Airi's book

March 13, 2015

FOUR YEARS AFTER: Girl killed in tsunami lives on in picture book

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/life_and_death/AJ201503130013

By YOSHINOBU MOTEGI/ Staff Writer

ISHINOMAKI, Miyagi Prefecture--Keiko Sekiguchi came up with a project to share in the sorrow of a grieving mother whose young daughter was killed in the 2011 disaster.

Sekiguchi wrote a letter to the mother, “I know I won’t be able to heal your grief, but please let me stand by your side.”

The mother, Mika Sato, was hesitant. But she eventually overcame her reluctance, resulting in a recently published 56-page picture book created in part by nearly two dozen children and Sato’s younger daughter.

The main character of “I want to call you my Mom--Girl comes down from heaven” is Airi Sato, who was 6 years old when she was killed in the tsunami that struck the Tohoku region on March 11, 2011.

Although the book revolves around the tragedy, it has uplifting moments of Airi’s happy days with her family, her bravery in the face of disaster, and her words of encouragement.

“She has lived the six years to the fullest,” the book says. “She has lived her life with all her strength.”

Sekiguchi, a Maebashi-based children’s book author, produced the picture book under the pen name of Fatima Coo.

After seeing Sato, 40, on TV in March 2014, Sekiguchi, 52, sent Sato the eight-page letter along with 11 of her illustrated books on the theme of life and love.

The mother had expressed concerns that she might appear brazen in requesting a book about her daughter. But six months later, Sato entrusted Sekiguchi to create the picture book about Airi’s life.

“I want educators to read this book so the same grief won’t be repeated,” Sato said. “I hope the book will convey the preciousness of life through the story of Airi, who wanted to live but could not.”

Kindergarten pupils, including Airi, were in a bus moving downhill from their school toward the coast of Ishinomaki after the magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck.

According to survivors of the disaster, children started crying, prompting Airi to tell them: “It will be OK. You mustn’t be scared.”

The children practiced the songs they had planned to sing at a thank-you party for teachers after the kindergarten commencement ceremony in four days’ time. Airi had practiced the songs with her mother.

The bus was engulfed by the tsunami and caught fire. Airi and four other children were killed.

In the book, Airi smiles to an angel in heaven. “I was able to call Mom a lot,” she says.

She also describes her favorite dishes--curry rice, meat and potato stew, and hamburg steak--and her love of drawing rainbows and hearts.

Airi also notes that the kimono she wore at a children’s festival and the backpack she planned to use at elementary school were both in her favorite color of light blue.

The girl says her six years were filled with happy memories surrounded by her family, and the book says that death cannot tear apart love.

The front cover illustration of Airi was created by Sekiguchi’s 11-year-old daughter. Twenty-two pictures in the book were drawn by children in Maebashi.

The back cover art was drawn by Juri, Airi’s younger sister, who is now 7. The illustration shows the two sisters walking hand in hand.

“The book is filled with warmth,” Sekiguchi said. “Airi continues to live in the book.”