One Minamisanriku couple recently found a silver lining in the Tohoku tsunami disaster. A 42-year-old man living in one of the town's evacuee shelters successfully proposed to a 28 year-old volunteer worker there. The couple, resident Seiki Abe and and volunteer Nozomi Murakami plan to marry in mid-May.
Over 1,000 people died or went missing and nearly 3,300 homes were destroyed in the tsunami that assailed the town. Approximately 8,700 displaced residents are living in area shelters. Abe's home was relatively undamaged, but as a volunteer firefighter, he has been spending his days at a shelter cooking for residents. Murakami, who is a laundry worker, said she was inspired to volunteer because her father did the same following the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995.
The two met when Murakami, who was tasked with ferrying supplies, asked Abe to show her around. After the couple became closer, Abe popped the question on April 16. That same day, Murakami was scheduled to return to her hometown. “I guess this is goodbye,” Seiki told her. They credit those words for changing their fate.
Murakami said she could come back, but Abe felt it would be wrong to confine her to a disaster area. Before the couple knew it, they were on their way to the makeshift town hall to pick up wedding papers. “I promise to protect you. I'll never let you go,” Abe said when he proposed.
The couple said they will hold a wedding ceremony in the evacuee shelter, with other evacuees as witnesses.
© Compiled from news reports
19 Comments
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masakmasa
I was surprised, but it warmed my heart to see that love can be found even after such a disaster. I hope their love continues forever.
nonsibi
I wish them happiness.
tigerguy
sorry, supposed to say he's the lucky guy...
tigerguy
Hey there's work to be done here, there's no time to be horsing around with romance...just kidding. All the best to them, he's the lucky to get a ticket outta there with a younger gal...yeehah!
seesaw2
a 42-year old Japanese man still single..? mezurashii..ne!
BurakuminDes
I agree Oberst! For a 44-year-old with a shock of hair like that (is it real though is the big question ?!) - the bloke deserves a girl as young as possible! It's only right...
Tamarama
Well played my man. Nice story. I feel super happy miracle happy.
gaijinstud
What...?
YongYang
Movie rights in the bag. Enjoy your new course. Sail true.
oberst
nice head of hair........" lucky " dude
TheBigRiceBowl
What is it they say in Japanese? 不幸中の幸い
BurakuminDes
He has done well - a woman 14 years younger! Good luck to them both, out of tragedy comes a bright future.
fondofj
Good luck to both of them. More and more these happy stories gonna happen as overwhelming volunteers flocking to the shelters.
tokyochris
^^ That
Nice story though - good to see some nice things can come as a result of a tragedy.
smithinjapan
Cheesy, but nice. Good luck to them both.
Sarge
Great story! I couldn't help but do a quick calculation - when he was 28, she was only 14! I guess it's better that they met last month!
Kalamari
Aye, best of wishes to them. :)
sf2k
very cool! best wishes
gaijinstud
i smell a drama~~~