Photograhed on 4/20/2011
“What the hell’s that?”
Local residents as well as the Self-Defense Forces, police, and fire services all worked hard to open up a small road through the devastation. We made our way slowly south along the coast, making winding diversions where the bridges had been damaged or in places totally destroyed. Driving along a road that was hardly a road at all we arrived at Ishinomaki, where we were greeted by the sight of this huge, bright red cylinder by the roadside. Probably as much as 12 meters high, this giant object was the advertising sign of a local business called Kinoya that sold canned seafood. Despite its size, the can had been swept 500 meters by the waves. It was another grim reminder of the terrible force of the tsunami, but until now we had been moving through an almost entirely monochrome world and this flash of color, which might normally have provided some excitement, seemed to have a healing effect. There was a hint of happiness for the first time in Kuyama’s voice when he spoke. We visited the town several times after this and Kuyama always commented on the can with excitement in his voice: “It’s still there!” The can was removed in June 2012.
Written by Tetsuya Hirose
「なにこれ？」
地元の人、自衛隊、警察、消防団･･･みんなが一生懸命作業して開通させてくれた小道を、ときに完全に破壊された橋を迂回しながら、道なき道を陸前高田から海岸線沿いに南下して到着した石巻で出迎えてくれた真赤な円筒形の巨大な物体。近所にある木の屋水産という会社の、12mはあろうかという看板が500mも流されてきたものであり、それも津波の凄まじさを示すもののひとつなのだが、それまで見てきたものがほとんどモノクロームの世界だっただけに、普通だったら興奮するはずの、その鮮やかな赤になんとなく癒されて、少し嬉しそうにそう言った。その後もここを訪れるたびに久山は「まだあった！」とテンションをあげていた。2012年6月に撤去。
ライター / 廣瀬達也
photographed on 4/19/2011
shiromasa kuyama 