Yasuo Takamatsu, a Japanese man, has spent over a decade diving every week in search of his wife, Yuko, who disappeared during the devastating 2011 T?hoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. This natural disaster killed more than 15,500 people, displaced 450,000, and caused significant damage, including the meltdown of three nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Yuko was at work in a bank when the tsunami struck and sent Yasuo an email saying, “Are you OK? I want to go home,” which was her last communication.
A Japanese man named Yasuo Takamatsu lost his wife in the 2011 earthquake and has not stopped looking for her body for more than 10 years.
— Fascinating (@fasc1nate) August 22, 2024
He has dived more than 800 times into the ocean in an attempt to retrieve her. pic.twitter.com/Qiwt5SMns5
After two and a half years of searching on land, where he found her cell phone with an unsent text, Yasuo began diving in the sea around the area where she was lost. He took up diving lessons in September 2013 to continue his search underwater and has since dived weekly, often with the help of diving instructor Masayoshi Takahashi, who leads volunteer dives for others also looking for lost loved ones.
Despite not finding any trace of Yuko, Yasuo remains determined, expressing that while he may never find her, he feels compelled to keep looking. His story was featured in the short film The Diver, which showcases his unwavering dedication to finding his wife. His efforts highlight the enduring impact of the 2011 disaster on the lives of those who lost loved ones and continue to search for closure.
