Memories and prayers woven from scars
In the small garden, there is a large lantern that was carefully selected by my grandparents. On January 17, 1995, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurred. The city of Kobe recorded a seismic intensity of 7, and Kyoto City also experienced a seismic intensity of 5. The impact caused the lantern to fall over and its tip to break. I was only two years old at the time, and I have no memory of the shaking. However, my family has told me many times about that day. How frightening it was, how much damage there was - even if I don't remember it myself, it is certainly engraved in my heart by being passed down through the generations. Normally, it would be common to completely repair it and replace it with a new one. However, we decided to leave this scar. This is to ensure that we do not forget the events of that day, and to engrave in our hearts how precious our everyday lives are.
Now the lantern is lit up, welcoming visitors with a warm welcome. Its light does not just illuminate the garden, but serves as proof that past trials were overcome, and gently speaks to the meaning of cherishing each day and the preciousness of this present moment.
We sincerely hope that such a disaster will never occur again in the future. However, if something similar does happen again, we will continue to have the strength to overcome it like the light of a lantern. This lantern continues to shine quietly today, with the hope that the memory will never be forgotten.