It’s been 29 years since then. This morning, I woke up early, turned on the TV, and at 5:46 a.m., I joined in silent prayer with everyone participating in the Kobe memorial event on the live broadcast. I still remember it vividly. I was probably dozing off in bed when suddenly a strong shake and creaking sounds filled the air. I quickly got up and turned on the TV, learning it was a magnitude 7.3 earthquake with an intensity of 7, originating in the northern part of Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture. Intensity 7 was unprecedented in recorded history, an unimaginably powerful earthquake.
Not having had enough of breakfast, I headed to Mukonosho, Amagasaki City, where my classroom was located. I managed to reach Hankyu Umeda Station, but they say the train is currently out of service. So, I decided to wait by the large TV next to the entrance of the Kinokuniya bookstore downstairs. The screen showed live broadcasts of the situation in Kobe city. Numerous buildings and houses had collapsed, and smoke from the resulting fires billowed ominously.
After about two hours, there was still no sign of the trains moving. I gave up and decided to go back home. I took my car from home to Sakura Bridge in the center of Osaka, but there I got stuck. I couldn’t move forward or backward. Behind me, many fire trucks had come for rescue from Aichi and Gifu prefectures and elsewhere, sirens blaring, but they were also immobile. I resigned myself to the situation and decided to return home on that day.

あれから29年経った。今朝は早くから起きてテレビをつけ、５時46分、中継画面に映る神戸の追悼行事に参加した皆さんと黙祷した。今でもはっきり覚えている。寝床でうとうとしていたと思うが、突然大きな揺れがして、家が軋む音がした。早速起きてテレビをつけたら、兵庫県淡路島北部を震源とするマグニチュード7.3震度７の地震だという。震度7は観測史上初めてと言うことだからとててつもない大地震だ。
朝食もそこそこに教室のある尼崎市武庫之荘に向かった。阪急梅田駅に何とかたどり着いたのだが、只今不通と言うので、階下の紀伊國屋書店入口横にある大型テレビを見て待つことにした。画面には神戸市内の様子が実況放送されている。沢山のビルや家屋が倒壊し、発生した火災の煙がもくもくと上がっている。
２時間はそうしていただろうか、電車は一向に動く気配がない。自宅に帰って車で行くことにした。自宅から車に乗って大阪中心部の桜橋までは来たんだが、そこで立ち往生、行くことも帰ることもできない。後ろには愛知県や岐阜県、その他から救援に来た沢山の消防車もサイレンは鳴らすんだが、これも動かない。諦めて、この日は自宅に帰ることにした。