The Yomiuri Shimbun
Eleven years after volcanic eruptions forced the evacuation of Miyakejima island, residents of the eastern district--the sole area still closed due to lingering fears of sulfur dioxide in volcanic gas--returned to live in their homes again Friday.
This marked the first time since the island was evacuated in September 2000, following a series of eruptions of Mt. Oyama, that all the islanders have been able to resume life in their original homes.
The eastern district, formerly the island's hub, was home to a village office and had a population of about 300. On Friday, 39 residents from 29 households returned to their homes on the condition they install desulfurization equipment.
Some compared their experiences as evacuees to people left homeless by the March 11 earthquake that hit the Tohoku and Kanto regions. Several had words of encouragement for the disaster victims, saying: "Don't give up. You'll definitely be able to return to your homes."
Kimiyo Yamamoto, 70, and her husband Mitsuharu, 75, returned to their home, part of which they used to run as a guest house before the eruptions made them leave the island. "It took a long time to return. I want to fill our garden with flowers," Kimiyo said.
The Yamamotos lived in public housing in Tokyo before returning to Miyakejima three years ago. The lingering fear of volcanic gas, however, meant they had to live in another part of the island. But they planted a cherry tree and camellia plant in the garden of their original house, dreaming of the day they could finally return.
When the Yamamotos see people from the Tohoku region who lost their homes and families on the news, they remember their lives as evacuees. They donated 10,000 yen from their pensions to people affected by the disaster.
"People from across the country supported us warmly. Now it's our turn," they said.
Moriyuki Hayashi, an official at the local municipal branch office of the Tokyo metropolitan government, also returned to his home Friday. He had been living in a teachers' residence elsewhere on the island.
"I want to tell the Tohoku evacuees, 'Never give up.' They have to keep up hope they'll be able to return to their hometown," said Hayashi, 54.
(Apr. 2, 2011)
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