The Power of Art: One Year After the Noto Peninsula Earthquake

Food distribution at the community center. (© Nippon.com)

Temporary housing was erected on the grounds of Misaki Junior High School. The community center is near the gate. (© Nippon.com)

The crafting corner. The plastic cases stacked to the left contain cloth Yamagata Yūko saved from her old workplace after the quake. (© Nippon.com)

The women share memories as they choose fabric. Yamagata Yūko is on the left. (© Nippon.com)

A member of the craft group cuts hearts out for the others. (© Nippon.com)

A group of six or seven gather spontaneously. (© Nippon.com)

Her house split in two between the living room and kitchen. (© Yamagata Yūko)

A collapsed house directly outside of Misaki Junior High School. (© Nippon.com)

Yamagata’s tough experiences as an adult guardian were reported in the national papers. (© Nippon.com)

The chatter is more important than the crafting going on. (© Nippon.com)

Yamagata’s house was destroyed in the quake, and was later demolished and the land cleared. (© Nippon.com)

At a meeting at the Suzu community hall, Yamagata explains the “Heart Mark Viewing” activity. (© Kawakatsu Miki)

Yamagata listens to the participants attentively. (© Nippon.com)

The heart shapes express a range of feelings. I pray that these hopes can be realized soon. (© Nippon.com)