Khin Thet Swe (36)

Wai Hou Lwin (35)

Misaki Norimasa(Professor, Faculty of Human Development)

One day, my friend, who I became acquainted with at the Rotary Club asked me, "A colleague of mine who is a president of a company is looking after students from Myanmar. They want to study at Kobe University, would you please meet with them?"So I met with the president and the two women in my office. The two women were Wei Mo Ruinsant? and Kin Ti Sue?. This was January of 1994. I was moved by the president's deep affection towards the two women and the also the enthusiasm of their desire to study. So they became students of Kobe University, department of international cultures. They were interested in the cultural, economic, political gaps between Japan and Myanmar,both Asian countries, believing this difference arose from the lack of communication between these two countries. They studied communication studies. They wanted to promote cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between the two countries. The purpose of them studying in Japan was to try and achieve this goal.
After entering university, the two worked hard at their studies, often came to visit me at my office when they did not have classes. They were kind and thoughtful women who always wore a smile on their faces. In the summer vacation, to expand her global perspective, Ms.Ruin? went to the U.S to visit her sister and experienced the nature and the culture there. The souvenir she gave me then was a calendar of 1995 which still hangs on my wall in my study. But that year is about to end. However, the sweater that she also gave me still keeps me warm.
Ms.Ruin? wanted to learn the Japanese customs as quickly as possible, worked hard to understand Japanese culture, and she acquired the know-how of kindness and consideration for others, more than the Japanese. This is told by a new year's postcard sent to me in 1995. The address,"Gunge apartment 103,2-7,Okura,Gunge,Mikagecho,Higashinada ward,Kobe" is written on it. This is where she most unfortunately, ended her life.
Us "Rotarians"serve for international understanding and international exchanges whenever there is a chance. At a year-end party (just before the earthquake), we invited Kobe University's overseas students for a chance of a get-together. We invited the two to this party but they came late because they had a class. Who would have imagined that the photos of them taken then would be their last appearance and that the photos would be used for their memorial service.
The two wanted to go to graduate school and continue their researches. They were full of hope and had confidence in themselves. However, the earthquake which occurred on January 17, 1995, took away not only their dreams but their lives at an instant. It is just heartbreaking. I would like to pray for the repose of their souls.

Photo: Just before The earthquake. A year end party in Rotary club, Sue(left), Ruin(right)

Junko Isobe (21)

Yoko Isobe (Mother, living in Shiga pref.)
The floppy disk was found by the help of her friends and teachers. She studied her own character which theme was "Inferioririty complex and clarify herself".The other day, it was edited and became a book.

Shino Ueno (20)

Masashi Ueno (Father, living in Hyogo pref.)
Shino died with her friend Yoko Kawamura, not knowing her death. On January the 16th evening, I accompanied her with my wife to Himeshin line Mikazuki station and then parted saying "Good bye".
Daughter's unexpected death disappointed our family very much.
On the 18th early morning, I first found the head of her friend in debris, then the foot of my daughter. The hope that she must live till now was betrayed, I didn't know what I was going to do.
I am frustrated. Regret. Emotional wounds. Agony. I more and more miss my daughter whereas people are less and less interested in the earthquake. Memorial goods, and places. Everything had gone and tears only fell down. She, perhaps, went to die at the city she had always loved. She liked Kobe very much.
She had been under the debris for one and a half days, and a day of corpse-inspection. Cold pajama. Without a word, we took her home with my wife, sheding tears.
She always spoke of the greatness of the relationship among family members, and at the age of 20, wrote down on ;"I want to go step by step".She died only a step.
I never forget her as long as we live.

Yoko Kawamura (19)

Akiko Kawamura (Mother, living in Kobe)
Yoko goes to school from her house. But she happened to stay her friend's house the day before the earthquake disaster, because she finished her assignment. The apartment was destroyed, then she and her friend were killed instantly on their face.I hear that there were reports which they had just finished on table.
Frankly, I can't live without remembering my daughter everyday. Yoko has liked making something and painting since he was little, so I think she really enjoyed a special subject in University. She seemed to dream of becoming an art teacher and an industrial designer after graduation. And she started figure skating without notice in University. She devorted herself to club activities with her senior and junior friends.
Her twenty birthday was close at hand, and she had a bright future. Therefore I have no words as a parent. But she led a full University life, studies, skating, and tutoring part-time. I believed that she was blessed with good friends and she was quite happy.