Ryujiro Kusaka, far right, and Mina Hangui, back row, left, pose for a photo with their former school friends.（かつての学友たちと並んで記念撮影する日下龍二郎さん（右）と半杭美奈さん（後列左））
Kusaka, right, receives his graduation certificate from his former homeroom teacher Rumi Kawashima.（日下さん（右）は、かつての担任教師である川島るみさんから卒業証書を受け取った）
MINAMI-SOMA, Fukushima – Dressed in suits and elegant kimono, eight 25-year-olds have finally celebrated their “graduation” from Hatsupara Elementary School in the Odaka district of Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, 15 years after the 2011 accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
2011年の福島第１原子力発電所事故から15年後、25歳になった8人の若者が、スーツや上品な着物に身を包み、福島県南相馬市小高区にある鳩原小学校の「卒業」を祝った。
They received their graduation certificates on March 7, 13 years later than they were supposed to, when they reunited in the district, which was included in the government’s evacuation-designated zone after the accident at the plant belonging to Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.
彼らは3月7日、東京電力ホールディングス社の発電所事故で避難指示が出された同区に集まり、本来なら13年前にもらうはずだった卒業証書を受け取った。
The eight had been together from kindergarten to fourth grade, but were transferred to other schools in different parts of the country after the accident. “I had believed that our ordinary, yet cheerful days at that time would just continue,” said Ryujiro Kusaka, who moved to Nagasaki Prefecture.
8人は幼稚園から小学4年生までずっと一緒だったが、原発事故後、全国各地の学校に散り散りに転校していった。「あの頃の当たり前で楽しい日々が、そのまま続いていくと思っていた」と、長崎県に移り住んだ日下龍二郎さんは語った。
Although Kusaka enjoyed his days in his new location, there was something in the back of his mind which he could not express well. “Our everyday lives were suddenly disrupted. Even though it was just the eight of us, we wanted to live out our youth in an ordinary way,” Kusaka said.
日下さんは、新しい場所で楽しい日々を送ったが、心の奥底にはうまく言葉にできない思いがあった。「私たちの日常は突然崩れてしまった。たった8人だったけれど、私たちはごく普通の青春を送りたかった」と日下さんは話した。
Having thought that a graduation ceremony might help them take a step forward, Kusaka began reaching out to the other seven in autumn last year. He asked them, “Why don’t we hold a graduation ceremony?” He was a little worried about whether they would agree with his idea, but soon found out they felt the same way.
日下さんは、卒業式を行うことで自分たちが次のステップに進むきっかけになるかもしれないと考え、昨年秋から他の7人に声をかけ始めた。「卒業式をやってみないか？」との提案に、彼らが賛成してくれるか少し不安もあったが、すぐに彼らも同じ考えだとわかった。
Another of the eight is Mina Hangui, who works as a clerical employee in Tochigi Prefecture. After evacuating from the Odaka district, she transferred schools four times before attending a junior high school in Tochigi Prefecture. As she settled down, she thought of her friends from her hometown. She could not bring herself to get in contact, despite wanting to do so, since she thought everyone had their own lives to lead.
8人のうちのもう1人が、栃木県で事務員として働く半杭美奈さんだ。小高区から避難した後、栃木県の中学校に入学するまでに4回も転校した。生活が落ち着くにつれ、故郷の友人たちのことを思い出すようになった。連絡を取りたい気持ちはあったものの、皆それぞれ自分の生活があるだろうと思い、なかなか踏み切れなかった。
After Kusaka informed her of his idea and they eventually united, she found that they were all as close as when they were children. “I should have told them sooner that I wanted to see them,” Hangui said.
日下さんが自分の考えを彼女に伝え、そしてようやくみんなで集まることができると、彼女はみんなが子供の頃の関係と何も変わっていないとわかった。「もっと早く、みんなに会いたい気持ちを伝えておけばよかった」と半杭さんは言った。
While spending time together just like in days long past, they joyfully prepared for the ceremony.
８人は昔と変わらない時間を一緒に過ごしながら、喜びにあふれて式典の準備を進めた。
The ceremony was held at Asahiza, a former movie theater in Minami-Soma that is also a nationally registered tangible cultural property. Their former homeroom teacher Rumi Kawashima, 55, also attended the ceremony to hand each of them their graduation certificates.
式典は、南相馬市にある旧映画館で、国の登録有形文化財にも指定されている朝日座で行われた。彼らのかつての担任教師である川島るみさん（55歳）も式典に出席し、一人ひとりに卒業証書を手渡した。
After the ceremony, they visited the old school building, which has been closed down, and held a homeroom meeting in their former classroom. “Let’s get together and have fun,” Kusaka told the other seven. They promised to go on a school graduation trip.
式典後、彼らは既に廃校となった学校の校舎を訪れ、かつての教室でホームルームを開いた。「またみんなで集まって楽しもう」と日下さんは他の7人に語りかけた。卒業旅行に行くことも約束した。
On that day 15 years ago, the eight were scattered without even being able to say farewell. They were finally able to rectify this on graduation day, and they formed a circle and said loudly, “See you again.”
（ Translated by The Japan News ）
15年前のあの日、8人はお別れの言葉も交わせないまま、散り散りになってしまった。卒業式の日、8人はようやくその埋め合わせができた。彼らは輪になり、「また会おうね」と大声を張り上げた。
【 ２０２６年３月８日付・福島民友新聞掲載 】
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