知人から東日本大震災被災地を再びめぐる住宅関係団体企画の情報提供があった。
　わたしは第２次世界大戦が終わって７年後にこの世に生を受けた。生粋の「戦後」世代ということになる。そしてここまでの人生で「戦争」という極限状況を幸いにして知らずに生きてきた。
　戦争や内乱・動乱というものは、個人や家・家族にとって決定的な外部要因として働く。いわば逃れようのない「運命」として人間に降り注いでくるものだろう。そのなかで生き延びる、生きるということを迫られることになる。いや、その流れの中で個としてのいのちそのものも潰えさる可能性のある状況。
　いずれにせよ、否応なく訪れてくる「さだめ」とも言えるのだろう。
　たしかに戦争という極限は体験しなかったけれど、2011年３月11日、札幌の会社事務所の自室で遠い遠雷のような地鳴りと揺らぎを体験していた。窓の外、南側に発光をも見ていた。
　わたしは北海道で地域住宅雑誌を創刊し住宅性能革新とそのいごこちデザインの掘り下げを志向してきていた。そのNEXT地域として大手企業との連携関係から東北へ進出し各地域のみなさんと「協働」意識ももって東北版に取り組んできていた。この3.11には翌々日に仙台に向かって出張の予定もあった。
　それまでの人生で想像することすら出来なかった天変地異が進行していた。
　とりあえず直近のアポイント先と連絡を取ろうとしたが、それもきわめて困難な状況。映像では巨大津波によって各地で甚大な被害の状況が刻一刻と報道されてきていた。・・・
　そこからようやく東北への移動が許可されることになって、はじめて開通したフェリー航路で室蘭から通常は八戸だったものが臨時的な上陸先としての青森へ移動し、青森県内の幾人かと面会した後、いつも利用していた東北道を南下した。ガソリンなども入手困難という情報で予備のタンクも載せていた。
　途次は地震被害で上下左右に道がくねっていて、制限速度で走行していても空中に投げ出されるような一瞬もあった。なにができるかもわからない中で、出来ることをしようと考え続けていた。
　各地のひとと無事を確認し合い、最後、福島県庁の方と話し合って、被災した人びとの住宅問題についての情報ツールという提起を受けて「東北の住まい再生」というボランティア情報誌を「できるかぎり早く」刊行させる活動に向かって行った。全国の企業先からの支援提供もいただくことが出来た。
　・・・人知が及び得ない決定的要因がこの世には存在する。やはり「戦争」だったと思えている。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[15 Years Since the Great East Japan Earthquake: An Extreme, “War-Like” Experience in Life]
The earth shaking, the massive tsunami. Colossal forces far beyond the scope of any individual or home. War and natural disasters. How do we go on living after that…

　An acquaintance provided me with information about a housing-related organization’s plan to revisit the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
I was born seven years after the end of World War II. That makes me a true “postwar” generation. And, fortunately, I have lived my life so far without ever experiencing the extreme conditions of “war.”
　War, civil strife, and turmoil act as decisive external factors for individuals, households, and families. They descend upon humanity as an inescapable “fate,” so to speak. In such circumstances, one is forced to survive and to live. No, it is a situation where one’s very existence as an individual could be crushed in the midst of that current.
In any case, it could be described as a “destiny” that comes whether one likes it or not.
　While I certainly never experienced the extreme conditions of war, on March 11, 2011, in my office at the company headquarters in Sapporo, I experienced a rumbling and shaking that felt like distant thunder. I even saw a glow outside the window to the south.
I had launched a regional housing magazine in Hokkaido, aiming to explore innovations in housing performance and the design of living comfort. As the next step in this initiative, I had expanded into the Tohoku region through partnerships with major corporations, working on a Tohoku edition with a spirit of “collaboration” alongside local communities. I had even scheduled a business trip to Sendai for the day after the 11th.
A natural disaster of a magnitude I could never have imagined in my entire life was unfolding.
I tried to contact my immediate business contacts, but the situation made that extremely difficult. Video footage was being broadcast moment by moment, showing the massive damage caused by the giant tsunami across various areas. …
Finally, I received permission to travel to Tohoku. I took the newly reopened ferry route from Muroran—which normally goes to Hachinohe—to Aomori, which had been designated as a temporary landing point. After meeting with several people in Aomori Prefecture, I headed south on the Tohoku Expressway, which I always used. Hearing that gasoline was hard to come by, I had brought a spare tank along.
　Along the way, the roads were twisted and twisted due to earthquake damage, and even while driving at the speed limit, there were moments when I felt as if I were being thrown into the air. Not knowing what I could do, I kept thinking about doing whatever I could.
After confirming everyone’s safety with people in various regions, I finally spoke with officials from the Fukushima Prefectural Government. Following their suggestion to create an information tool addressing housing issues for disaster victims, I set out to publish a volunteer information magazine titled “Rebuilding Homes in Tohoku” as “soon as possible.” We were also able to secure support from companies across the country.
…There are decisive factors in this world that lie beyond human understanding. I have come to believe that, ultimately, it was “war.”

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 4月 24th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類