K38 Japan and Mr. Hiroaki Kishi who began the program with his trusted colleagues worked in the aftermath of the Tohoku tsunami flood debris to help a community clear their waters to bring normalcy back to their lives.

1. 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami RWC Work 東日本大震災 Higashi Ni
Written by:
Shawn Alladio – K38 Rescue
Hiroshi Yamaoka - K38 Japan
Hiroaki Kishi - K38 Japan
November 11, 2011
Mr. Hiroaki Kishi and fellow team members kitting up to work the debris laden waters surrounding
Yamada Town in Iwate Prefecture on Rescue Water Craft (RWC).
Background:
Review of the multiple catastrophic disasters yield unprecedented information and data collecting as a
model for response and preparation to such a significant Earth event. We will retrace the efforts of one
man’s participation in this event, Mr. Hiroaki Kishi of Water Works, and a K38 Japan instructor.

2. Yamada Town Burning
History: Friday March 11, 2011
The Tohoku undersea mega thrust earthquake was a magnitude 9.0 which occurred at 14:46 and lasted
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about 6 minutes. Large foreshocks had been reported, one measuring 7.2 on March 9 , with thousands of
subsequent aftershocks, which may go on for years. The epicenter was approximately 70 kilometers east
of the Oshika Peninsula of Tohoku and an underwater depth of 32 km. This was one of the 5 most
powerful recorded earthquakes in world history since 1900.
This earthquake triggered series of tsunami waves with significant run-up, which reached heights of 40.5
meters (133ft) in Miyako in Tohoku’s Iwate Prefecture, and in the Sendai area traveled up to 10 km (6
miles) inland. 38 prefectures were affected, over 125,000 buildings destroyed or severely damaged. With
extensive structural damage to roads such as the Tohoku Expressway, airports, railways, homes,
agriculture, fishing industry, businesses. The earthquake triggered a multitude of other immediate
emergencies, the Fujinuma irrigation dam ruptured and subsequent fires destroyed many resources or
caused delays in response.
Telecommunications such as phone and internet were down. Matsushima Air Field of the Japan Self-
Defense Force suffered flooding and damage, along with the Japan Coast Guard losing several boats.
549 Cultural Properties were damaged, including 5 National Treasures. Estimates range a total cost of
$122 Billion for repairs, with 300,000 displaced persons which shall surely rise as the magnitude of
recovery efforts are yet to be discovered.
A nuclear disaster triggered ancillary disasters which compounded an already stressed emergency
response community and became a global nuclear industry problem. The Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant
experienced a fire in its turbine and was shut down. The number 2 reactor at the Tokai Nuclear power
plant was shut down automatically. The Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant experienced extreme damage
and structural failure, resulting in the evacuation of surrounding communities and nuclear contamination.
Fukushima 2 Power Plant located further south was later declared a state of emergency. Radiation levels
were reported 1,000 times higher than normal.

3. Shinmoedake a Kyushu volcano erupted 2 days later further south. 20,000 people were killed, 6,000
injured and 4,000 people missing. The Cosmo Oil company refinery was set on fire, taking ten days to
extinguish. The JX Nippon Oil & Energy refinery was set ablaze further worsening the fuel and electric
needs of the nation and recovery efforts. 4.4 million Households were left without electricity and 1.5
without water during harsh winter conditions.
An estimated 230,000 vehicles were destroyed or damaged. The earthquake moved Honshu 2.4 meters
(7.9 feet) closer to the North Pacific and shifted the earth axis from estimates of 10 cm (4 inches and 25
cm (10 inches). A 400 km (250 mile) stretch of coastline dropped vertically by 0.6 meter (2.0 foot),
allowing the tsunami waters to reach further inland.
On April 6 the Japanese Coast Guard announced the earthquake shifted the seabed near the epicenter
24 meters (79 feet) and elevated the seabed off the coast of Miyagi prefecture by 3 meters (9 feet). The
Earth’s rotation increased shortening the day by 1.8 microseconds due to the redistribution of its mass.
The tsunami inundated a total area of approximately 561 km (217 square miles). Initial estimates
calculated a tsunami this close could take 10-30 minutes to reach landfall. 101 designated tsunami
evacuation sites were hit. In many communities soil liquefaction, uplift and subsidence occurred, the
nominal concern is that subsidence is permanent and future flooding is possible at higher tides coastally.
Numerous infrastructure failures and repairs were needed upon follow up inspections.
The tsunami warning system that Japan has in place is considered the best in the world. The system is
able calculate the height of tsunami within a quick 3 minute period based on modeling patterns of over
100,000 previous earthquake conditions. The Japan Meteorological Agency, however, admitted that the
system was not capable of calculating beyond an 8.0 earthquake.
Yamada Town Damage, large tanker placed inland.
The first quake that hit was a 7.9 and within minutes, towns like Yamada were informed of a 5 meter

4. (approximately 16 feet) tsunami. The sea wall that was built here to protect the town close to the water
was about that high. By the time the 9.0 quake hit and calculations were made for a much higher tsunami,
it’s believed that most of the warning systems power was down or the people were not able to hear the
new information announcing up to a 10 meter tsunami (30 feet).
One minute prior to the earthquake being felt in Tokyo, the Earthquake Early Warning system which
includes 1,000 seismometers in Japan, sent out warnings. 8 seconds after the first P wave was detected,
or about 31 seconds after the earthquake occurred the general public was alerted. 92% of the victims
recovered drowned, victims above the age of 65 accounted 65% of the deaths, and 24% being in their
70’s.
Surrounding mountains of Yamada Town dusted with snow due to the harsh conditions of Winter.
Yamada Town, Iwate Prefecture
Yamada-machi is located on the northeast coast of Japan, about 150 miles north of Fukushima and about
50 miles south of Morioka. The railway line from these two places were initially destroyed therefore
making access to Yamada difficult The coastal area along this region is curvy and jagged rocks with
some of the world’s most beautiful inlets, harbors, peninsulas and islands.
Yamada-machi is believed to been inhabited 6500 years ago. The first mention of the village in written
material was in 715. In 1643 a Dutch shipped named ‘Breskans’ arrived in Yamada bay and landed on
“Oshima” island to seek new supplies. Ten crew members were arrested and sent to court in Edo
(Tokyo). The island of “Oshima” has since been named Orando-jima (Dutch island).
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Yamada has experienced 3 prior historical tsunamis. In 1896 the Meiji-Sanriku on June 15 at 7:30pm
while families were celebrating the return of soldiers from the First Sino-Japanese War and a Shinto
Holiday. The magnitude of 8.5 which killed 22,066 people destroyed 9,000 homes and generated waves
of 38.2 meters (115 feeet) in the region.
Another one, the 1933 Sanriku earthquake occurred on March 2, with less casualties but lots of building

5. damage (18 killed and 12 injured). Water heights were recorded at 28.7 meters (94 feet) from a
magnitude 8.4 located 290 kilometers offshore (180 miles). 1,522 people lost their lives, 1542 missing
and 12,053 injured.
On May 22, 1960, the largest earthquake in the world hit with a 9.5 magnitude. The Chilean Valdivia
earthquake caused extensive run-up damage with 35 foot high waves and killed 142 people 22 hours
after the initial quake.
Ground Zero in Yamada Town, all that is left are the concrete foundations of a once thriving fishing
community. The surges that occurred here were fierce and unrelenting.
Yamada had a population of around 20,000 people. After the disaster in March, 1,882 people were
homeless, with another 167 unable to feed themselves. There were initially 670 reported dead, 148 still
not found, and another115 unidentified. The entire town was not affected due to higher elevation levels.
The city hall, schools and some homes were untouched.
Yamada town faces many challenges, the initial losses being horrific and the survivors living in shelters
detached from the lives they led. Health care was disrupted and nutritional needs compromised.
Survivors dug through the mud searching for pieces of their lives. Survivors needed help and were
questioning the response support, a questioned posed too many of the responding volunteers.

6. Yamada Town
The Implementation of Rescue Water Craft (RWC)
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Recovery Working Dates: April 28-May 5
Location: Prefecture Iwate, Yamada Town
Recovery Vessels: 2 PWC-s Sea Doo GTX four strokes, Yamaha SHO- IRB, rescue boards
Water Temperature: 45 degrees (air temperature 62)

7. NPO Team: Tomofumi Oda, Taishi Otono (team leader), Eiichi Ishii, Arata Murakami, Hiroaki Kishi, and
two others.
Mr. Otono Taishi was the Leader of the NPO ResponseTeam. He established the NPO which bears the
namesake, Okinawa Water Patrol System which consists of a Lifeguard Team. They applied their
program to the Nippon Foundation for support efforts in the field for this mission. The Yamada mission
was thence funded and the team readied for the tasks ahead. They organized their equipment and
transportation needs; 2 RWC’s and 1 IRB and a total of seven people mobilized with their resources and
headed to the disaster zone.
Yamada Town Volunteer Center and 2011 Recovery Efforts
The widespread damages and reduction in recovery services, resources and personnel produced a
varied response and timeline throughout this region. The surviving families needed to recovered their
loved ones physical remains, rebuild and get their livelihoods established so they could move forward.
This area had a historically strong background in fisheries, a hearty and resilient people who have seen
the face of disaster before. Removing the debris from water and land posed many obstacles, both from a
resources concern and a psychological impact of both the citizens and responders. The overwhelming
sense of hopelessness matched a slow pace of recovery.
This area was known for its aquaculture, the bays providing a perfect place for raising oysters in

8. suspended production beds. Many farmed from the sea, total destruction yielded the loss of oyster and
seaweed businesses and all the supporting equipment was strewn in an abstract mess inland, wrapped in
debris piles or drawn out to sea. The main roads were initially cleared by the Japanese government, but
years of cleanup lay ahead, debris and rubble piled up into stacks 10 meters high.
The geographical terrain, the fetch of the tsunami waves and subsequent currents reached 30 feet or 10
meters in this region. The forces of action with the surging waters funneled a wedge effect as the waters
merged with the pitch of the surrounding jagged shoreline. This created a focal point of the coastline in
this area that accentuated specific zones as targeted low lying flood plains, that otherwise would have
been considered protected harbors.
The wedge effect forced rising waters to increase their speeds as they doubled along the pointed
shorelines and forcing the debris flows like a frontal hammer. The destruction left only the remains of
twisted metal frames, and cleared concrete foundations.
Divers had been searching in the debris laden waters for the physical remains of their lost family
members and to assist in the removal of debris piles. These divers risked their lives searching for loved
ones and taking account of the underwater debris removal. Homes were lying underneath displaced
suspended oyster beds with victims trapped inside the dwellings. The debris piles posed a significant risk
to the workers of the recovery efforts below the surface and above.
The surrounding shoreline around the prefecture are great fishing grounds due to the underwater
geographical terrain and rich nutrients brought by the colder Oyashio current from north and warmer
Kuroshio current from south where they converge. The recovery of the fishing industry was paramount to
the surviving community members and their families. The fishermen needed outside assistance to clear
the debris and household/industry items strewn along these coastal communities. Their fishing vessel
fleet was significantly damaged and they were incapable of clearing this zone alone.

9. Soon, the NPO-Non Profit Organization was working at organizing RWC use at this site to assist in the
needs of this community. The NIPPON Foundation donated funds for NPO to administer the logistical
needs. Mr. Hiroaki Kishi was one of the members of this team. It takes time to organize and muster
approvals and funding, the logistical needs during a catastrophic even can be quite daunting.
Hiroaki Kishi arrived via ferry from Hokkaido, Japan’s second largest island surrounded by three
coastlines consisting of the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean. Known for cool
summers and icy winters, the people from here are a hearty lot. Hiroaki is a seasoned lifeguard and a
RWC instructor. He observed an extremely high level of debris which was floating and submerged near
the surface in the ocean during the ferry transit which bore his RWC, trailer and vehicle. The ferry had to
navigate cautiously along the coast as it moved closer to the tsunami epicenter and mainland. Facing
these first warning signs the significance of the disaster was quite apparent to him, even though a month
had passed.

10. The Yamada City Hall had a billboard where people left notes for missing loved ones in hope of a
miraculous reunion. In another room search teams had placed photo albums they found in the rubble.
The mayor worked out of the second floor, he also lost his home. Many residents faced burdens beyond
the psychological trauma. Insurance would be difficult to prove with all vital records being destroyed or
washed away. If the flood waters did not destroy, the ensuing fires created a second surge of disaster.
Buildings over 20 meters on high ground were saved. The weather conditions were often freezing, snow
was not uncommon at this time and a recent blizzard had just struck. Fuel vouchers were issued and gas
was scarce making this vital resource a difficult strategy for equipment needs.
At first Mr. Kishi thought there was little capability to use a PWC in the aftermath of this disaster. Upon
arrival he began to assess the situation closer, how could they be effective in such a big area? They
listened to the fishermen concerns, a plan was soon drafted. After the earthquake the fishermen worked
very hard to clear the oyster plant beds.

11. The larger fishing boats could not attempt the confined spaces needs because the fishing boats were not
easy to maneuver and were too high from the waterline to work with debris recovery and removal. This
made their work dangerous, as they cleared the debris piles more remains were found, which at times
slowed progress down out of concern for body recovery. Their subsequent pace was slow and frustrating.
On-water confined spaces and tight quarters proved the Rescue Water Craft was a perfect fit for the
problem at hand.
Kishi realized that the PWC was the best vessel to approach this concern. Once the fishermen observed
the work of the team getting underway, they began to realize the value this type of vessel would do to
assist them. With extension ropes tied off the stern cleat of the PWC they began to work the higher risk
zones. Towing out of tight quarters and clearing many debris items, such as complete houses, rooftops
and vehicles which they were not expecting to find initially, the team kept at it.
Calls went out to Police and Coast Guard when they came across a body, and they began searching the
cars and buildings for the physical remains of victims from this tragedy as they cleared this plots on water,
efforts shifted to land.

12. Before the NPO team arrived, the local fishermen worked hard on their own with their larger vessels to
get their waters cleared, but their work done in one week was accomplished comparably in one day by
the RWC team. Timelines became increasingly faster for this goal. This was immediately obvious to
everyone present and greatly appreciated.
As the wind and tides shifted their directional flows, these complimentary currents would quickly bring into
close quarters along the shoreline. These debris fields bore every type of physical remains of what used
to be viable products used in everyday life. At several of the team’s deployment locations, the surface
waters appear clear, but the near surface conditions of debris trapped the team when conditions shifted.
They learned to keep a closer watch on all their on-water movements. Water entry could be hazardous
and life threatening in such unstable conditions.

13. The area their team worked was a very large water acreage of a harbor or bay (gulf). There were 120 of
these suspended oyster beds sized at 60’x50’, which was all piled up into a large mess by the tsunami
waters. He was only able to see 20 oyster beds initially, the rest were destroyed or underwater and
unaccounted for. Perhaps some washed out to sea and joined a flotilla of open water debris and floating
islands.
The fishermen wanted to get their oyster production of aquaculture up and running immediately. But first
searches needed to be conducted underneath these original plots. Once the RWC’s arrived it became
more evident that they could clear these zones and get their operations back up and running sooner. The
team worked there for 8 days supporting the fishermen in the community. During this time they searched
the entire original plot covering 1,600 oyster beds former zones of operation.

14. Once these searches began in these zones and were plotted and cleared, their search was closed down
and they would move to another location. After 4PM they worked on the land searching the strewn nets,
buildings or warehouses keeping in mind that either direction progress was moving, even though it
appeared overwhelming.
Each day a local woman came to the water’s edge hoping for news of her lost family members, deeply
touching the team and furthering their resolve. Helpless feelings at the enormity of the situation were ever
present. More RWC’s, boats, fuel and manpower were needed. Checked buildings, vehicles and boats
were spray painted with ‘OK’ after search was completed.

15. Secondary Victims
These areas are best known in the Japanese fishing industry. Worldwide and regionally restaurants rely
on the industry of this region. The historical significance of traditional fishing didn’t embrace the RWC
usage, until the impact was clear; the best work horse for this situation was the access providing for RWC
for clearing debris piles. Trust was built through the mutual efforts of both groups. There was a high level
of appreciation that complimented the needs of the fishing community. Without the reinstatement of their
work, the community would further decline for the secondary wave of destruction, the economics of
recovery for survivors in catastrophic events.

16. This woman searched daily for her missing family members. Here she is shown with the team, checking
in with them for any news.
The needs of the community and responders are myriad and complicated but inclusive to safety, health
and recovery. Both groups live with the results of their situation and efforts. The survivors have to deal
with issues of grief and concerns for their welfare, and responders the feeling of never doing enough for
the survivors. Collaboration was necessary to build trust and work within this community. Respect was
vital to progress on an emotional level.
The initial feelings of resentment by the local community for not receiving faster support were evident to
the responders. The respect earned was through the committed efforts that achieved the immediate
results the local fishermen were in dire need of. The fastest way to recover is to help survivors get back to
the life they once knew. Being productive supports emotional well-being and allows people to take care of
their basic needs.
References:
Volunteer Diver Blog:
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/fishman_2007/e/bacbdbb5fcd53d505f46e29d7b35c6e8Wikipedia:
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:KuroshioOyash
io.jpg
Yamada-Before and after photos:http://www.yamada-kankou.jp/info/photorepo/index.html

17. http://www.K38Japan.com
RECOVERY INSIGHTS
Just as in the past, historical accounts of fishermen at sea returning home to complete devastation and
loss did not feel the effects at sea, save for strange currents moving in the waters below. Some fishermen
were able to get their boats out to sea offshore and save their vessels, returning to the harbor the views
of destruction and debris slowed down their appoach.
The Japanese fishing industry in these regions were devastated.
Kishi's team suiting up and getting ready to deploy their SeaDoos
Visit google maps and check out the elevations and surrounding geographical terrain in this region, you
can view the rich fishing history of how it begins on land. Follow the rise of the surrounding land masses
into the mountains and the feeder washes, creeks and rivers. Check out the meridian line location and
view the craggy coastline. Oyster farming is perfect for the natural settings, melted snow ice water
bringing down rich nutrients and minerals into Yamada Bay.
However this terrain is very susceptible to the invasion of waters from tsunami immersion, with the
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undersea earth activity, which is some of the most active on the globe. On March 11 , where Yamada
town was built public buildings were washed away or destroyed by fire. A shelter was swept away from
this historic tsunami referred to as ‘311’.

18. Yamada Town March 23rd Snowfall
Twelve persons lost their lives at the shelter. Official records state that the shelter was built on high
ground 50 meters above sea level. The world’s highest and most capable and cutting edge designed sea
wall were not enough to protect human life from the power of the sea.
Reality shifts from historical perspective. If we gauge off of a past event, but do not include probable
events, shelter locations may not be functional, in fact possibly deadly.
The Wisdom of through the ages of folklore that has been passed on from father to son throughout the
generations saved a lot of people from the realities of Earth events in this region. There is a dialogue that
has sustained this wisdom from the people who live around the Sunriku shorelines that is remembered all
these years. ‘Tsunami Tendenko’, which means ‘Survive Yourself’.

19. Minamisanrik Town, floodwaters in the forrest line
If a huge earthquake occurs, ‘run on your own’. Don’t wait for anybody. Seek higher ground. Don’t take
anyone’s hand. Don’t look back. Saving yourself means saving others. This actually worked very well on
3-11. It is sad, and safe advice and makes sense. Survival instincts are basic preservation and a hard
reality to face when you are standing at ground zero.
The 311 image resonates with the United States of America terrorist attacks on 911. The first attack and
the secondary attacks, survival and survivors recovery are similar aspects of disasters that have specific
timelines and actions.
There is an old stone monument left for future generations as a warning and a lesson to heed from past
experience. It is over a hundred years of age. It says ‘Don’t build houses beyond this point to the sea’.
The stone is high in the forest inland away from the sea. It is a timeline marker from a past historical
account. The tsunami waters at after the time of placement created the runup effect far inland. It stopped
in the forest right before the location this stone was placed at. Amazing!101 designated shelters were hit
by the tsunami effects.

20. OTSUCHI, Japan - Kogan Temple is seen devastated in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on March
31, 2011, by the March 11 tsunami. At least 30 people who took shelter at the Buddhist temple went
missing. They had gathered there as the building nearly 1 kilometer from the sea was designated as a
tsunami evacuation facility. The temple also suffered a fire after the disaster. More than 100 designated
shelters were hit by the tsunami. (Kyodo)
The leadership roles and guidance were the most important decisive actions that took place in human
escape routes and choices in this catastrophic event. The tragedies at the Okawa elmenentary school
and he Hasegawa Kindergarten school in Ishinomaki City are reminders of this. The Okawa Elementary
school had 50 minutes warning from the onset of the earthquake to the first strike on the oncoming
tsunami wave.As valuable time was passing, the teachers held their students outside in the school yard.
When they finally made the decision to move, they took their students in the wrong direction to safety.
Instead of heading for the mountain, they headed to the nearest high bridge over the Okawa River. 68
students perished out of 108 in the surging debris laden waters.At Hasegawa Kindergarten, the teachers
there sent two buses full of infants to their homes after the earthquake struck. One bus decided to stop
when the driver heard the alert of a tsunami from the radio.
Another bus continued onward but heading into the direct path of tsunami waters. After the first wave
strikes, the infants are still alive inside the bus. The teachers couldn’t do anything, most of these infants
died in the ensuing fire that occurred near the bus location, trapped. The Kindergarten in Hasegawa had
no damage from the tsunami, because it is on high ground. The infants could have stayed safely there
from the onset of the tragedy. Poor leadership decisions, lack of effective use of time and a strategic
tsunami evacuation plan were not effective for these young victims and their charges.
When the executive manager of the Sato Fishery Company in Onagawa Town, which recently accepted
20 trainees from China, the manager immediately decided to take his Chinese apprentices to the Shinto
Shrine high on the mountain that was located directly behind the company headquarters. All the Chinese
apprentices arrive safely back in China after the disaster. He was their hero and lifesaver. Unfortunately
he died in the tsunami surging waters when he went back to look for people who remained in the
company on a search mission.

21. Kishi's team working at clearing these oyster beds
Japanese tsunami warning system:
http://www.seisvol.kishou.go.jp/eq/eng/fig/info.html
http://www.seisvol.kishou.go.jp/eq/e...nfo.html#info5
Vivid images of Yamada town
http://tetunakaya.o.oo7.jp/indexharu20110515.html
http://mmmorioka.exblog.jp/12357801/
http://mmmorioka.exblog.jp/12377420/
http://mmmorioka.exblog.jp/12397197/
http://mmmorioka.exblog.jp/12427702/
Under water images of Yamada town:
http://blog.livedoor.jp/npoudn/archives/3283699.html

22. Kishi's team helping in Yamada Town to clear the waters, here a large strand of fishing nets are being
recovered.
Here are some great links to background information of Yamada Town.
Check these out:
http://www.town.yamada.iwate.jp/04_k...y-english.html
http://www.town.yamada.iwate.jp/04_k...a-english.html
Mr. Hiroaki Kishi
********************************
Waterworks
〒007-0870
Fushiko10-1-13-8 Higashi-ku Sapporo
Hokkaido Japan
Hiroaki Kishi
TEL：011-786-6354
fax ：050-7515-7582
URL: www.k37waterworks.com
mail: info@k37waterworks.com
force38japan@gmail.com

23. K38 Japan - RWC Instructor
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