Episode 5: Prioritize Daily Communication Over Tsunami Worries. The Shape of a Place Where You Can Truly Sleep Peacefully

The True Meaning of a Disaster Prevention Hub

Improving the building's safety through seismic assessments and creating blueprints is, of course, essential. However, in regenerating this 'Shiohama,' what we want to value above all else is not just creating a 'rigid disaster prevention hub' that only functions in the unlikely event of a disaster.

The expert in architecture and disaster prevention, standing before the building, left us with words that resonated deeply in our hearts.

'Rather than worrying too much about a potential tsunami, having a relationship where you can call out to each other on a daily basis—that is the best form of disaster prevention.'

Relationships Where You Can See Each Other's Faces and Feel 'Today is a Happy Day'

When I heard those words, I felt as if the scenery of the place we should aim for suddenly spread out before my eyes.

It is not a place that is only useful when a disaster occurs, but a place where local people can drop by in their daily lives and look at each other's faces, asking, 'How have you been lately?' A place where they can naturally talk about things that made them happy or things they are struggling with while drinking tea.

I believe that the accumulation of such warm daily connections builds a foundation of 'invisible peace of mind' in the hearts of the people living in this village.

'Today was a good day, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.' By feeling that 'today is a happy day,' everyone can go to bed at night with peace of mind. What we want to create by regenerating this old inn is that kind of ordinary, precious, everyday scenery.

Conclusion: Lighting a Lamp from This Place

While protecting the building with technical backing, we will fill it with the warmth of people and the light of daily life. The reassuring advice from the professional expert has firmly supported the most important core of the 'regional revitalization' we are pursuing.

Now, the direction is set. From here on, concrete work will finally begin, including wooden seismic assessments and actual measurements. We will proceed step by step, with care, toward the completion of 'our base' where everyone can gather with peace of mind.