April 18, 2026

I made a mistake. On April 15th, I told you that I thought Shimizu was the friendliest city in Japan. Now I am convinced that Miyako is the friendliest city. Perhaps it has to do with its past.

You may remember watching it on TV, on March 11, 2011, a massive tsunami struck the northeast coastal city of Miyako, Japan. The enormous tsunami waves reached up to 130 feet in some areas. The tsunami struck during the school day and students felt the shaking-and did not wait for instructions They remembered what they had been taught: “Run to higher ground immediately”.

Hundreds of students ran uphill toward safety. As they ran, they encouraged younger children and nearby adults to follow. They kept going even when they thought they were high enough.

For the elderly, the climb was slow and many struggled to climb. Neighbors ran back down, grabbed them, and helped them up the hill. The area they had just left was completely destroyed. That small decision, to help someone and keep moving, saved countless lives.

The event became known as “The Miracle at Miyako”.

As I shared in a previous blog regarding Kagoshima, Japan, sometimes living in the shadow of adversity can shape a community’s culture. That reality has surely become part of Miyako’s DNA.

This was one of the most welcoming receptions we have ever experienced in any port. Their welcoming sign said it all: “We’ve been expecting you”, and it really felt like they had been. There was a big sign at the port specifically mentioning our ship The Coral Princess. There were numerous local venders sharing homemade items with the passengers and I got to enjoy a lovely view of Chongae during the day as she purchased a beautiful Japanese kimono.

The refurbished downtown street that had been destroyed in the March 11, 2011, massive tsunami turned into a wonderland of hospitality and new hope. We met Haruto, a fisherman, who with his wife and young daughter set up a takoyaki street food stand and proudly served the takoyaki with fresh octopus he had caught that morning. (Takoyaki is a popular Japanese street food made of small, round balls of savory batter filled with pieces of octopus. It’s crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and super-hot, people often burn their tongues eating it too fast.)

The town’s drum squad came out to perform, and it was great to see the simple joy of watching a mom enjoy her sons sharing a soft ice cream cone. Many of the new residents of Miyako are young families who moved to the community to help rebuild and shape the community’s future.

The most fun was that some of the residents dressed up their dogs as part of the welcoming committee. Words cannot describe; I’ll let the photos speak for themselves!

All throughout the day I was reminded of the verse: “…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.” Life, faith, and growth can break through even the hardest conditions. And my eyes were drawn to exactly that. Everywhere I looked new life was springing up where destruction once lived.

As I leave Miyako, Japan I will take with me an important life lesson.

Don’t wait about making decisions often times immediate action matters more than certainty.

Thanks for traveling with us.

Thirdmill Update:

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