Amidst the devastation of the New Year's Day earthquake and ensuing fire that reduced his century-old workshop to ruins in Wajima, a Japanese coastal town, Kohei Kirimoto, an 8th-generation lacquerware artisan, displayed a heartwarming concern for his missing cats. Venturing through the smoldering remnants of his renowned workshop, globally acclaimed for its traditional lacquerware, Kirimoto went beyond merely seeking his own feline companions, putting out food and water not only for the three cats residing in his home and workspace but also for the numerous community felines inhabiting Wajima's famed "Asaichi" morning market.
Expressing the warmth of the local community and land reflected in the everyday lives of the cats, the 31-year-old artisan expressed a desire to assist these felines in returning to their usual routines, emphasizing the significance of their existence amidst the aftermath of the calamity.
Wajima emerged as one of the most severely impacted communities when a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck central Japan on New Year's Day, marking the strongest tremor since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. With nearly 100 confirmed casualties and ongoing efforts to locate survivors, the quake's intensity manifested in damaged roads and collapsed structures, with a notable cultural loss being the extensive fire that consumed the historic Asaichi market, boasting a thousand-year-old legacy.
The Kirimoto family, deeply rooted in Wajima for over two centuries, contributed significantly to the region's cultural heritage with their exquisite "urushi" wooden bowls and furniture. Despite international acclaim for merging this traditional art with jewelry and designer bags, Kirimoto's primary concern in the aftermath of the disaster remained focused on the well-being of the cats, underscoring the profound connection between life and these cherished companions.
As Kirimoto navigated through the rubble, he emphasized that the preservation of his family's artistic legacy and its renown were secondary considerations. Rather, his paramount worry revolved around the lives of the cats, displaying a poignant attachment to these animals that had been a source of solace during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis. Adopting two cats from a nearby shrine and having a three-year-old feline as a constant companion throughout the pandemic, Kirimoto expressed deep gratitude for the happiness these animals brought him, tearfully acknowledging their role in his life amidst the ongoing hardships. The scene of destruction served as a poignant reminder for Kirimoto and his community, prompting the acknowledgment that, despite the initial shock, the path forward involved documenting the devastation, processing the losses, and initiating the gradual recovery process.
