Japan Press Weekly

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2011 May 11 - 17 [GREAT EAST JAPAN DISASTER]

Transport company in tsunami-hit region strives to transport Akahata

Kashiwagi Susumu, 62, runs an Akahata transport business in Kuji City in Iwate. On March 11, he was just minutes away from the muddy tsunami-generated waters. The tsunami severely affected his company and destroyed all its trucks.

His pride as an Akahata carrier, however, did not let him remain stunned. He thought, “I must deliver newspapers at a time like this. The economic recovery of my employees is on my shoulders, too.”

What encouraged him to go on were other Akahata distributors. Tohoku Transport System, the operator who arranges Akahata distribution networks in the Tohoku region, immediately gave a helping hand to Kashiwagi and he was able to resume the Akahata deliveries just three days after the March 11 disaster. The group of Akahata transport partners also came with relief money to help him to restore his business and provided food donations as well. Monetary aid came from the Japanese Communist Party head office as well.

However, it was extremely difficult for him to cover his total area of responsibility because he had difficulty securing enough gasoline, and several road areas had been blocked off.

It was ten days after the quake when Kashiwagi eventually became able to deliver Akahata to the entire area he is responsible for.

His drivers now have to locate Akahata transfer posts in areas of complete darkness with only their truck headlights for guidance.

Kashiwagi said, “Newspaper delivery is not just a logistics thing, but is a socially important task. My staff members are all aware of this mission, striving to ensure the Akahata delivery to subscribers.”