Yasuo Takamatsu, a 67-year-old man from Japan, has spent the past 13 years on a deeply personal and emotional mission: to find the remains of his beloved wife, Yuko, who was swept away by the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami. His relentless search has led him to dive into the ocean more than 650 times, hoping to fulfill a promise inspired by Yuko’s final words to him, “I want to go home.”
The Day That Changed Everything
On March 11, 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Japan, triggering a massive tsunami that ravaged coastal towns. Yasuo Takamatsu was driving home after dropping his mother-in-law off at a hospital when the disaster struck. While he was out of immediate danger, his wife Yuko was not as fortunate.
Yuko was at work in the Onagawa branch of the 77 Bank, located in a two-story building in the coastal town of Onagawa, Miyagi prefecture, about 70 kilometers from Sendai. The branch manager, alerted to the impending tsunami, evacuated 13 employees to the rooftop, nearly 10 meters above ground. However, the tsunami that struck exceeded all expectations, with waves surpassing 15 meters, sweeping 12 people, including Yuko, away.
Eight of those swept away, including Yuko, were never found.
A Final Message and a Lifelong Mission
As the tsunami approached, Yuko sent her husband a final text message: “Are you all right? I want to go home.” Two years later, a rescue team recovered Yuko’s phone from the ruins, still functioning. On it, Takamatsu discovered another unsent message: “The tsunami is huge.” These final words revealed the fear and desperation Yuko must have felt in her last moments, driving Takamatsu to make a vow—to bring her home, even if only a part of her remains.
Determined to fulfill Yuko’s last wish, Takamatsu began taking scuba diving lessons, earning his license in 2014. Since then, he has spent his retirement diving in the ocean, searching for any trace of his wife.
An Endless Search
Takamatsu’s journey is one of love, loss, and unwavering dedication. He acknowledges that Yuko will not be found alive, but his goal is to bring her home, even if it means finding just a fragment of her body. “Let’s go home together,” he says in interviews, as if speaking directly to Yuko.
Despite the passage of time, Takamatsu remains resolute. As long as he is physically able, he vows to continue his search.
The 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake: A Tragic Legacy
The 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake was the most powerful ever recorded in Japan, resulting in 19,759 deaths. Even now, 2,553 bodies remain missing, according to Miyagi prefecture’s official records. Takamatsu’s story is a poignant reminder of the enduring pain and unresolved grief that many survivors of the disaster continue to face.
Yasuo Takamatsu’s quest is not just a search for his wife’s remains; it is a testament to the enduring power of love and the human spirit’s capacity for hope, even in the face of overwhelming loss. His story resonates with a universal message of devotion, perseverance, and the unbreakable bonds that tie us to those we love, even in their absence.