Juri Sato, left, wearing kimono with her sister, Airi, in August 2010. (Provided by their mother, Mika)
ISHINOMAKI, Miyagi Prefecture--About a year ago, Juri Sato, a 13-year-old resident of Ishinomaki, wrote a story about her sister, who died in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
In the story, titled “Shiroi Hana wo Motsu Yosei” (Fairy with a white flower), a fairy holding a white flower in its hand appears in front of Riko, a junior high school student.
“This is a magical flower,” the fairy says. “It can grant your wishes, but only for three times.”
When Riko was 3, her 6-year-old sister died from a disease. Riko makes her first wish on the white flower: “I want to see my sister.”