I translated reports by the staff members of Ishinomaki occasionally, but the Japanese version is tanslated automatically by asking to 'translate'. So, I will no longer do the translation.
I was at Ishinomaki Support Center a year ago for four months and now back in the States. We subscribe to NHK TV, and observed a program on the second anniversary of 3.11 We saw the scene from Hiyoriyama Park and noticed no obvious change. The land from there to the sea was vacant with only some vacant buildings standing; mounds of debris were still there. A house with the first floor damaged by tsunami was also shown. Apparently, the volunteers are no longer working on these houses. According to a staff member of Emmaus Support Center, the owners of these houses are not known and would be left as is for a while.
My wife, Shigeko, a retired kindergarten teacher, was there for two months. She helped nearby church kindergarten school, but we had to drive several miles to observe programs for children. So, we are glad to read that the Emmaus Support Center has become a community center for children and adults for the neighboring community.
Bob Fujimura