Suguru Sasaki, a star rickshaw puller in the Bikan Historical Area, continues to volunteer in Mabi, Kurashiki City, while working as a rickshaw puller.
Sasaki, a current university student from Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture, reportedly spent almost all his time in Mabi from July 2018 to February 2019, working hard and giving it his all.
We spoke with Sasaki about how he came to volunteer while living in Mabi, his experiences, how he feels now, and what lies ahead.
The information presented here is current as of the article’s publication in February 2019. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Interview with Suguru Sasaki
What brought you to Mabi as a volunteer?
First, could you tell us how you came to volunteer in Mabi, Kurashiki City?
Sasaki
In July 2018, the Heavy Rain Event of July 2018 occurred, and I was shocked when I saw footage on TV of the Mabi area submerged in water. I felt frustrated that I couldn’t do anything, and then something my travel companion, traveling merchant Ryosho Hara, said gave me the push I needed.
“I have many travelers among my friends. I want you to use all of your travelers’ mobility and strength to help western Japan. Let’s go.”
I had never met Ryosho before the torrential rain disaster, but his words struck me, and I immediately contacted him: “I’ll go too!”
Ryosho had gone to the area soon after the Heavy Rain Event of July 2018, and he was too busy to reply. But I decided to head there too, even though it was during my university exam period.
I called for support with transportation costs and water, and arrived in Mabi ten days after the disaster.
At first, I planned to stay for two weeks, but once I got there, I realized that wasn’t nearly enough, so I extended my stay to two months. I still felt more help was needed, so I returned to Chiba and arranged to take about a year off from university.
Before going to the disaster-stricken area
By the way, what were you studying at university?
Sasaki
I wanted to study marketing so I could become a company president, and enrolled in the Faculty of Service Innovation at a university of commerce.
My father was self-employed, so I chose that path thinking I could take over and help him.
I had a really wonderful family environment.
That comes across in the way you speak. By the way, had you volunteered before?
Sasaki
No, this was my first time volunteering.
I love traveling, and I used to live overseas while hitchhiking. I had been helped by the kindness of so many people, and felt that the time had finally come to repay them, so I decided to go.
How volunteering brought joy and made a difference
How have you been living in Mabi?
Sasaki
Right after the disaster, I lived in a tent or stayed at Ryosho’s house. I’ve basically stayed in Mabi the whole time, and now I’m allowed to sleep at a place like a community center.
Once I decided to stay long-term, I bought a small truck to get around Mabi.
Did your feelings change as you volunteered?
Sasaki
Well… For the first two months, I couldn’t think about anything. I just threw myself into it. I worked desperately, clearing out soaked furniture and stripping wet walls, so much that my memory is hazy. The hardest job was carrying out the soaked tatami mats.
As I kept working without thinking, I was happy when I helped the same household enough times that they began to recognize me.
Before long, I naturally began to feel more strongly that I wanted to make the people in this home happy.
Could you tell us about something that left an impression on you?
Sasaki
There was a home where I helped carry out wet furniture. When everything had been cleared away and things had settled down, the elderly couple whose home I’d helped with said, “Please give us your address. Once things calm down, we’ll write to you. We’ll do our best!”
The words “We’ll do our best!” from people who are truly doing their best carried real weight. I was happy to see them looking well when I visited recently. Words and smiles like those gave me strength and encouragement.
Starting work as a rickshaw puller in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area
We heard you started working to continue volunteering long-term. Why did you choose to work as a rickshaw puller?
Sasaki
I’m timid, but I like being the center of attention, so I chose this job.
I had only visited the Bikan Historical Area once, during a break from volunteering, to get something sweet at Kurashiki Momoko.
I was introduced to various part-time jobs, but I thought this one would make me stand out the most, so I applied and started working.
What was the job actually like once you started?
Sasaki
It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Learning Kurashiki’s history was difficult, so I studied intensively until I had it memorized. I nearly gave up along the way, but I’d already told my friends about it, and I was too embarrassed to quit halfway through. It was also physically demanding work that used muscles I’d never used before, so I really struggled.
Was there anything that made a particular impression on you as you learned about Kurashiki’s history?
Sasaki
I was struck by Ohara Magosaburo’s words: “If five out of ten people agree with something, it’s usually already too late. If seven or eight people say it’s good, you’d be better off not doing it. You should do what only two or three people think is good.”
What has been rewarding or made you happy?
Sasaki
I was happy when people came after seeing a newspaper article about me, and when someone who happened to be visiting from Funabashi spoke to me.
I hope people will stop by the Bikan Historical Area and take a rickshaw ride after volunteering!
Looking ahead
We heard you’ll be staying in Mabi until February 2019. What are your plans after that?
Sasaki
I wanted to do something different from other people, so I’m planning to travel to the Philippines starting in March 2019. After that, I’d like to take it easy for a while.
Has volunteering in Mabi influenced how you think about the future?
Sasaki
It makes me really happy to see everyone smiling, so I hope I can keep doing things that make people smile.
I think few people know what to do when there’s extensive flooding. I can only help a little, but I hope to put my experience to use and continue helping in the future.
I don’t know how many years it will take, but I’d like to visit Mabi again once it has recovered.
After the interview
As we spoke, Sasaki said, “It makes me happy when lots of people smile,” and his smile was truly wonderful.
Sasaki said that there aren’t many young people around his age involved in volunteering, and that he hopes people will learn about what is happening in the disaster-stricken areas through him and be encouraged to volunteer.
Many people in Mabi are older, so help from young people must have been truly welcome and encouraging.
I look forward to meeting and talking with Sasaki again, with even more experience behind him, in a recovered Mabi—and seeing us both smile.
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