Photo/Illutration This boulder, which was carried over from a river 500 meters away when a catastrophic flood struck Ide, Kyoto Prefecture, in 1953, is seen at JR Tamamizu Station. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

At JR Tamamizu Station in the southern Kyoto town of Ide, my eyes were drawn to a colossal boulder that definitely looked out of place for this placid train station.

This six-ton mass, which was carried over from a river 500 meters away when a catastrophic flood struck the region in 1953, remains a silent witness to the tragedy that occurred during the era of Japan's post-World War II recovery.

Local tour guide Toshiyuki Miyamoto, 85, always starts his talks in front of this rock.

In August 1953, a record downpour caused the river to overflow, triggering a mudslide that destroyed homes and left 336 people dead or missing.

The Japanese expression "shuchu gou," which translates literally as "localized torrential downpour," was used by newspapers for the first time in reference to what came to be known as the Minami-Yamashiro Flood.

Miyamoto, who was 18 at the time, was awakened at night by his mother who heard "strange sounds."

With the floodwater surging rapidly, the mother and son smashed through a mud wall and scrambled up onto the roof of their neighbor's home.

When the water subsided, it revealed a neighborhood that was totally transformed.

As a survivor, Miyamoto thought of what he could do for the community. And about 10 years ago, he started recounting his experience to local schoolchildren and supervised the production of a "kamishibai" picture-story show.

"I want to keep repeating to my young audiences that they must always try to save their own lives," he said.

When the boulder was marked for removal at the time of the train station's renovation three years ago, Miyamoto led a drive to keep it where it was.

While interviewing him, I was shown a photograph that shook me as much as the rock did.

It was a snapshot of a young boy, looking scared as he stood with a puppy strapped to his back.

According to an official of the neighboring town of Waszuka, the boy, whose name was Ma-chan, lost his entire family of five in the flood. His whereabouts now are not known.

His haunted eyes speak volumes about the terror of floods that can irrevocably ruin anyone's life.

This year again, the "tsuyu" seasonal rain front has caused serious damage to communities, especially in Kumamoto.

With the typhoon season also approaching, we must remain vigilant.

As a resident of flood-prone Japan, I remind myself anew that remembering past lessons is the first step to being prepared.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 25

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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