E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Toru Hanai / Reuters
Wakana Kumagai, 6, waits for her mother Yoshiko after visiting the grave of her father, who was killed by the March 11 tsunami, at a temporary mass grave site in Higashi-Matsushima, Miyagi prefecture, April 21, 2011.
Reuters reports:
Six-year-old Wakana Kumagai began to run from the car when she arrived at a temporary mass grave site in Higashi-Matsushima, Japan. She had come to see her father.
Earlier that day, Wakana attended an entrance ceremony for her elementary school. Afterward she went with her mother and older brother to a grave site. She showed off her dress and bright red school satchel as she described the entrance ceremony to her father. But her father, Kazuyuki, was dead.
Toru Hanai / Reuters
Wakana Kumagai, 6, shows her dress and school satchel at the grave of her father.
Toru Hanai / Reuters
Wakana Kumagai prays with her mother Yoshiko and brother Koki in front of the grave of her father.
On March 11, Wakana’s mother Yoshiko received a phone call from husband, Kazuyuki, just after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck at 2:46 p.m. “A tsunami is coming. Take the children and go to the elementary school (shelter). I will go later too” he told her. Yoshiko picked up her two children in the car and, as they made their way toward the elementary school, the car was swallowed up by the first wave of the tsunami. Miraculously the car doors didn’t open with the force of the tsunami and the three family members made it to the school. The Omagari elementary school was a makeshift shelter for tsunami survivors. That is where the family awaited the arrival of Kazuyuki.
Four days later, he was found dead. His body was discovered near the elementary school where his family had waited for him.
Leave a Comment:
Dear Wakama- You, your family and thousands of others are in our prayers here in the USA. God Bless ya'll.....
I think I have something in my eye.
it still burns me of how this country (the usa) chose to fight another war than help these people; however for those who did help you've done a great job! God bless you people and i hope your families prosper!
We have helped these people, whatever. Our military members cleaned and repaired and reopened Sendai Airport, they helped distribute supplies, they have helped search for bodies. We sent search and rescue teams immediately. We have offered to help in whatever way the Japanese government wishes. We have NOT made a big deal about it in deference to the sensibilities of the Japanese.
This is one thing we have done right.
I think you should read the news more carefully.
Thank you. I am sorry others have chosen to politicize this as at the end of the day this is about a timeless bond between humans, regardless of nationality. We all hurt for Japan and we anguish for the families that have suffered unbearable loss. For those who have dropped your own lives to go help our neighbors to the east, you represent all that is right about humanity! Thank you for your service, your generosity and your courage.
This breaks my heart. I pray for a fast recovery for everyone in Japan.
I began to tear while reading this...
Wakana, I know this is hard, we both relate about a loss of someone that we love so much... i hope for the best for you and your family...Stay strong girl, Your dad will always love you no matter what...
D= So sad!
zhanzhu....Not the time nor the place for your inconsiderate B.S. Go away, far far away!
)':
sad
God Bless the people of Japan recovering form the Tsunami. May the memories of your loved and loss ones continue to glow within you and may you always know they are looking down on you everyday with a big smile! Be of good courage and faith for the Lord will Bless you! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all !
Human suffering as a result of natural forces is sad enough. I'm glad their father did not die at the hands of violence.
Bless you little girl, OMG that is so heartbreaking. I would love to just pick you up and hug you and tell you it will be ok. AAAAARrrrrggggr tears in my eyes no no no, I am not a blubbering baby, I am a Scout!!!!!! 19D out.
I am so sorry for all of Japan!! I cannot even imagine what they are going thru. Prayers and thoughts are with everyone!!
Fight another war and not help Japan? What exactly do you mean by this whatever-3909375? Do you honestly think that we said "screw 'em, we are fighting not helpin". OMG what a dumass.
We are all human beings............ Stay strong this World can be rough at times, prevail..... Love all and PEACE to all..
Well said "Concerned Citizen" God bless this little girl, her family and the people of Japan
So sad. God bless.
aww that is sad.. I hope the people of Japan find strength to move forward..
whatever3209375: You can be burned up that the US chose to fight another war but where do you get off saying [rather] "...than help these people"? Not only did thousands of US, Japan-based, military members go up to Miyagi almost immediately after the quake and tsunami to help with rescue operations but many of them also risked their lives trying to deal with the nuclear situation. Do I even need to mention the millions that US citizens and the government have donated as well as the constant well wishes that are shown on television here in Japan every hour? Not only should you be proud of the efforts and hard work put in by the US military but you should be ashamed for disregarding it and trying to bring politics into this. People who are not here, in the thick of things, might not know what's going on and believe that the US has done nothing but those of us who are here and dealing with the aftereffects of all that's happened are grateful for the help from the US military.
Thank you for acknowledging the efforts of my country. I wish the US was in a position that we could just "fix" every little thing that happens and put a band-aid on it, kiss it and make it better but we cannot. We can offer what we can...money and time. By time I am referring to the time the military used/is using to locate the missing, assisting with the clean-up and everything they're doing to assist with the nuclear plant. I am PROUD to be an American and proud of what my country attempts to do to assist other countries in times of need...all Americans should be!
Be strong Japan, you are a very proud country. The rest of the world can learn a lot from you.
Gambatte nihon I wish you all the best in these trying times.
Her dad will visit her during the great festival of Bon, but then she'll have to watch him leave on the last night.
I understand it would be hard for a little girl to watch her father visit and then return to the land of the dead, but I hope she'll grow up remembering that her dad loved her.
Every father of every daughter is with them.
I lost my dad last year, he was 92 so of course it's not the same, but still I related to the sadness this little girl felt. Even though I'm not conventionally religious, I couldn't help but feel that my loved one's soul lived on in some dimension and was able to see me. I hope it is the same for little Wakana; may she find comfort.
My heart felt broken seeing what hell Japan went through but yet so strong in spirit and I am so sorry for your loss he is watching over you and he in the end protected what he loved most his family and he will watch over you in heaven one day you will see your daddy and his wife will be with her husband. God bless all of Japan.Melissa
My heart, thoughts and prayers to the people of Japan. God bless.