Touching the hearts of the 3.11 survivors

In September, Ōfunato in Iwate hosted an exhibition of 90 of Tomohiro Hoshino’s poems and pieces of art. Over the seven days, 2,424 people visited, including those living in temporary housing.

The exhibition was planned with the hope that Hoshino’s artwork would encourage people in the region, which had been devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Over 100 volunteers from all across Japan came to support the event.

Kōhei Koyama, the director of the event said, “Pastor Nobuo Abe from Sagamihara Grace Chapel, together with people from Sagamihara City who were experienced in holding such events, taught us how to hold an exhibition as well as supporting us financially and practically. Many people, including local people from Ōfunato and core members of the 3.11 Iwate Church Network, also gave us a hand.”

To gauge people’s responses to the exhibition, they asked visitors to fill in a questionnaire. A fifth of the visitors did that—a high number for such an exhibition. Koyama said, “This shows how touched the visitors were.”

Here are some of the responses: “(The artwork) touched my heart. It made me want to be kind. Thank you very much” (female, 40s). “I first read a book by Hoshino in junior high; it was a book my mother recommended. My mother was killed in the earthquake. Today I was reminded of the time we spoke together about Hoshino’s paintings. I wish I could have come here with her” (female, 50s). “Each of the paintings and poems was inspirational. I would like to see more of his artwork to find out what Tomohiro considered ‘more valuable than life’” (female, 20s). “I felt I didn’t want to waste my life. I now have the desire to live” (male, 20s). “For the first time after the earthquake, tears naturally welled up in my eyes. I don’t think I was able to genuinely cry up until then. Thank you very much” (female, 40s). “I lost my husband in the tsunami. After looking at Tomohiro’s paintings and poems, I felt comforted. Thank you very much” (female, 60s).

During the exhibition pastors took turns leading a time of devotions and each night the staff had a time of prayer. Koyama expressed his gratitude to “those who prayed for the event and offered their support.”

Yoshiya Kondō, head of the executive committee and pastor of Morioka Bible Baptist Church, said, “In both the exhibition and the aid work we have been doing in the quake-stricken area, we have seen the Lord work in places where there was nothing to begin with. People from across Japan and abroad have been showing their support and lending us a hand. We have also been blessed financially.”

In the opening ceremony, Kondō stated that he “believed the exhibition would touch the hearts of the 3.11 survivors,” and afterwards he was gratified that it had. 

From Christian Shimbun, October 18, 2015
Translated by Grace Koshino

Photo contributed by Christian Shimbun