A railway operator in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, has started running a new train service to educate people about the earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula.
Passengers on the new service can listen to the first-hand experiences of the train’s crew, who explain what happened in the disaster and the current situation in the affected areas.
On Monday, the first day of operation, 15 people from Aichi Prefecture boarded the train at the northernmost Anamizu Station.
Crewmember Miyashita Safumi told the passengers she was working on a sightseeing train when the quake struck on New Year’s Day. She said she helped evacuate more than 40 people off the violently swaying train and guided them to higher ground. The group spent the night there after authorities issued a major tsunami warning.
Miyashita said her home in Wajima City was one of the many homes damaged or destroyed in the quake. She is still living at a temporary house.
She also talked about a local woman she met in March at a railway station who told her she had no place to go. Miyashita said she had trouble finding words to comfort her.
As the train approached Wakuraonsen Station, the end of the line, Miyashita said, “Please come back,” in local dialect. Passengers responded with loud applause.
A 68-year-old passenger said the stories he heard on the train left a deep impression, and made him think about what he should do when a big quake occurs. He added he is worried about a possible huge earthquake in the Nankai Trough and will make preparations.
Miyashita said the attentive way passengers listened to her account left her in tears. She said she will continue to tell people about her experiences.
The railway company plans to accept reservations from tourist groups and travel agencies for the earthquake tour.