captures the agony. God bless you Tayo Kitamura and Kuniko Kitamura and all others touched by this hellish event.
Tayo-san, I cry with you. May healing and strength find you.
This picture broke my heart for Ms. Tayo Kitamuram my spirit embraces her with peace and compassion. I will continue to pray for her, for her mother and for all of Japan.
To Ms. Kitamura and all the people of Japan - words cannot adequately express the sorrow felt for you and all the victems of this terrible tragedy. May your heart rest easier now that you have found your beloved mother. And may the rest of the survivors find the loved ones as well.
God Bless the people of Japan.
Last week my friend Yoko Suzuki was positively identified after they had completely searched the Canterbury Television building that pancaked during the Christchurch earthquake which happened a mere two weeks before the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Her parents and partner had flown to New Zealand from Tokyo and Australia to bring her home but it took sometime to find her. The waiting was terrible, the not knowing and the imaginations of what had happened in her final moments were too much. I am glad for everyone that finds their loved one and can release those terrible images from their minds.
This is a really beautiful and sensitive shot and has somehow made me feel so much better about Yoko. Because I was not there to say my farewells to her last weekend when they cremated her in Christchurch seeing this picture says that farewell for me. Thanks for this, its a gift.
If this picture fails to touch your heart, chances are you don't have one. I spent almost an hour with my husband after he passed away in the hospital. I washed the tape off from his face, brushed his hair, talked to him and sang to him. The comfort and peace these acts gave me were beyond any value I could possibly count. I understand and empathize.
So heartwrenching... just sad.
Wow.... They say a picture is worth a thousand words and I can hardly think of even one.
After seeing the devastaing picture of Tayo Kitamura's final time she will ever tell her Oka-chan (mother in Japanese), of her love for her and telling her that she would give anything would it have been that her mother could be kneeling over her, telling Tayo of her love, just as she did countless times before as a child lying in bed. I'm half Japanese (on my mother's side), and I'm a proud American citizen. Seeing how Japan and it's people have reacted to come together in a disaster that would have brought most nations to its knees, I'm feeling a swelling pride of the half of me that's Japanese. Tayo, please tell your mother sayonara(goodbye) for me, and that I wish you much love for your brave spirit.
7 years ago my dad, my two brothers and I sat by our mother and watched her take her last breath.
Time almost stood still for us as we sat in silence and slowly realized all of our past with our mom had come to a sad finish in this respect.
I can relate to the pain and sadness that Tayo felt as she knelt by her mother. I cry for her and share the deep anguish she felt as she said goodbye.
May the good Lord ease your pain and slowly erase the memory of this terrible day.