Tsunami Awareness Story - Inamura no Hi

The story of 稲むらの火 (Inamura no Hi), or “The Burning of the Rice Sheaves,” is a famous tale from Japan that emphasizes the importance of disaster preparedness and community leadership. Here’s a summary of the story:

The Story of Inamura no Hi

In a coastal village in Japan, an elderly and wise farmer, Hamaguchi Goryo, noticed unusual signs that foretold an impending tsunami. He saw the sea receding unusually far from the shore and felt the ground trembling slightly. Recognizing these as warning signs of a potential tsunami, he knew he needed to act quickly to save his village.

Goryo hurriedly climbed to a high hill where his rice sheaves (inamura) were stored. To alert the villagers of the danger, he set fire to the rice sheaves. Seeing the flames, the villagers rushed up the hill to help extinguish the fire. Once they reached the safety of the hilltop, the farmer pointed towards the sea. The villagers watched in awe and fear as a massive tsunami wave surged inland, inundating their homes and fields.

By sacrificing his valuable rice crop, the farmer saved the lives of his fellow villagers. The story of Inamura no Hi highlights the importance of paying attention to natural warning signs, the value of quick thinking and decisive action, and the need for community cooperation in the face of disaster.

This tale has become a symbol of disaster preparedness and has been used to educate people about the importance of recognizing and responding to natural hazards.

Goryo also accomplished a far-sighted disaster prevention project in Hiro-mura village by building a large embankment. The embankment had successfully prevented the village from another tsunami destruction in 1944 and 1946. The Hiro-mura Embankment is still protecting the people of Hirogawa-cho until today.