A Museum of Memories The Rikuzentakata City Museum, which was devastated by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, reopened last fall. The only surviving curator, Kumagai Masaru tirelessly rescued and restored displays while facing calls to "look for people first.” But his belief that “cultural assets are indispensable for true reconstruction” kept him going. His determination to pass down community memories to the future was reaffirmed through a stuffed Kingfisher donated by local children. This led to a miracle upon the reopening of the museum.