A grand piano damaged in the March 2011 tsunami has been temporarily installed at Sendai Airport in Miyagi Prefecture. Owned by 61-year-old piano instructor Yumi Sakurai, it was restored and has been displayed at the airport annually since 2021. It will remain available for play by reservation until March 11, marking the 15th anniversary of the disaster.
A grand piano damaged by the massive tsunami of March 2011 has been temporarily placed at Sendai Airport in Miyagi Prefecture. It was originally located on the second floor of its owner's parents' home in Shichigahama town when the waves swept the house away.
Restored to playable condition, the piano has been installed at the airport for limited periods each year since 2021. The aim is to prompt reflection on the earthquake and tsunami disaster. Scratches on the lid and several missing keys remain untouched as reminders of the event.
On Saturday, March 2, the owner, 61-year-old piano instructor Yumi Sakurai, performed alongside one of her students in the airport lobby, filling the terminal with music. "I hope people will come here, play it and feel something about the disaster from this piano," Sakurai said.
Sendai Airport spans the cities of Natori and Iwanuma. The instrument will stay on display until March 11, the 15th anniversary of the disaster, and anyone can play it with a reservation. This annual effort helps preserve the memory of the 3/11 tragedy.