A memorial ceremony was held Saturday along the Kumagawa River to honor victims of the July 2020 heavy-rain disaster [1].
The event marks six years since the catastrophic flooding devastated parts of Kumamoto Prefecture, highlighting the long-term psychological and physical recovery of the region [1].
Participants gathered near Kumamura and in Hitoyoshi City to observe a moment of silence and lay flowers along the riverbanks [1, 2]. The disaster resulted in 67 deaths, a figure that includes disaster-related deaths [1]. Despite the passage of time, two people remain missing [1].
Takumi Fuchida, vice chairman of the Kumagawa Rafting Association, participated in the flower-laying ceremony. He said he desired for the victims to find peace after the trauma of the event.
"They suffered a great deal before they died, so the most important thing is the feeling that they can now truly rest in peace," Fuchida said [1].
The 2020 floods caused widespread destruction across the prefecture, particularly affecting the Kumagawa River basin. The annual commemorations serve as both a tribute to the deceased and a reminder of the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events [1, 2].
Local officials and residents used the gathering to reflect on the lessons learned from the 2020 event. The focus remains on ensuring that the memory of the 67 victims informs future disaster prevention, and mitigation efforts in the area [1].
“67 people died (including disaster‑related deaths) and two remain missing”
The continued search for two missing persons six years after the event underscores the scale of the 2020 disaster and the permanent scars left on the Kumamoto landscape. By maintaining these annual rituals, the community integrates the trauma of the heavy rains into its civic identity, emphasizing a commitment to disaster preparedness in a region increasingly prone to volatile weather.
