The Great Hanshin Earthquake

　It has been 16 years since the Great Hanshin Earthquake hit the Kansai region at 5:46 on January 17th, 1995. I lived in Osaka and fifth-year student in elementary school. I got up by heavy quate. But I cant stand up because a motion of earth was too strong. I was only bounding and bounding on my bed.

　Between aftershocks, I went out home. The road in front of our house was absolutely separated. However, I was half awake and I didnt realize how catastrophic this natural disaster was. I knew it on TV. And I knew it deeply in my junior high school, Nada, because Nada locates fairly near the earthquake center and Nada was one of the main emergency evacuation area at that time. And many students of Nada lived in Hyogo. My friend in Nada said his sister was killed by the earthquake. Looking back, I slept next to a big bookshelf 16 years ago. If it came down and hit me, I am never alive now. I was really lucky... I cannot say any more.

　I dont believe God. I dont think about God. What I think about is persons at all times. And "persons" includes those who live in the heaven. I think about those who passed away sometimes. When they knew their fate what did they think? Now, in the heaven, what do they expect from us?.

　I guess we were passed batons from them. We live in this world surrounded many many wishes of those who wanted to live more. So, I can and should live in this world with at full power. I pray for the 6454 victims of the fatality.