it’s been 11 years since the earthquake/tsunami that devastated Tohoku. i remember driving around during that time thinking to myself if things will ever get back to normal. but slowly, things started growing again, and things started to thrive. now the same drive brings me a lot of joy. just to see Mother Nature doing it’s thing is totally amazing.
Mother Nature brings back most of everything, but sometimes it takes a different type of Mother to bring back the rest. Naomi-san is that Mother who doesn’t sit back and wait for things to happen, she makes it happen. 
there is a small village that was completely wiped out by the tsunami. houses once stood here so the soil is very compacted and nothing would grow back. so Naomi-san is taking the initiative by making the soil fertile again and planting trees one by one. her team of family, locals, and volunteers are literally regrowing the forest by hand. that’s incredible.
in this forest lives deer, bears, and snakes. you don’t want to step on one of these. 
so this whole area was cleared and now the trees will grow into a beautiful forest. it’s amazing how a small group of people with a big will can make anything possible. i asked Naomi-san what she’s going to do after she finishes this forest. her answer was “i’m going to move on to the next village and do the same thing.” i almost had tears listening to this amazing Mother who turned into a scientist. the things she’s done and is still doing to make Kitakami flourish is very inspirational. she’s definitely the women i look up to the most. women like Naomi-san are true leaders. 
i see the coolest things in the country parts of Japan. look at this stove they made out of an old bucket. that’s so cool! Naomi-san heated up some delicious miso soup for us.
i was taught in college to “Lead by Example.” Naomi-san is the example of leading by example. in my eyes, she’s Superwoman!
“We Are One” continues…
