Kenji Kusunoki returns to his home in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, which was crushed under a seven-story building, to search for keepsakes of his family on Jan. 28. (Video by Nobuyuki Takiguchi and Tetsuhiro Toyoshima)

Photo/Illutration Kenji Kusunoki retrieves keepsakes of his wife and his eldest daughter who died in the Jan. 1 earthquake, in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 28. (Nobuyuki Takiguchi)

WAJIMA, Ishikawa Prefecture--Kenji Kusunoki searched for keepsakes in the rubble of his home that was flattened under a collapsing seven-story building in the New Year’s Day earthquake.

He took a break, stepped back and stared at his home that remained trapped under the fallen building on Jan. 28.

“I’m at a loss for words,” Kenji, 55, said.

In the narrow area under the building filled with shattered wood, twisted metal and other debris, Kenji saw his wife and eldest daughter die in the frigid cold despite his frantic efforts to save them.

The family had been preparing for a busy time at the Japanese-style “izakaya” pub that he ran on the first two floors of the home. They were also getting ready for a celebratory event.

Kenji, his wife, Yukari, 48, and their second son and second daughter lived on the third floor of the home after moving from Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, six years ago.

While in Kawasaki, the family had often visited Wajima because Yukari hails from nearby Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture. Kenji decided to open the izakaya here.

The izakaya was named “Wajimanma,” and it served “nodoguro” (blackthroat sea perch) and “fugu” (puffer fish) sourced from Ishikawa Prefecture to locals and tourists.

Although customer numbers had declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, the izakaya was fully booked on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3.

On Jan. 1, eldest daughter Juran, 19, had returned to Wajima from Kawasaki. The izakaya was closed on that day, so the family spent time together.

Shortly after 4 p.m., the first quake struck. The family prepared to evacuate the home but soon a much more severe earthquake hit.

Kenji felt a blow to the back of his head, and the five family members were thrown to the floor.

Kenji regained consciousness when he heard his dog barking.

His second son and second daughter were safe. But he found Yukari and Juran trapped in the rubble.

He made a desperate attempt to rescue them, pulling them with all his strength. He used a saw to cut through debris and a jack to lift up the rubble. But they remained stuck.

Yukari’s face was already swollen. Juran said she was in pain and thirsty.

Kenji continued to give water to Juran, but the responses from the two gradually faded.

He remained at the site, staying beside their cold bodies until they were recovered by firefighters on Jan. 3.

Juran’s 20th birthday was on Jan. 5.

Although the legal age of adulthood was lowered from 20 to 18 in 2022, many local governments have continued hosting Coming-of-Age Day ceremonies for 20-year-olds.

The family had planned to visit Kawasaki on Jan. 4, where the eldest son is living, and celebrate Juran’s adulthood with all six family members.

Kenji and Juran were also looking forward to going shopping for her birthday present on Jan. 5.

“I wanted her to enjoy her Coming-of-Age ceremony,” Kenji said.

Juran was studying at a nursing school to help disabled people, like her brother. She would visit Wajima not only during summer vacations but also for short holidays.

Yukari was a person who dedicated herself to others, Kenji said. He believes “she would have volunteered at evacuation centers if she had survived.”

On Jan. 28, Kenji found Yukari’s favorite Studio Ghibli and Disney DVDs, the izakaya’s original T-shirts and a photo album of Juran wearing kimono for a Coming-of-Age portrait in November last year.

He was also searching for a particularly cherished item: a wristwatch Yukari gave him last April for his birthday.

He usually kept it on display on the TV and wore it only on special occasions.

The words she said when she gave it to him have remained in his heart ever since.

But he said: “I don’t want to say them. It makes me sad.”

Kenji is now staying in Kawasaki. He shares a room with his second son and keeps the lights on because the earthquake left him unable to sleep in the dark.

“We were a close family,” he said. “Never thought a building would fall on us … .”

(This article was written by Nobuyuki Takiguchi and Tetsuhiro Toyoshima.)

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