In under 15min, I was at Sakari station. This is the end of the JR Ofunato BRT line. The Southern Rias line of the private Sanriku Railways takes over. Again the JR Sakai station stands side-by-side with the Sanriku Railways Sakai station.
But, other than sharing the same station name, they couldn't be any more different. The JR one is your run-of-the-mill station, looking in, I could see a roomful of men and women in suit seating down for a projector presentation.
On the Sanriku side, in keeping with its standing as the locals' railway, the station is painted bright and cheerful.
The wait for the next Sanriku train up north is more than an hour. After checking out the railyard, I was running out of places to go. Until I decide to check out the station waiting room.
The Sanriku Sakari station is a small building, a portal between carpark and the platform. There is the railway office, openning up at the ticket counters. Then there is the waiting area.
The waiting room is a riot of colours. The yellow of the faux sunflower clashes with the pink bouquet that clashes with the brown teddy bear. As I was wondering if it was the railway company that put up the decoration, a tanned Japanese with a hugh afro came in checking with the employees how were things. It sounds like he was one of the volunteers who have their hands in the decorations.
Snacks and magazines were placed on a long desk, there was a counter for coffee. On the wall, autographs of celebrities were framed and hung.
There is a small area serving as the souvenir shop, Sanriku merchandises were on display together with books about 3-11.
Here again, I was being asked by the railway employee where I am from. I believe here in the Sanriku area, the locals are keeping track who actually bother to make a trip here.
With sample books and magazine to read through, time passes rather quickly at the station. In no time, the railway employee was standing by to check your tickets for the northbound train.
I reckoned the train was at least partly a gift from the people of Kuwait.
Back in Miyako, the temporary housing was partly funded by another middle-eastern oil-rich country, Saudi Arabia.
Barely 20min out of the station, the weather had changed, it was sunny again, blue sky and blue sea.
The train will not make its way to it final destination in KamaIshi. Instead, it stops at YoshiHama, after which a replacement bus will take us to KamaIshi. Along the way, we passed a station KoiShiHama. It used to be the KoIshiHama station. No a major change in the English language, but in Japanese it's a rather clever play of words: KoIshiHama is 小石浜(Little Rocks Beach), while KoiShiHama is 恋し浜(Beach of Love.) That would probably bring in some couples eager to seal their love with a trip to the Beach of Luv.
YoshiHama is another warm friendly station. Missing, however, was the railway employees and the colours at Sakari.
It's no wonder that the station feels brand-new, it was placed back into service barely a month ago.
There were bookshelves with books for loan, and it works on a honesty policy. Take a book out, write your name in a record book, and bring it back after you are done. There was no librarians to keep track if you actually bring the book back.
If you are a fan of Japanese comedy, you are probably familiar with Mr 志村建. Shimura Ken was appointed one-day stationmaster here, you can have a pix with a station placard of him.
Here again, I was asked where I am from, by a fellow traveller. She was a slender lady with short-cropped hair, and a snazy sharp suit. She was carrying a large ol' skool suitcase you always see on display in a LV shop but no-one seems to be actually buying and using. She spent most of her time outside the station, dragging on her cigarettes. That and oak-casked whiskey probably gave her that raspy voice of her. And she spoke good English. She reminded me of a TV celebrity who MCs the year-end NHK red-white song competition, 和田アキ子.
Before 3-11, the North Rias line would have to cover 平田駅(HiraDa station? HeDa station?) and 唐丹駅(TouNi station) before arriving in KamaIshi station, but as of May 2013, this part would have to be covered bus. The lady assure me the bus will be coming along soon, as she is taking the same bus.
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| Taken from Web. Train trapped during the 3-11 earthquake leaving tunnel near TouNi station. |
Some kids was out, having a kick-about with their ball.
My fellow passengers got their camera ready.
Before the bus pulled into KamaIshi, the giant statue of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, is visible from the bus. Back home, it was the Vesak Day holiday.
The destruction in the town centre is still apparent. A crane is working at a building with its facade stripped off.
The Sanriku KamaIshi station is, you guess it, right next to the JR station.
While the JR station is brightly lit, the Sanriku one was still shut. The line between KamaIshi and YoshiHama is yet to be restored, so I guess there is no reason for it to be open for business.
This town seems to be dominated by one employer, a steel foundry which was spewing smoke out of its tall chimneys.
It was around 7pm when the train left the station.
I was on the Ginga Dreamline (銀河Galaxy Dreamline) on a fullmoon night.
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