Japan: Gutting Flooded Homes in Ofunato

Volunteer Perspective: Ryo Explains the Challenge of Gutting Flooded Homes in Ofunato, Japan

When I joined All Hands Volunteers in Ofunato four weeks ago as one of the first international volunteers on Project Tohoku, we started off mostly clearing debris. Today, demand for manual debris removal has diminished and most of the volunteer teams in the field each day are instead focused on what we call “gutting.” Specifically, we’re removing floorboards and wall panels and tearing down damaged ceilings from homes and businesses that have been flooded but remain structurally sound. This allows building frames to dry out so carpenters can later come in and make the necessary repairs. The immediate concern is to prevent further damage from the moisture that is still trapped inside walls and under floors.

Two months after the tsunami, we’re still pulling out dripping wet fiberglass insulation and finding puddles of mud water under floors and above ceilings. With damage so widespread, the local construction industry is overwhelmed and our work here frees up builders to concentrate on repairs, bringing closer the ultimate goal of getting families out of evacuation centers back into their homes.

A local carpenter pulls up floorboards to reveal the sodden insulation underneath

While requests for our assistance are now increasing, balancing speed with quality has been somewhat of a challenge, perhaps more so here than with previous All Hands projects. Many of the structures we work in – especially homes – are built using traditional Japanese methods that employ numerous exposed posts and beams of high quality wood with beautiful finishes, and care must be taken to avoid further damage to these highly visible components. Most homes also have areas of spiritual significance, such as the “kamidana” (literally, “God shelf”) and “butsudan” (ancestral shrine) which must be treated with additional care and respect. Houses that were spared the worst damage may still have sliding doors that are covered in delicate paper or decorative cardboard that could be torn by the slightest mis-swing of a hammer – sometimes a challenge when working in rooms as small as 6ft by 8ft!

The greatest challenges, however, may have been subtler and even less visible than the occasional nick on an exposed beam. We all strive to do good work, but how “work” is judged is a little different here than it is in many other cultures. While many of us come from more results-oriented cultures, the Japanese are more process-oriented. That is, we are judged not only on our output, but also on how we perform the work. If the way we work appears hasty and rough, we may be perceived as being careless or even disrespectful, which certainly doesn’t reflect well on the work we do. So, even though we’re doing inherently destructive work like tearing down cement walls and ripping up floorboards, we’ve had to devise ways to do this gently in order to not appear reckless. While this certainly could slow us down at times, there are often positive benefits too. For instance, when removing cement walls we’ve found that taking a more methodical and quiet approach is safer, less tiresome, less messy, and actually quite efficient compared to banging at them with hammers.

Overall, I think our efforts to get work done in a culturally sensitive manner have been a success. The greatest compliment we can receive here is to be told, “I feel comfortable referring you to others to do similar work.” Indeed, news of our efforts is starting to spread; we’re even receiving requests for help directly from carpenters who have seen our work. Of course, eagerness on the part of my fellow volunteers to do good work – work that is truly appreciated and helpful – certainly goes a long way too. That passion is quite clearly present here.