In July 2018, the "Heavy Rain of July 2018" caused significant damage, particularly in western Japan.
In particular, large-scale flooding and landslides occurred in the areas around Mabi in Kurashiki City and Yakage Town along the Oda River basin.
The damage was extensive.
There is a construction company that has many clients in the disaster-stricken areas of Mabi and Yakage, and has been dedicated to recovery efforts since immediately after the disaster.
That is "Tsunayoshi Shoten" (formerly known as Torigoe Construction) in Higashikawamune, Yakage Town.
It is a locally rooted construction company that has been operating in Yakage for over 60 years.
In July 2023, five years after the Heavy Rain of July 2018, we interviewed Tsunayoshi Shoten to hear about the situation at that time, as well as the progress of recovery and the current state of their work.
Tsunayoshi Shoten is a long-established construction company rooted in Yakage Town
Tsunayoshi Shoten is a construction company located in Higashikawamune, Yakage Town.
While responding broadly to customer requests, it handles everything from custom homes to renovations and remodeling.
The main customers are concentrated in areas such as Yakage and Mabi around the Oda River basin.
Tsunayoshi Shoten was founded in 1962 as Torigoe Construction and became a corporation in 1981.
In 2021, it was renamed to its current name.
For over 60 years since its founding, Tsunayoshi Shoten has been a long-established company that has helped local residents in Yakage and Mabi build their homes.
The Oda River basin, where Tsunayoshi Shoten has many clients, suffered significant damage from the "Heavy Rain of July 2018."
Tsunayoshi Shoten supported recovery efforts as a volunteer immediately after the disaster.
Furthermore, it has taken on many renovation projects for damaged homes, supporting the recovery of the community.
Tsunayoshi Shoten is a construction company that walks with the community.
Interview with the representative of Tsunayoshi Shoten, Uname Yoshifumi
Uname Yoshifumi, the representative director of Tsunayoshi Shoten, Ltd., entered the carpentry field after graduating from school.
He then joined the company Torigoe Construction, which was founded by his grandfather.
In June 2021, he became the third representative director and changed the company name to Tsunayoshi Shoten.
In July 2023, five years after the Heavy Rain of July 2018.
We spoke with Uname about the situation during and immediately after the disaster, the path of recovery from the perspective of a local construction company, and the current situation.
Flooding in surrounding areas during the Heavy Rain of July 2018. Evacuation requests from customers
I want to know the situation when the Heavy Rain of July 2018 occurred.
Uname (no honorifics)
During the Heavy Rain of July 2018, flooding of rivers, internal flooding, and landslides occurred in the vicinity of our company.
Fortunately, our company was spared from damage, but there were customers of ours who were affected.
I received a rescue request from an elderly customer on my mobile phone, asking for help.
I rushed over, but the area around the house was already quite flooded, and I couldn't get close.
If I tried to get too close, the rescuer could be swept away, and there was a risk of secondary disasters.
So, I told them to evacuate to the second floor of their home and wait for rescue calmly.
Later, the customer was safely rescued, and I remember feeling relieved.
Participation in cleanup efforts immediately after the disaster
What was the situation after the disaster?
Uname
Mud, soil, and debris that had been washed away were scattered everywhere, making it unrecognizable.
I decided to help with cleanup efforts as a volunteer immediately after the disaster.
So, during the day on weekdays, I worked as a construction company, and in the evenings and on weekends, I participated in volunteer cleanup efforts in the disaster area.
In Yakage Town, a subsidy system for emergency work was established relatively early, so recovery work progressed quickly.
In Mabi, due to the wide range of damage, it took more time.
The main tasks of disaster volunteer activities included cleaning houses, partial demolition, and disinfection.
I also cooperated in creating guidelines for disaster volunteer activities that required technical skills.
How long did you carry out volunteer activities?
Uname
It was so tough that I don't remember the exact duration, but it was probably around 7 to 8 months.
I think it was around early spring of 2019.
In my mind, I had drawn a line that demolition was free volunteer work, while repairs and renovations were paid work.
That's because I work for a construction company.
Therefore, after the disaster volunteer activities settled down in the spring of 2019, I shifted my focus back to repairing and renovating damaged homes.
Recovery work that required careful handling
What was difficult during the volunteer activities?
Uname
Recovery work is not just about doing it quickly.
Utilizing what can be salvaged during the restoration work can reduce the burden on the residents.
Therefore, it was necessary to determine what could be salvaged while progressing with the recovery work on the houses.
Additionally, regarding electrical work, care was needed to prevent secondary disasters from electric leakage.
Leaking areas could be hidden by debris, so careful work was required.
There were also many things to be cautious about, such as heatstroke and infectious diseases.
It was tough because it wasn't just about working quickly.
Separately, I was also conscious of the choice of words when talking to disaster victims.
Disaster victims had lost their homes due to a sudden disaster, and they could be shocked by even casual words.
There were times when I unintentionally said something that had no meaning in normal circumstances, but it hurt the victims.
So, I remember being very careful in choosing my words when talking to the victims.
Implementation of a wall painting charity project to encourage disaster victims
Was there anything that left an impression during the volunteer recovery work?
Uname
I became friends with an elderly woman at one of the homes where I volunteered.
This elderly woman had become somewhat withdrawn due to the shock of the disaster.
So, we implemented a charity project that also included mental care.
The content was to paint the walls of the elderly woman's house together.
Many people participated in the project, and I talked a lot with the elderly woman.
Of course, since we were amateurs, the result was not comparable to that of professionals, but the elderly woman was able to enjoy herself, and by the end, she became very cheerful.
So, I think it was good that we implemented it.
The renaming to "Tsunayoshi Shoten" and the origin of the name
Later, in June 2021, I became the representative director of the company.
Uname
Yes. I am the third generation.
When I became the representative, I changed the company name from the former Torigoe Construction to Tsunayoshi Shoten, Ltd.
The origin of the name is the elderly woman who participated in the charity project that we implemented.
She was very satisfied with the wall painting charity project, and as a thank you, she gave me a plaque with the teachings of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
So, I decided to take the name from something related to the Tokugawa family.
Also, when I was volunteering in Mabi, my nickname was "Tuna."
Every morning, I would buy rice at a convenience store, and I often bought tuna mayo rice balls.
Seeing that, my volunteer friends nicknamed me "Tuna" based on the tuna mayo rice balls (laughs).
The connection between "Tokugawa" and "Tuna" led to the idea of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi is known for the "Laws for the Compassion of Living Things."
He is often referred to as "Inu-kubo" (Dog Shogun), and it is said that he does not have a very good image.
However, I think the Laws for the Compassion of Living Things are actually fitting in today's context of valuing nature.
Also, the reason for choosing the abstract name "Tsunayoshi Shoten" instead of a specific name like "Tsunayoshi Construction" is to consider the possibility of broader business activities.
In the past, I have heard that there were many examples of intentionally abstract naming like "store."
The company's concept is "Creating stories between people"
Please tell me about the features and selling points of Tsunayoshi Store.
Uname
I like not only to work but also to talk and interact with customers.
Especially since I became the representative director, I have had more opportunities to interact with customers, not just on-site work but also in meetings and other behind-the-scenes tasks.
Therefore, I actively communicate with customers.
This is a significant feature of our company, I believe.
Thus, we have established the concept of "Creating stories between people".
In recent years, there has been an increasing trend of requests to do some work as DIY
As of 2023, what kind of work is common? Also, are there still jobs related to disaster recovery?
Uname
As of 2023, there are almost no jobs related to disaster recovery.
I feel that Mabi and Yakage are starting to move towards recovery and returning to normal operations.
The work that has been increasing in place of disaster-related jobs is work that involves doing some parts as DIY.
There has been an increase in requests saying, "I want to do what I can do myself. Therefore, I would like to ask Tsunayoshi Store for the parts I cannot do."
You could say it is "participatory for the requester".
I think the reason is that after the DIY boom, DIY has become established.
Many construction companies are not very willing to take on requests where customers do some parts as DIY.
However, our company has the desire to fulfill customer requests to the fullest, so we accept such requests.
As I mentioned earlier, our company’s concept is "creating stories".
Indeed, the parts done as DIY may be of lower quality than those done by professionals.
But the most important thing is whether the customer is satisfied.
The parts worked on as DIY become the customer's own memories.
I believe that the home spent with those memories is what "creating stories" means.
In terms of quality, while it may be inferior to that of professionals, it feels like the customer's "number of story pages" increases a little.
The foundation of the "participatory for the requester" requests is the wall painting charity project conducted at the home of an elderly woman affected by the disaster in Mabi.
Everyone who painted the wall was an amateur, but after the project, the elderly woman was very satisfied and expressed her gratitude.
Requests to do some parts as DIY in a "participatory for the requester" manner are indeed similar to the wall painting charity project for disaster victims.
Doing what customers cannot do is the essence of business
If you have any future prospects or things you would like to try, please let us know.
Uname
In response to the increasing requests to do some parts as DIY, I would like to try something like DIY consulting.
I would like to hold events like DIY workshops to teach how to do it, and share information and methods about DIY on YouTube.
I think it would also be good to teach remotely.
The idea of "providing information" seems to have already permeated quite a bit, but I believe it still holds significant value.
In any case, I want to focus on things that are different from the "norm" in construction and building.
Requests to "do some parts as DIY and request the parts that cannot be done" are often declined by other companies, but I believe this is the essence of business.
Doing what customers cannot do is the essence of business.
Additionally, I would like to try work outside of construction.
For example, related to nursing facilities.
I might need such services in the future.
Thinking about that, I would like to run a nursing facility that aligns with my ideals.
Message from Tsunayoshi Store regarding disasters
Is there anything you would like to convey regarding disasters?
Uname
Please check the hazard map regularly.
It is important to understand the characteristics of the land where your home is located, what kind of disasters are expected, and to consider countermeasures.
Also, what can be helpful when a disaster occurs is public assistance programs.
Please check what programs are available in your municipality.
And the most important thing during a disaster is the connection between people.
I believe it is important to communicate with people in the community regularly.
Another point to be cautious about is that malicious businesses often appear after a disaster.
Please be careful not to make quick judgments and consult with trusted individuals before proceeding.
Tsunayoshi Store is a construction company rooted in the community, walking with the locals
Tsunayoshi Store has been operating in Yakage for over 60 years.
We have supported the recovery from the July 2018 heavy rain disaster together with the community.
Under the concept of "creating stories between people," we flexibly respond to the increasing requests to do some parts as DIY.
We continue to support the lives of the local people.
Data of Tsunayoshi Store, Ltd.
| Organization Name | Tsunayoshi Store, Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Construction (custom homes, renovations, remodeling, exterior work, etc.) |
| Representative Name | Uname Yoshifumi |
| Year Established | January 1981: Established as Tsunagoe Construction Co., Ltd. (Founded in October 1962), June 2021: Renamed to Tsunayoshi Store, Ltd. |
| Address | 1107-5 Higashikawamune, Yakage Town, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 0866-83-1371 |
| Website | Tsunayoshi Store, Ltd. |
