Photo/Illutration Yoshimasa Mochida prepares to lay a flower at a memorial ceremony held on April 14 for victims of the Kumamoto quake six years ago. (Minako Yoshimoto)

KUMAMOTO--A ceremony was held here on April 14 to remember those who died six years ago in twin quakes that both registered a maximum 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale and struck only days apart. 

Speaking on behalf of all bereaved family members, Yoshimasa Mochida, 54, said, “Having lost my mother, who I always assumed would remain healthy, has made me realize what a large presence she was in my life.”

The first quake struck on the evening of April 14, 2016, and damaged many homes in Kumamoto Prefecture, including Mochida’s parents’ home.

The following day, Mochida called his mother, Tetsuko, 70, and told her he would return home to help clean up. But because Tetsuko knew her son had to work on weekdays, she told him to come on Saturday morning.

That was the last Mochida heard from his mother.

The second quake struck early on April 16, 2016, and also measured 7 in seismic intensity. That marked the first time two quakes of the maximum intensity struck the same region in such a short time span.

A total of 276 people died in Kumamoto and neighboring Oita prefectures, including some whose health worsened due to the stress from life as evacuees.

At one time, as many as 48,000 people lived in temporary shelters. As of March 2022, there were still 95 people in 37 households living in temporary housing in Mashiko and Nishihara in Kumamoto Prefecture.

After the second quake six years ago, Mochida received a phone call from his father saying his mother was missing.

Mochida prayed that she would be found alive, but rescue workers found her body in front of the family Buddhist altar at her home.

Tetsuko was not only kind and dependable, but was very concerned about her grandchildren. She often attended track meets to cheer on Mochida’s eldest son, Ryuta, who joined the track team in junior high school.

She told her grandson to put everything into whatever he was doing.

Three years after the earthquake, Ryuta’s senior high school ekiden (long-distance relay) team won the Kumamoto prefectural qualifying meet and advanced to the national tournament for the first time in 50 years.

Ryuta ran the team's anchor leg and when Mochida saw him break the tape at the finish, tears flowed down his face because he felt his son had kept his promise to his grandmother.

Mochida still has regrets at not doing more for his mother, such as building a new home for her or helping to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary.

He included such feelings in his speech at the memorial ceremony held at the Kumamoto prefectural government building, which was attended by 24 bereaved family members.

“I deeply hope that all of you will learn from the lessons of the Kumamoto quake to adequately prepare in a way that will help protect your loved ones,” Mochida said.

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