Yoshinofuji- Kumamoto earthquake scare
Moti Dichne
Komusubi Yoshinofuji, a native of Uto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, returned to the summer jungyo with thoughts of his disaster-stricken hometown. The summer jungyo began on the 2nd at the Gifu Memorial Center Ai Dome. Yoshinofuji was visiting his hometown when the Kumamoto earthquake struck on July 28th. His family home suffered extensive damage, with cracks in the walls and windows coming off, and his parents have not yet been able to return home. After helping with the recovery efforts, he arrived in Gifu on the 1st. He vowed to cheer up his hometown with sumo.
He was visiting his hometown when the massive earthquake struck. "I thought I was going to die." Fortunately, neither he nor his parents were injured. His family home in Uto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, which recorded a seismic intensity of 6+, lost both electricity and water. Cracks appeared in the walls, windows came off and couldn't be put back in, and the building tilted. The toilet was also broken, so he used the toilet at a convenience store. "My family home is half-destroyed. The tombstone has fallen over. We won't be able to open the shop for a while." Damage was widespread in the surrounding area, including a train derailment. The memory of the shaking is still vivid. "There was a loud bang, and then a rattling sound. At first it was a vertical tremor...it was terrible. I was really scared for the first time in a long time." He also experienced the Kumamoto earthquake 10 years ago. He was in the third year of junior high school at the time. "I thought I was going to die more than I did 10 years ago." The fear he experienced this time was far greater.
"Yakiniku Kusano", the restaurant run by his father, former professional cyclist Shinichi Kusano, in Uki City, was also damaged. Plates and glasses were broken and scattered everywhere. On the other hand, the shop still had electricity, so it became a place where they could sleep for a while. It is expected to take some time before they can reopen. Even going to a relative's house to use the bath, a journey that normally takes about 30 minutes, took two hours. Some gas stations were closed, and he had to ask acquaintances to fill up his tank for him. The cell phone reception was also poor, and there were times when he couldn't reply to messages from acquaintances. After helping with the recovery efforts, he arrived in Gifu on the 1st. "I was able to get a good night's sleep in a hotel last night for the first time in a while," he revealed. Electricity has been restored at his family home, but there is no running water. His parents have not yet been able to return home.
When asked about supporting his hometown, he said, "My own home was damaged," and spoke of the reality that he must first rebuild his family's life. On the other hand, he has been told by people in his hometown to "cheer them up with sumo." "That's all I can do. I hope I can deliver some good news. Ten years ago there were two major earthquakes, so I pray that there won't be any more." He will take to the dohyo on tour in an attempt to bring some good news to his hometown. [Ryotaro Yamada]