A 14-year-old junior high school student is still missing in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, after record rainfall flooded the river in the city and washed away houses a week ago. The girl’s grandmother, who received a call from her granddaughter, Hanon Kiso, just before the line went dead, said the sound of Hanon’s voice asking for help has haunted her.
On Sunday, Hanon’s school uniform was found covered in mud in a bamboo grove about 700 meters downstream from where her house used to be. Her last name was stitched onto the upper-left side of her short-sleeved shirt.
Hanon’s grandparents teared up as they hugged the uniform. “It looked good on her, so I’ll wash it well and take good care of it,” said Etsuko, the grandmother.
Etsuko has worked hard to keep Hanon from feeling lonely since her father is often away on work. She made lunches every day for Hanon when she went to nursery school and also made lunches for school events at elementary school. Etsuko would cut seaweed into dinosaur shapes or shape sausages like flowers to make lunchtime enjoyable for Hanon.
Hanon’s grandfather is a Wajima lacquerware craftsman whose shop was burnt down during an earthquake. Afterward, his stall was revived as part of the Wajima Asaichi Caravan which traveled within and outside of Ishikawa Prefecture. On weekends, Hanon helped tend to their stall and became a reliable salesgirl.
When heavy rain poured on September 21st while Etsuko was away with the Asaichi Caravan in Toyama prefecture and Hanon was home alone. At 9:56 am that day Etsuko received a panicked phone call from Hanon that lasted only about a minute but left Etsuko shaken.
Around 470 people were dispatched on Sunday from various agencies including police departments and Self-Defense Forces to search for Hanon but she has not been found yet.
Etsuko described Hanon as modest girl who always put others ahead of herself. When choosing sweets she would say “You can have first pick Grandma.” Satoshi stared at muddy river saying “I hope she is still alive somewhere.”
Takaya has dug through mud searching for clues about his daughter’s whereabouts while thanking each leader of rescue team gathered around country saying “She has not been found yet but it is encouraging that they are continuing search.”
