Photo: In front of the elementary school, where the family evacuated in the aftermath of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake


We could escape because of a young person we had never met

The Uchiyama family lived in Nada Ward, Kobe, when the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck. Hiroko, Chiho’s mother, recalls that after she saw her husband, a truck driver, leaving home for work, the earthquake suddenly started with a booming sound.

It started all of a sudden. I had no idea what was happening. I saw my then four-year old son awakened by the quake and I shouted to him, “It’s dangerous. Hide under the blanket.” We started to escape after the shaking stopped, but the hallway to the front door was blocked by a fallen closet, which had tumbled from the bedroom.

Hiroko then tried to make a jump from the balcony to the next condominium building, but there was no escape route, since the next building leaned toward her condominium.

I told my son to call for help. Immediately after he shouted from the window, a young man came to help us. My son asked him to help my daughter first, so the young man held Chiho, who was a baby at that time. My son and I also escaped from the building, barefoot. I still don’t know who that man was. We could escape without injury, because he led us from the fourth floor to the outside.

She later found out that the first floor of the four-story condominium had collapsed. In addition, part of the stairs was missing. They were in a dangerous situation, but they managed to get in a neighbour’s car. Then, she ran to her former classmate’s house to borrow shoes for her son.

Photo: Chiho’s father joining the interview to tell his story


On that day, Chiho’s father left home later than usual

Every morning, Chiho’s father left home at four in the morning. However, he left home thirty minutes later than usual on the day the earthquake hit. If he had gone to work as usual, he would have been driving a truck on the Hanshin Expressway, which had collapsed due to the earthquake.

When the earthquake struck, I was in the office, which is near the sea in Nada Ward. Because of ground liquefaction around the area, I was trapped in the office for a while. My colleagues who arrived at the office after a while told me that the town had been devastated. I then rushed to my home. When I saw the collapsed condominium, I felt there was no hope that my family would be safe. Fortunately, my neighbor told me that my family evacuated to an elementary school.

Ties with other people help the Uchiyama family go through a difficult time

The Uchiyama family confirmed their safety with each other at the elementary school. They evacuated to the schoolyard, because they saw that the ceiling lamps of the gymnasium swung every time an aftershock occurred. There was a fire which was creating smoke on the west side of their condominium.

Due to the possibility of a gas tank explosion near the elementary school, the family temporarily evacuated to a park, located about one kilometer away. After returning to the elementary school, the Uchiyama family spent nights with people they did not know. They lived there for about six months, until June 1995.

Chiho was nine months old at that time. At the elementary school, several families lived together in a classroom. All of them were so caring that we had never felt worried about having small children. Even when my son said he wanted to bring his crayfish into the classroom from our home, they were willing to accept my son’s request. My family was supported by many people. My older sister was kind enough to deliver relief goods to us on foot from Akashi, 30 kilometers away from the evacuation center. A friend of mine generously let us take baths.

Photo: On the day of the interview, Chiho, for the first time, visited the condominium where her family lived when the earthquake struck

Six months later, the Uchiyama family moved to a temporary house on Rokko Island in Higashinada Ward. They lived there for two years, and moved again to their current home in Nada Ward.

There were many people who had to leave there hometown for faraway places. We were lucky to be able to live in a nearby temporary house. Although my son had to change schools every time we moved, we could survive difficult times because of the assistance provided by people around us.

Chiho’s father avoided talking about the catastrophe because he did not want to remember

Chiho told us that she had never listened to her parents talk about the details of the earthquake until the day of the interview.

There were a lot of things I learned for the first time today. To be honest, I was very shocked to hear that Kobe was devastated, as I do not remember anything.

Her quiet father added,

I avoided talking about the earthquake in detail because I did not want to remember.

With mixed feelings, Chiho’s parents recalled the catastrophe with a lump in their throat. What do they remember on the 20th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake?

As my daughter turned 20, it has really hit homethat 20 years have passed since the quake. Chiho took her first steps in the evacuation center. I still remember that everyone congratulated us on her achievement.

Photo: Chiho has grown up, supported by her parents and many other people


A dream Chiho desperately wants to come true

Chiho is currently a second year student at Kansai University, majoring in social system design at the Faculty of Society, which covers various fields, including media and psychology. She told us that her childhood dream is to become a comedian.

I have wanted to become a comedian since I was in elementary school. When I watched comedy shows on TV, I always wondered how those comedians can come up with such funny expressions. My desire to become a comedian grew stronger, seeing comedians who used to be based in Osaka become popular nationwide. Until I was in high school, I created stories and performed comedy shows with a friend of mine.

Chiho is truly working hard to achieve her goal, but she says she is also well aware of the hardships of becoming a comedian.

A friend and I admire this one comedienne, so I used to practice comedy with that friend, who also wanted to make a debut as a comedian. But I found out that my friend had another dream. I rethought my dream, because I wanted her to achieve hers. I desperately wanted to be involved in the comedy industry, so I found another dream, to become a manager of comedians. I have been researching comedians in my own way, by watching live performances and identifying which direction the comedians wanted to go in. I started to go to another school that trains managers for comedians from 2015, while attending Kansai University. I will keep trying, as I don’t want to be outranked by other people in my favorite field.

Photo: She presses on with confidence toward her dream of becoming a manager of comedians


Being grateful to be able to live a peaceful life with family

What do her parents think about her dream?

We were surprised to hear when Chiho said, “I want to become a comedian’s apprentice after graduating from junior high school.” We have been supporting her, because she made a decision and is pursuing her goal with all her heart. There are many people who lost family members. Today, we are grateful that our family can live a peaceful life.

Her parents say that they are proud of Chiho. She juggles everything herself, is blessed with many friends, and can get along with anyone.

Photo: Chiho smiling when she talks about her future

Her parents took it on themselves to express their feelings, although they avoided talking about them. Then Chiho told us her thoughts, using carefully chosen words, with a variety of facial expressions.

I love Kobe, as I have many friends here. I won’t leave this city.

I am sure that Chiho will achieve her dream and bring joy to many people, supported by her family, friends and neighbors, as in the past.

Photo: (Left) Dear Father, thank you for working hard to protect us. I am happy to be your child. I love you. Chiho
(Right) Dear Mother, thank you for putting me and my brother first. I love you. Chiho
Messages from Chiho to her parents. Her sincere feelings are expressed with simple words.


(Photographed by Natsumi Morimoto, interviewed and written by Kaoru Nikaido and Aya Yamamori)