Takashi Shidahara (20)

Kenzo Shidahara (Father, living in Akashi City)
The day of the earthquake I tried to call him many times but it was in vain. I was worried about my son, then one of his friends called me. I went out as soon as possible and when I travelled from the Sanroku bypass to Sannnomiya, I was surprised at the terrible destruction. There were still many aftershocks and his friends tried desperately to rescue him. Thanks to their help, we could pull out his body after 5:00 p.m.. I really appreciate all they did.
At the university he was a student of the Faculty of Science and the track and field team. He had studied about earthquake. After the earthquake, out of consideration for our family the university sent us one of his geological reports. The report said "No matter how much human beings wisdom progresses we cannot control the great power of the earth...people tend to think that a developed civilization meant trying to control nature through our own selfish means. I deeply felt that human being including myself know nothing at all. I happend to look back and I saw Monkeys with their children crossing a road. I thought about how their life had been changed because of the roads". I I can see that he had been studying a lot.
In the 2nd and 3rd year, he took part in ekiden (long distance relay) races at Kansai Inter-collegiate Games. You had a lot of things for your 20 years and 10 months. You had grew up enough to sympathise with those in weak positions.
I felt at peace when I heard his friends and teachers comment about him.
Takashi, please rest in peace.

your father

Tatsuo Kaji (20)

Shin Shinozuka (21)

Tomio Mohri (Uncle, living in Ehime Prefecture)
There were 5 of us in the station wagon, Shin's mother Yukiko, his brother Satoshi and 3 other relatives including myself.
We arrived in Kobe at around 3:00 a.m. on Jan.18, 9 hours after leaving our house in Ehime, Shikoku. The situation was destroyed, with bad traffic jams, roads that had been torn apart and major detours. On the 17th,one of his friends, Mr.Shiba told about his death. So at 6:00 p.m., we quickly left home. It was long, sad journey.
We enterd Kobe from the back of Rokko. The city looked very dangerous, there were many fires and traffic jams caused by the collapse of buildings. It was just like going through a city which had been damaged by war. We arrived at the Rokko Hospital where Shin was at 7:00 a.m. on the 18th. When entering the hospital I prayed that he would be alive but unfortunately we were taken to the dark morgue where Shin and the bodies of 17 other victims were.
His body was so cold and seemed pitiful. We have lost him through this unexpected event. His mother, Yukiko was clinging to his body and crying. That was too painful for her. No one said anything. We joined our hands for him. The students who rescued him gathered to say good-bye. We could take his body at 2:00 p.m. on 18, and we arrived home where his grandmother and relatives were waiting at 4:00a.m. on 19. Unfortunately, he lost his father 7 years ago, so he had a painful childhood. But he endured adversity and grew up into a strong and gentle man. He tried to achieve his purpose before he died. Just when his mother and relatives were feelng hopeful about future.
May all the victims in Kobe University rest in peace.

Mikiya Takahashi (20)

Akinori Takahashi (Father, living in Osaka)
My son rented a wooden apartment built 20 years ago.
The chimney of the sento (public bath) next to his house was thrust into his room. It was made of brick and seemed old.
As he didn't get in touch with us, my wife and I went there on 18 at midnight.
We reached his apartment at 2 a.m.. The building was still standing, so we wondered why he hadn't contact us. Then we noticed the corner of the 2nd floor, where his room was flattened.
We called out his name loudly, but there was no answer. The fire department and the police in Higashinada didn't care about us. So we went a place of refuge to look for him but we couldn't find. So we waited for the sun to rise and visited his flat again.
We broke the chiminey with a pick and a hummer, then we found his laundry, so I thought, "He must be here."
He was covered with a futon (quilt). I plunged my hand into the quilt, because I thought it would be warm if he were still alive. But he wasn't. Around noon on the 19th the fire department removed his body. If only there hadn't been a chimney .
I took his word professor from there. I took his suit which we had bought for the Coming-of-Age Day.
A reorter of Kyodo News Agency found his camera too. I also found a picture of him at karaoke bar with his old friend from his junior high school after the Coming-of-Age ceremony. It was taken 2 days before the earthquake. In this picture, he is holding a microphone. I used this picture for his mourning ceremony at his university. He had studied so hard at the university, so such a picture seemed appropriate.

Photo: The night of the Coming-of-Age ceremony. 2 days later he died. The last photo taken with his own camera.

Chen Yichun(32)

Motozo Takebe (Guarantor,working at Hyogo Prefectural Office)
It has passed so quickly since those nightmarish days. Everyone in my family cannot forgot about Ms.Chen. Though part of our house and many memorable things were destoroyed. We can get them replaced. It seems like Kobe has been steadily reconstructing itself. But Yichun will never come back.
Ms.Chen, you were so warm and loving. When we had dinner together, you always washed the dishes and cleaned up everything faster than anyone else. It seemed like you were a part of my family. But the earthquake took her away from us.
On January 17 this year (1996), I will go to the ruin of her house and give her a bunch of white chrysanthemum flowers. I'd like to pray for her spirit. "Ms.Chen, though you left us, you still live in our hearts forever. We won't forgot you."

Noriko Takebe(The wife of Guarantor, living in Kobe)
She stayed up all night to write her essay the day before the earthquake. She was in the room with her husband and a big pillar fell on her. Her husband was rescued 10 hours later. They asked his parents to take care of their children back in China. As they studied in Japan, I think that they may have regreted not having a last chance to see their children.