The remains of a 6-year-old girl who went missing during the earthquake, returned home after 14 years...I think I can hear my daughter's voice
Oct 24, 2025
|
According to Japanese media, including the Yomiuri Shimbun, the remains of Yamane Natsuse, a 6-year-old girl who went missing in the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011, were found and returned to her family's arms.
Natsuse was with his grandmother at his home in Yamadamachi, Honshu Iwate Prefecture, Japan at the time. Shortly after the earthquake, he was swept away by a tsunami on his way to a shelter, and his family was unable to access the site due to traffic failures. The grandmother was rescued, but Natsuse remained one of more than 2,500 missing.
The parents, Tomonori Yamane, 52, and Hailmi, 49, searched for shelters and temporary morgues to find their daughters, but they could not find their whereabouts and received a death report six months later. Since then, every June, Natsuse has honored her by placing a birthday cake on an altar set up at home.
Then, earlier this month, I received a phone call from Minami Sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture.
In February 2023, a citizen who volunteered to clean up the beach found a jawbone and some teeth in the trash collected, and Miyagi Prefectural Police confirmed that it was Natsuse's remains through DNA identification.
Natsuse's remains were delivered to his parents and brother (26) on the 16th of this month. The mother, Yoo Hae-mi, held a small urn in her arms and said she seemed to hear her daughter's voice, which she called 'Mama'. In fact, Natsuse suffered from autism, but he used to express deep affection in one word, the family said.
Healmi said "Now it seems like the four of us are living together again," while Dad Tomonori "I want to let my daughter eat the cake she liked."Wept. The grandmother, who regretted missing her hand at the time, also shed tears at the news of the discovery of the remains.
Netizens seem to have expressed their desire for the girl to return home", "I'm glad I found it now.", "I think I came back as an adult with filial piety.", Comments such as "I hope those who have not yet returned will be found as soon as possible".
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
