東日本大震災で両親を亡くした少年は21歳に　支えと葛藤の15年、自ら選んだ道へ　岩手県 (26/03/10 17:35)

March 11, 2026 marks 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. A young man who lost his parents and grew up with the support of his grandmother and public systems is now leaving that support behind and beginning to walk the path he has chosen. Haruto Oikawa (21) left his hometown of Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, to attend university in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. He is currently (as of March 2026) a fourth-year university student, searching for his own path in life. Haruto Oikawa "Even if I rush and work hard to graduate, I don't know what will happen after that. So I thought it would be better to give myself a little more leeway." Wanting to take his time to consider his future path, he decided to stay on at university for another year. "If my parents had been there, I might have been able to talk to them about it," he says, sometimes thinking this way. Oikawa Haruto "I think they gave me a pep talk, telling me to pull myself together, but I also think they were showing me the way when I was in trouble. If I had received their advice, decided on my career path earlier, and stuck to it, I think the timing of my graduation would have been different." Haruto has lived through the past 15 years, navigating a variety of emotions and conflicts. Immediately after the earthquake, with his parents still missing, Haruto (then 6 years old) and his older brother Yoshiki (then 9 years old) worked hard at the evacuation center, despite their small size. His maternal grandmother, Ioko (then 67 years old), who evacuated with them, watched over the two brave souls. Grandmother Ioko (then 67 years old) "They're doing their best, so it's okay. They haven't seen their mom and dad yet." The two were beaming with smiles at the evacuation center. However, behind their expressions lay a sincere wish. His older brother, Yoshiki (9 years old at the time) "I think (my parents) will come, if I try hard..." "If I stand out, Mom and Dad will find me," he believed, continuing to act cheerfully. However, his father, Tokuhisa (39 at the time), and mother, Noriko (39 at the time), were later found dead. At the time, Haruto was still a first-grader, at an age where he wanted to be pampered. Despite losing his normal everyday life, he grew up strong and upright under the love of his grandmother. Haruto later went on to a local high school, where he enjoyed fulfilling days with club activities and more. Haruto's grandmother, Isoko, took in the two siblings, and this was her second time raising children. After his older brother, Yoshiki, left home to continue his studies, she supported Haruto's growth in the slightly larger public housing for disaster victims. In 2022, 11 years after the disaster, Haruto was in his third year of high school. Around this time, he began choosing bread for breakfast, something he could easily eat. This was done out of consideration for minimizing the burden on Ioko. Haruto Oikawa (17 years old at the time) "I'm used to it. It wasn't enough when I was in club activities, though." As he approached university, Haruto seemed to be conscious of becoming independent and becoming independent. Haruto Oikawa (17 years old at the time) "(Ioko) has been taking care of me and my older brother almost by herself. My brother has moved to Sendai, and I'm moving here this spring, so I'm worried she'll feel like she's done everything she can and collapse." On the day they moved to Sendai, Ioko quietly saw Haruto off. As Haruto waved, Ioko waved back, saying, "Be careful." Haruto had made friends in Sendai and was enjoying a smooth university life, but even so, he was still concerned about Ioko, who was living alone. Haruto Oikawa (18 years old at the time) "She's getting older, too, so I call her every now and then to check in on her physical condition, whether she's getting lonely or not, because she's getting older. She always speaks in a cheerful tone." When Haruto visits his hometown on the weekends, Ioko beams. The day before the "20th Birthday Gathering," Haruto's favorite pork soup was served on the table to celebrate his graduation. Haruto Oikawa (19 years old at the time) "I don't usually eat pork soup in Sendai, so sometimes I go to a set meal restaurant and order it as a set. But the one my grandma makes is the best." With his Coming-of-Age Ceremony just a day away, Haruto tells Ioko with a smile, "Tomorrow's my Coming-of-Age Ceremony." Ioko replies, "Congratulations," to which Haruto expresses his gratitude, saying, "It's all thanks to you, grandma." Ioko's words bring tears to her eyes. Oikawa Haruto "I've caused a lot of trouble, though." Ioko "Nothing, nothing." At the "20th Birthday Gathering," Haruto was dressed in a formal kimono and hakama. Oikawa Haruto (then 19 years old) "I'm glad. He's shown a proper, respectable appearance." Seeing him grow up was the greatest joy for Ioko. Then, in February 2026, Haruto took advantage of spring break to return to Rikuz...