英語訳
**[Right page, upper section]**
Because the male bodies were large in stature, transporting them and disposing of them by cremation proved extremely difficult.
**○ A Lonely Smile as the Last Farewell to This World** In Monzen, a voice calling for help was heard from beneath a horribly collapsed house. When they raised the rubble, they found a woman with a girl of about six years old on her back and a boy of about three years old in her arms, buried in mud up to her waist and barely breathing. The girl on her back had already breathed her last. When rescuers arrived, the mother seemed to relax — and upon seeing that the child in her arms was safe, she left this world with a faint, lonely smile as her final farewell, and all three souls swiftly departed, never to return.
**● Ōsuka Village**
**○ Only the Pregnant Woman Barely Survived** Sanmaidō Naka (age 44) of Ōsuka was six months pregnant at the time. On the night of the disaster, she was carrying an infant on her back and had taken her elderly mother and one child by each hand, fleeing outside, when the violent waves suddenly snatched the infant from her back. Before she could cry out in alarm, her hands were torn loose, and her elderly mother and the other child were swept away and drowned. No sooner had Naka lost these three people than she herself was swept far out to sea. Clinging to a piece of lumber, she was washed ashore on Hōraijima island. Just as she was thinking herself saved, her feet were again swept out from under her and she was cast adrift on the sea once more. Now barely breathing, with little hope of survival remaining, she was fortunately washed ashore again and found almost unconscious — and was rescued by a stranger the following morning. Miraculously, she managed to hold onto her life, it is said.
**○ What Is Left to Live For?** In Taneichi Village, Yagi district, an entire family was swept away and killed, with only one elderly woman of seventy-six years surviving. The injury to her broken left arm was not slight, and the sight of her anguish was unbearable to witness. When the people around her kindly urged her to receive medical treatment, she said: "Heaven itself has no compassion. Why could it not have taken my life in exchange for those of the young ones? What is there to live for in this worn-out old body of mine? It would be far better to die as soon as possible." She showed no inclination to accept anything, and her eagerness for death was, under the circumstances, entirely understandable.
**● Sannohe District, Aomori Prefecture**
**● Ichikawa Village**
Ichikawa Village is located to the north of Hachinohe, and suffered severe damage from the tsunami, with more than sixty people killed.
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**[Right page, lower section]**
**● Same Village (Same-mura)**
Same Village lies to the east of Minato Village and is the location of Same harbor. It is comprised of the hamlets of Shirahama, Fukakubo, Hōshihama, Ōkuki, Kanehama, and others. Of the village's 412 households in total, 76 were swept away; of the 3,072 inhabitants, 20 died. 254 vessels were lost, and 26 or 27 large drag nets were destroyed — each net worth more than 2,000 yen. According to village office staff, total losses for the village are estimated at between 50,000 and 80,000 yen.
The naval vessel *Tatsuta* arrived in port at around 3:00 p.m. on the 23rd and is reported to have retrieved more than 70 bodies from the sea off Kuhei District, Rikuchū.
**A Large Catch Before the Disaster** In recent years, this area had seen poor catches, and the residents had been greatly despondent. About one month before the disaster, however, an extraordinary abundance of large sardines appeared, bringing an unusually large catch, and people's worried faces had opened into relief — only for their joy to suddenly turn to grief. So recounted one of the survivors.
**● Minato Village**
Minato Village lies to the east of Hachinohe and is made up of three hamlets: Minato, Konakano, and Shirogane. In Konakano, apart from a small boat washed up in a stream in front of Minato Station, there was no damage. In Shirogane, three houses collapsed, two people died, and two were injured. In Minato, three houses collapsed and four people died. For the village as a whole, 138 fishing vessels were lost or destroyed, plus one *aguri* net and one beach seine net. According to village office staff, at around 7:50 p.m. on the day of the tsunami, two sounds like cannon shots were heard to the south, and then at around 8:30 p.m. the great tsunami struck a total of four times in succession. A village official by the name of Kumaishi narrowly escaped with his life alone.
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**[Left page, upper section]**
**[Illustration of two types of *obi* clasps]**
**Advertisement: Fine Art *Obi* Clasps**
To devote attention to one's personal adornment is one of the virtues of womanhood; it naturally increases the respect and affection of others, and may be called yet another brilliant ornament of a life of honor and happiness. Even the natural beauty bestowed by heaven, when one applies care and thought to one's appearance, causes the jewel to shine ever more brightly, adds an extra measure of fragrance to the flower, and the graceful and gentle refinement thus becomes the very source of charm. Our establishment has for many years devoted itself to producing fine art decorative accessories — all items suited to the fashion of the times — and now we are pleased to present a new design of fine art *obi* clasp. The design is drawn from refined classical patterns, the cord woven in glossy *shuchin* brocade, and the fittings skillfully crafted in gold, silver, or abalone shell with intricate carvings of peonies, Chinese peonies, chrysanthemums, cherry blossoms, and other celebrated flowers of the four seasons, set with diamonds, pearls, and other precious stones — a work into which world-renowned artists have poured their hearts. Ladies who wear these items will find their beauty further adorned as though flowers had been added to brocade, their elegance and refinement raised to yet another level.
**Price: ¥5 and above; ¥50 and below**
Custom orders available according to preference.
29 Nakamachi, Ikenohata, Shitaya, Tokyo
**Gyoku-Hōdō** — Fine Precious Metal and Art Bag Merchant
Iizuka Ihē
6 Sudamachi, Kanda, Tokyo
**Nagaoka Shōten** — Tortoiseshell, Coral, Beads and Sundry Accessories
(Telephone No. 350)
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**[Left page, lower section]**
**Advertisement: Fine Art Gold Rings**
**[Illustration of two types of rings]** ¥5 and above per piece
**Price**: Custom orders available according to preference.
In this age when the winds of civilization blow everywhere and the world advances day by day, men and women alike are busy with work outside the home and their social engagements are increasingly numerous. In such times, to keep up with fashion and maintain an appearance not inferior to that of the elegant men and graceful women one mingles with is not mere extravagance — it is, truly, the idea that water from a valley without a jewel will not be pure and beautiful. Our establishment has for many years devoted itself to this art, often setting the very trends of fashion. Among our many offerings, we are now pleased to introduce several new ring designs. The designs are all founded upon the painstaking efforts of master artists, the craftsmanship the product of master artisans' dedication; the purity of the gold goes without saying, the quality of the gemstones needs no elaboration, and the elegance and refinement of their style is unparalleled in the world. We humbly inform the ladies and gentlemen who would not fall behind the times.
*Postscript*: As is well known, the sale of gold articles has been our establishment's principal business for many years. If you have no immediate need of our goods, we are happy to receive inquiries at any time. As orders for custom items are currently backed up, we ask that you place your orders in advance.
29 Nakamachi, Ikenohata, Shitaya, Tokyo
**Gyoku-Hōdō** — Fine Precious Metal and Art Bag Merchant
Iizuka Ihē *(respectfully)*
6 Sudamachi, Kanda Ward, Tokyo
**Nagaoka Shōten** — Tortoiseshell, Coral, Beads and Sundry Accessories
(Telephone No. 350) *(respectfully)*