A bilingual narrative that sends the memories of the disaster to the world, Richard Halberstadt, the biggest decision in life in the devastating situation in 2011, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, became the largest disaster area in the great East Japan earthquake.

There is a person who has attracted attention as “the foreigner who remained in the stricken area” in Ishinomaki in which the dead and the missing person were severely damaged including about 3,900 people in combination.That person is Richard Halberstadt, director of the Ishinomaki City reconstruction and information Exchange Center building. Richard was an associate professor at Ishinomaki Senshu University in Ishinomaki City at the time of the earthquake.The day when the great East Japan earthquake occurred, I was in a laboratory at a university.The shaking of Ishinomaki is six strong intensity.Despite the tsunami warning, the radio, the only source of information, was unable to hear about the damage in the city, and spent two days in college in a state of anxiety. My friend encouraged me to start my life at the shelter from the third day.In that way, I received a mail from a mobile phone.The sender of the mail is the embassy in the native country.Concerned about the impact of the nuclear accident, it was contacted to recommend the evacuation abroad. “When I consulted with my friends, all of us were urged to return to the UK.If Richard is safe, we’re the best.It’s enough for us to do things we can do from the UK. “Two days later, Richard headed to Sendai to meet the embassy staff.The next day, the bus to the airport was scheduled to leave, but the feeling of what I should do was swaying. “I talked to the embassy about the night, listened to the British Government’s views, and had some counseling to organize my feelings.I went into the room and thought about it by myself until the next morning. “One night to think and make the decision to remain in Ishinomaki.”I couldn’t leave when I was in trouble with Ishinomaki, where I lived 18 years and the precious friends I met there.I don’t think I could forgive myself if I didn’t remain in Ishinomaki. ”

Richard was thinking about his future life as a bilingual storyteller by the earthquake that left the record of the earthquake to posterity.”There’s another way to be able to survive,” thought the university retired.When I was trying to find the way to help my friends, I was told to work from Ishinomaki City Hall to open a facility to disseminate the conditions of the disaster and reconstruction of Ishinomaki. “I have been living in Ishinomaki for many years and have experienced the disaster, and I can convey the experience in both Japanese and English.As I was a professor, I was used to speaking in public, and I felt that this work was right for me, “Richard says.I willingly a request from the city and worked as a staff member of the Ishinomaki City reconstruction and information Exchange Center building in March 2015.Now, as a director, I send the record of the earthquake and the people who visit the current situation. Since the explanation is available in English, many people from all over the world visit the Exchange Hall.”The disaster can happen wherever you are.By conveying the experiences of Ishinomaki, we want them to know that the disaster is not a thing of their own, and to have a sense of disaster prevention. “Richard’s activities are not only to boost the reconstruction of Ishinomaki, but also to create a chance to face the disaster.