Stories to Remember #1 Hideaki Akaiwa

Hideaki Akaiwa is a Japanese man who gained international attention for his heroic actions during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Akaiwa lived in the city of Ishinomaki, which was one of the hardest-hit areas by the disaster.

After the tsunami struck, Akaiwa discovered that his wife was missing. Despite the danger and chaos, he immediately set out to search for her. He waded through the flooded streets and eventually found his home, which was half-submerged in water.

Even though the building was falling down, Akaiwa went inside to look for his wife.He found her on the second floor, trapped in their bedroom. He managed to free her and bring her to safety.

However, Akaiwa was not content to simply save his own family. He decided to use his skills as a scuba diver to help rescue others who were trapped in the flooded and damaged buildings in his community. He borrowed scuba gear and began diving through the submerged streets, searching for survivors.

Over the course of several days, Akaiwa saved numerous people, including an elderly woman who was trapped in her home and a young child who had been separated from his parents. His heroic actions earned him international recognition and praise.

In the years since the earthquake and tsunami, Akaiwa has continued to help rebuild his community and help people who were hurt by the disaster.

Sources:

1. "Japanese man saved wife and many others in disaster zone." CNN. Cable News Network, 17 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2021.https://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/16/japan.hero/index.html.

2. "The man who saved his wife and dozens more from the Japan tsunami." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 26 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2021.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/27/japanese-man-saves-wife-tsunami.

3. "Hideaki Akaiwa: The Scuba Diver Who Rescued His Wife and Neighbors from the Tsunami." KnowledgeNuts. KnowledgeNuts, 3 Apr. 2014. Web. 14 Mar. 2021.https://www.knowledgenuts.com/2014/04/03/hideaki-akaiwa-the-scuba-diver-who-rescued-his-wife-and-neighbors-from-the-tsunami/.