My Thoughts on the Demolition of Otsuchi Town Hall
Over the last couple weeks, a debate has been going on in the Northeastern prefecture of Iwate revolving around a town hall that was heavily damaged during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. According to an article published by Japan Today, the Morioka District Court agreed to let the building be demolished, despite locals pleading to leave the building as is. The demolition process began over the weekend.
The images of the destruction caused by the triple disaster have forever been burned into the world's minds. For those who live in the affected areas, it's a reality that they still have to live with on a daily basis. I can understand why there are some who don't necessarily want to see something that constantly reminds them of the traumatic events of that day. There were about 28 confirmed deaths inside that building. On the other hand, because of these deaths, as well as the deaths of thousands of others, many saw it as a memorial of the tsunami. They did not want to see the building destroyed.
It is difficult to say which side is right because both make sense. If someone survived a traumatic event, seeing something that is always reminding you of it can be a strain. It can be upsetting. But at the same time, you don't want to forget that it happened. You don't want to forget the thousands who lost their lives, the ones who lost their homes and livelihoods, or the ones who are to this day still missing. They should be remembered. They deserve to be remembered. However, maybe not in the form of a damaged building. There has been no announcement about what will take the building's place, but they will recover objects inside, including a clock that supposedly stopped at the time the tsunami overtook the building.
In my opinion, I think the choice to take the town hall down is part of the healing process. The Tohoku region of Japan is still feeling the effects of the disaster, and it will for a long time. Whether it be through the number of memorials or the remains of buildings the tsunami couldn't take away, there will always be reminders of what happened on March 3, 2011. It is not something that will ever be forgotten. Because of that, I think it's ok to let this building go. Take the building down won't erase what happened. It won't erase the memory of those who lost their lives. I think it will, however, give people a piece of mind. They are rebuilding the hometown they grew up in, the lifestyles they had to leave behind. A memorial is indeed an important thing to have, and there should be one. But I believe it shouldn't be a memorial that haunts, but one that heals.
Article: https://japantoday.com/category/national/tsunami-hit-town-demolishes-old-office-despite-preservation-calls
The images of the destruction caused by the triple disaster have forever been burned into the world's minds. For those who live in the affected areas, it's a reality that they still have to live with on a daily basis. I can understand why there are some who don't necessarily want to see something that constantly reminds them of the traumatic events of that day. There were about 28 confirmed deaths inside that building. On the other hand, because of these deaths, as well as the deaths of thousands of others, many saw it as a memorial of the tsunami. They did not want to see the building destroyed.
It is difficult to say which side is right because both make sense. If someone survived a traumatic event, seeing something that is always reminding you of it can be a strain. It can be upsetting. But at the same time, you don't want to forget that it happened. You don't want to forget the thousands who lost their lives, the ones who lost their homes and livelihoods, or the ones who are to this day still missing. They should be remembered. They deserve to be remembered. However, maybe not in the form of a damaged building. There has been no announcement about what will take the building's place, but they will recover objects inside, including a clock that supposedly stopped at the time the tsunami overtook the building.
In my opinion, I think the choice to take the town hall down is part of the healing process. The Tohoku region of Japan is still feeling the effects of the disaster, and it will for a long time. Whether it be through the number of memorials or the remains of buildings the tsunami couldn't take away, there will always be reminders of what happened on March 3, 2011. It is not something that will ever be forgotten. Because of that, I think it's ok to let this building go. Take the building down won't erase what happened. It won't erase the memory of those who lost their lives. I think it will, however, give people a piece of mind. They are rebuilding the hometown they grew up in, the lifestyles they had to leave behind. A memorial is indeed an important thing to have, and there should be one. But I believe it shouldn't be a memorial that haunts, but one that heals.
Article: https://japantoday.com/category/national/tsunami-hit-town-demolishes-old-office-despite-preservation-calls
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