SEE & DO

Traveling toward the coast from the Denshoukan will take you to a grassy and rocky point looking over the bay where the tsunami funneled into the area south of Kesennuma. It’s a beautiful place to overlook the sea, but it has a deeper significance as well. You’ll find two unique monuments to the resilience of this area.

One, the statue of the 19th century champion sumo wrestler “Hidenoyama Raigoro” which stands with an outstretched arm overlooking the ocean. It took the brunt of the tsunami as it ravaged the land, but miraculously endured it, and stands today as strong as ever.

The other is the “dragon tree”, a pine tree that also withstood the brunt of the tsunami. Its leaves and branches have been stripped bare, but the tree itself is still firmly rooted. Its shape is reminiscent of a dragon craning its neck out toward the ocean, and along with the sumo statue, is an important image in the resilience and recovery of Kesennuma.

The ocean beats against the outcropping of rocks from this grassy point, creating a mesmerizing spray at along with the sets of the waves. Come here to once again reflect on the beauty and power of the ocean.