Mr. Hiroji Okamoto

I am working in this Institution as a volunteer, once a week basically. Please call me “Hiro” here-after.

Natural disaster devastate cities and various infrastructures and makes our lives miserable situation. The more destructive a calamity is, the more damages tend to increase.

Regret to say, at present, there is no way to change compulsorily it’s coming, and date, and scale. But, we know that it is available to deduct the assumable damages, by the effective preparation which based upon exhaustive observation and inspection of the scene.

Japanese proverb says, “One observation is more useful than frequent listening.

This insists the importance of seeing of the matter by one’s own eyes.
This institution has not only a large volume of datum and records in order to notify to our guest, also has three kind of documentary movies, in relate to the “Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake” and the “Great East-Japan Earthquake, as well as many video systems.

In this occasion, I sincerely hope that as many as guest will visit this institution, and have a better understanding for the various types of Natural Disasters and how to reduce or deduct the damages caused by them.

I am very glad, that my volunteer activity may contribute, even if it is very small, to promote a happy life of human being.

Best regards

Mr. Makoto Kakuda

I was born in Kobe in 1935 and of almost my life had be spending this place, learning school, working on business, so Kobe is precious place for me.

But on 1995 the great earthquake struck Kobe area. Panic set in the city become a mountain of rubble. As the result of this, Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution is established in Kobe. We can learn the earthquake and help reduce damage. I’d like to do volunteer in this institution. I want to have a chance to talk with people from various countries. Please drop in at our place. Welcome with smile.

Mr. Toshiharu Kanehara

After retirement I began to do various kinds of voluntary works. Unlike many of them, the job at the DRI museum is rather stable over a long term (not officially but virtually). In addition, it offers us opportunities to speak English．That is why I submitted my application for it as soon as I happened to notice it three months before the opening of the facility. Now I work here only once a week on Friday afternoon. But it is always a great pleasure for me to interact with native or non-native speakers of English and also with many other volunteers at work with me. If possible, I would like to continue the job until my health declines or the management ask me to leave,

Mr. Takanobu Kimura

I suddenly felt a shock of earthquake on the resort hotel located in the Shirahama hot-spring, Wakayama prefecture, at January 17, 1995. Soon after that I heard the news of detail information where the epicenter is northern area of Awaji island and quake level is 7 which is highest level of Japan.

My house is located in Tarumi-ward where is very close to epicenter, so I called to my daughter who stayed in my house, and then I heard that the house was not destroy but may be little bit tilt. So we returned to the home quickly, but traffic was very crowded, then we returned home almost one-day after starting of the resort hotel.

Our house was damaged on the foundation of the back-side partially by crack of the concrete frame and also damage of wooden house-frame that the house was tilted about two degree into back side direction.

I asked to repair to the carpenter who is familiar with my company. He repaired my house very quickly in spite of very busy time. About half years later repair was finished.

I studied many important things from the repairing works of my house, which one is the braces in order to strengthen the house and second is the adequate foundation.

So I can explain more strongly through this experience that the braces and the adequate foundation are more important for the house construction.

Now, my name is Takanobu Kimura eighty-one years old, I was born in Oct. 1934 in Nagoya city. I was experienced many years for design section and others in some famous electric apparatus maker until retirement age. I am an electric engineer for AC motor control and electric heating devices.

And I’m a Christian baptized in Easter of 1974 in Nagoya, I believe God, Son of God and Holy Spirit, as my Savior from my sin. I also have so many thanks for God’s love and having of eternal life.

I’m belong to “Jesus Christ Church in Japan” as a Christian member.

Mr. Yukihiro Kimura

I used to be an architect. After my retirement, I involved in advisory activities for disaster reduction in developing countries.
I hope you visit DRI and discuss the issue with us.

Mr. Shinichiro Sarai

Work Experience: The first major activities and responsibilities as Management Committee of Logistic Strategy for Japan elected by UK had been to participate into the establishment project of new joint venture company in Japan. Thereafter I am proud of having served four presidents for thirty years until the retirement and having been able to contribute a lot to the society through ethical pharmaceutical product.

Great Hanshin Earthquake Experience: At the time of Great Hanshin Earthquake, the headquarters was in the Kobe Crystal Tower in front of Kobe station, and the Lab & Logistic Center was at Kobe Seishin High Tec Park. Devastating earthquake struck PC of headquarter which saved all the data of a clinical and launching schedule, and PC lost most of non-compatible data due to drastic earthquake. And the supply function also suffered the tremendous damage that Kobe Seishin site fell into non-renewable condition due to the ruin collapse of Kobe port facilities, transportation and road network around Kobe city, it seemed impossible to restart.

After one month, we got suddenly un-expectable surprise from UK. “We should move to Tokyo as soon as possible.” The move to Tokyo was completed two years later. All staffs of headquarters(200 colleagues)called this move “the tragedy of the second earthquake”, since we all had been enjoying Kobe life for ten years.

Volunteer Works for this year: I would like to summarize here my objectives as English Guide Volunteer for this year, based on my hard and actual experience mentioned above. It is mainly a marketing problem-tremendous cost of money. If there were corporate leaders who say they cannot afford to invest in prevention measure against a disaster that come around once every few centuries, they would forget earthquake activity, they may be sure that a great suffering will be repeated for their corporation and their family as well. Finally I would appreciate your having my presentation seen, and hope to see you at DRI museum someday for the future.

Ms. Mitsuyo Shibusawa

I started to volunteer activities from 2003, I have been working mainly on Tuesday. I was working as a tour reader to abroad for long time. I visited a lot of countries. And when I was 40, I had that earthquake. I can’t forget the sense of shaking of the early morning.

I have been explaining the recovering process from the time of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, what it takes to protect you, mechanism of earthquake and an earthquake that might be happened etc.

When I am in charge of a group, such as tourists or members of the researchers, I have been guiding depending on their purpose, because I want to produce meaningful time for each visitors. Please feel free to ask me about our full of proud hometown, Kobe.

Ms. Yoko Sugawara

When the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurred in 1995, I was at Lincoln Nebraska in USA. Six months before the earthquake, my family had moved to America because of my husband’s work. The news of the big disaster in Kobe spread soon in our town, and I was shocked to see the catastrophe of Kobe where many houses and buildings had collapsed. After eight years, we returned to Japan and settled down in Kobe city. Then, I was surprised again to see that Kobe had beautifully recovered from the earthquake.

Every year in this memorial museum, we have many visitors from various countries. After seeing our displays and experiments about the earthquake, many visitors are impressed with the people’s power of recovery from the earthquake and realize the importance of preparation for disasters. I am happy to help them understand about the disasters and importance of our life.

Ms. Michiyo Tobe

I was awoken by the unimaginably strong vibration. “Is it a gas explosion or something!?” I shouted. Like many citizens of Kobe, I had never expected the earthquake to hit this region. I had not prepared at all. Though our house was damaged, it was habitable because the damage was minor, But even in the house, life was difficult with outage of water and gas supply.

Now, I have volunteered at DRI since 2003 to share with visitors how people in the disaster-stricken areas coped with the harsh situation with domestic and international support and what must be done to prepare for and respond to possible future earthquakes using the articles on display. There are also volunteer storytellers in this museum talking about their experiences. When they are available, I am ready to interpret their stories at a recital corner on the third floor if requested by visitors.

Mr. Yoshihiro Nakamura

On the occasion of the earthquake I live in the western part of Kobe (Suma ward) and as my house suddenly inclined so much, my family together escaped out of it with bare life. Most of my neighboring houses have fallen down or damaged and many people were injured or died. In a position of an actual observant I will be able to give full account of the situation about the earthquake to the visitors.

While, among the many exhibits in the hall of the Institution I’d like especially to explain about those at the corner of relief goods donated from various countries and can talk with the audience from various viewpoints. For example the motorcycle presented by Italian police was much timely and more suitable for the user than the motorcar under the circumstances at that time because of narrower space and of a heap of rubbles on the road by collapse of houses or buildings.

Mr. Hirotada Nambu

Now we are in the globalization world, many overseas people visit our center, so I tell them you must know how to save your lives and overcome the accident, this is very important to reduce our risks. These are no definite rules to go on your works or run away from the area when you were hit by them under the instant judgment with embarrassment. So as usual cases of EARTHQUAKE, you take evacuate to some open area, in the cases of TSUNAMI, you should run up higher area than that points.

Mr. Hideki Hayashi

1. 1 Visited more than 45 countries including
   1. 1) Australia : 6 years stay
   2. 2) USA and Malaysia : more than 30 times visit each Naturally have a good knowledge about thee Countries.
      For example: culture, the national character
2. 2 At 2nd floor of DRI
   Always explain the cause of earthquake and the risk of each country where every visitor ( foreigner) came from, by google map.

Mr. Ryohei Furumi

I have been volunteering for about 14 years in Disaster Reduction Institution (DRI) since it was founded in April 2002. I have guided many foreign visitors in these years.

I have found that these foreign visitors generally look into our exhibitions very eagerly, and praise that our exhibitions are very well prepared, as well as the building of DRI is very clean.

I would like to continue my volunteer activity in DRI as long as my health condition allows, and would like to convey our bitter but precious experiences of Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake to many foreign visitors.

I find that all staff members of DRI are working very hard to upgrade visitor’s satisfaction. I would definitely like to co-operate with them so that DRI becomes most attractive facility in Hyogo Prefecture.

I certainly wish that many foreign visitors come to DRI in future.

Ms. toyoko Hongo

On January 17th 1995, I was awakened by a big shake, but I could not figure out what had happened. However, the aftershocks that followed made me realize it was a big earthquake. I lived in Kobe with my husband, his parents and three children (8,12 and 14 years old). Seven of us were fine, but many houses in the neighborhood collapsed. One of my neighbors lost her children, and my children lost their friends.

My parents’ house in Nishinomiya also fell, but they could get out of the collapsed house without much injury.

I learned many lessons from this incident. About six years later, I found that Hyogo Prefecture was recruiting staff for a memorial institution. So here I am working as a volunteer guide.

If you ever come to Kobe, Japan, please visit here to learn about the earthquake of 1995 and disaster reduction.

Ms. Michiko Maezono

Here is a world map, look at the situation of Japan. You see Japan is faced to Pacific Ocean and surrounded by many active faults. So we have many earthquakes almost every day here and there, small one or big one. In addition we have many disasters, tsunami, soil erosion, typhoon, flood, eruption, tornado, destroying of mountain and cause them landslide, liquefaction, and so on.We Japanese must think about how to prevent and reduce for them. For example we have the building code when we make our house, we must obey the rule.

I would like explain and talk about with people who live together on the EARTH.

Mr. Hiroo Mishima

I have been volunteering as English guide for 14 years in disaster Reduction Institution (DRI) since April 2002. I can speak English as well as a little Deutsch and Chinese.

21 years ago I encountered Hanshin Awaji earthquake at my house in Osaka Suita city. Though a wardrobe fell down and many dishes jumped from a sideboard and broke, luckily nobody was there and nobody was injured.

Our factories at Itami city in Hanshin area were damaged by the earthquake. Thankfully maintenance workers from Toyota, Mitsubishi and other car manufactures helped and cooperated with us, we were able to produce Disc Brake for car within 6 days again and nobody was injured.

I am very glad to see that many foreign visitors have appreciated our exhibitions very much after their eager visits.

I would like to continue my volunteer activity in DRI as long as my health condition allows and would like to convey our bitter but precious experiences of our earthquake to many foreign visitors.

Mr. Yasunori Momitani

I have been working here as an English Volunteer since April in 2007. Ever since, I have guided a many people visited here from various parts of the world. Amongst them, there were ordinary travelers, University, High-School students, faculty members at several Institutes, Scientific Researchers, Trainees at JICA and so on.

In my way of showing the exhibitions to the visitors, I shall show those things as it is. And then, for the better understanding of visitors, I shall talk with them of related memories that I saw and experienced since I really was in the midst of the disaster area at that very moment.

The most important thing that I strongly believe is “How the lessons learned from KOBE would have been or would be utilized for taking up the measures for prevention and reduction of future disasters.

I would like to see you quite soon.

Ms. Nanami Yoshimoto

What motivated me to involve in this volunteer work? I believe my experience will do some help to those who don’t know about the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.

As the saying goes, disaster strikes when it is least expected. What we can do now is “Be prepared”

Just come to Kobe and visit our Earthquake Museum. I hope you’ll find out some clue here how to protect yourselves from disaster. Kobe is my hometown.

上松 昭子

当我正在想要过一个有意义的晚年的时候，偶然遇上，人与防灾未来中心在招募志工，我到今年已经做了13年了，志工需有主动性，无償性的精神，在这里在各方面我学习了很多，又相遇了很多各国的朋友。

大地震后，为了不使它风化，我要传说给后世子孙，对灾害的记忆不要淡忘。

當我正在想要過一個有意義的晚年的時候，偶然遇上，人舆防災未来中心在招募志工，我到今年已經做了13年了，志工需有主動性，無償性的精神，在這里在各方面我學習了很多，又相遇了很多各國的朋友。

大地震後，為了不使它風化，我要傳説給後世子孫，對災害的記憶不要淡忘。

大砂古　賢治

亲爱的朋友们:您好！

我是个日本人。以前在中国工作过七年。现在在「人与防灾未来中心（神户防灾博物馆）」

用中文给外国人当导游。导游的内容是1995年在日本神户发生的「阪神/淡路大震灾」
的事情。比如介绍发生地震时的情况，后来到复兴之路的情况，今后发生地震时怎么防止地震灾害什么的。还有介绍当时的震灾相关资料。如果您对地震感兴趣，请到神户来参观

「人与防灾未来中心」。我来详细地给你们介绍一下。

谢谢。

中文导游 大砂古贤治

小野惠子

歡迎各位來日本神戶!

1995年當時我是一個大學生.因我家在靠山的新興住宅區, 幸好沒什麼大事.
可這二十多年,我親眼看到神戶復興的過程.

因為我平時有自己的工作（日文教師）,所以來這裡當志工的時間比較少.
但是我喜歡跟大家說說話.

請大家來這裡,跟我們一起來學"防災"和"未來"吧!

蔡　勝昌（Cai　Sheng　Chang）

李 锦华

自从几年前，我来到神户防灾中心服务时，我学习了很多关于神户大地震的事情和复兴的事。可说是很宝贵的经历。其实说来最现实的问题是我们不知道灾害几时会来。但最清楚的事，灾害一定会发生。我们要铭记在我们的心中和时刻保持警觉。还有来馆参观的各色人士（各界人士）都赞同说，生命真的是最重要。而且从参观中学到很重要的事，我听了非常高兴。所以在震灾要来之前，对人有益的话，我们不能不说，因为这些知识能帮助人培养安定性和实际的智慧。

李 錦華

自從幾年前，我來到神戶防災中心服務時，我學習了很多關於神戶大地震的事情和復興的事。可說是很寶貴的經歷。其實說來最現實的問題是我們不知道災害幾時會來。但最清楚的事，災害一定會發生。我們要銘記在我們的心中和時刻保持警覺。還有來館參觀的各色人士（各界人士）都贊同說，生命真的是最重要。而且從參觀中學到很重要的事，我聽了非常高興。所以在震災要來之前，對人有益的話，我們不能不說，因為這些知識能幫助人培養安定性和實際的智慧。

王 希珠

안녕하세요! 저는사람과방재미래센터에서 한국어전시해설을담당하고있는자원봉사
왕희주입니다.지난1995년1월17일새벽5시46분,진도7,마그네튜드7.3 10초의진동으로
6,434명의소중한생명을잃게되었습니다, 그아픈을후세애알리고, 득히방재,감재를목적
으로, 효고현이2002년에 ,사람과방재미래센터를개관했습니다.
17만점이상의자료와전시품, 동영상등이있고, 해마다국내외에서견학오시는손님이약50만명
이상입니다, 고베에오시면꼭방문해주십시요.감사합니다.

親愛的朋友們大家好。我叫王希珠，是一名志工，在神户人舆防災未来中心做華語和韓語的展示解説員，
人世變化無常，於1995年1月17日早上5點46分，發生了烈度7，震級7.3的强烈地震，震了10秒犧牲了6434名
寳貴的生命，為了這刻骨銘心的痛，為了使後世子孫永記心中，更為了防災，減災，兵庫縣在2002年開設了
人舆防災未来中心，内有18萬點资料，展示品和動映畫，至今每年從國内及國外来参觀的人數達50萬人以上，
歡迎光臨，敬請指教。謝謝！

亲爱的朋友们大家好。 我叫王希珠，是一名志工，在神户人与防灾未来中心做华语和韩语的展示解说员，
人世变化勿常，於1995年1月17日早上5奌46分，发生了烈度7，震级7.3的强烈地震，震了10秒牺牲了6434名
宝贵的生命，为了这刻骨铭心的痛，为了使后世子孙永记心中，更为了防灾，減灾，兵库县在2002年开设了
人与防灾未来中心，内有18万点资料，展示品，和动映画，至今每年从国内及国外来参观的人数达50万人以上，
欢迎光临，敬请指教。谢谢！

宮部 葉子

En 1995 me sorprendió el Gran Terremoto en mi apartamento. Han pasado 21 años,y he olvidado poco a poco la memoria y el terror aunque trabajo en este Centro.

Creo que es importante transmitir a más visitantes las lecciones adquiridas por nuestra experiencia y las maneras de prevención contra el gran desastre que hemos aprendido en este Centro.

Cuando vienen los visitantes que hablan español les acompaño para explicar las exhibiciones.

En Latinoamérica ocurren muchos terremotos como en Japón, deseo que visiten muchos.

¡Por favor venga a este Centro!

Si reserva la fecha de antemano le estaré esperando aquí sin falta.