Tsunami: Our Shock, Pain, and Resilience

This nonfiction book focuses on the 10-year journey of Rikuzentakata Mayor Futoshi Toba, with the support of an American woman, to rebuild his devastated town after the unprecedented disaster of March 11, 2011. On March 11, shortly after assuming office as mayor, the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami completely destroyed the city hall and many of his subordinates were killed. His wife was also missing, but despite the pain, he struggled to carry out his duties as mayor, leaving his two children with relatives, only to find his wife's body on April 5. Mayor Toba, in order to rebuild his town, has to face the government, which is slow in making decisions, and the residents, who are opposed to his bold actions and measures. Miller was appointed by Mayor Toba, whom he met at a volunteer site, as "Overseas Public Relations Director" for Rikuzentakata, and actively communicates the frontlines of the recovery to the rest of the world. Through their collaboration, the City of Rikuzentakata attracts attention, promotes overseas exchange, and leads to the revitalization of the town. The book is unique in that it is told alternately from the perspectives of Mayor Toba (the insider) and his supporter Miller (the outsider). But that is not all. There are men and women, Japanese and Americans, mayors and volunteers; those who remain in the town and those who leave it. These multiple perspectives combine to create a documentary that offers a multifaceted view of a disaster of unprecedented scale.