History

The Fearless Fireman of the 2011 Tsunami

Fujio Koshita saved countless by ringing the fire station’s bell.
The Fearless Fireman of the 2011 Tsunami
On March 31, 2011 Toru Suzuki, a town firefighter, stands beside a fire engine in Otsuchi in Iwate prefecture, Japan. Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP via Getty Images
Trevor Phipps
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As soon as a fierce 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck the town of Otsuchi in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011, 57-year-old volunteer firefighter Fujio Koshita swung into action.

His brave actions allowed hundreds of people to find safety when a giant tsunami flooded much of the town. Unfortunately, Koshita and several other firemen didn’t survive.

Trevor Phipps
Trevor Phipps
Author
For about 20 years, Trevor Phipps worked in the restaurant industry as a chef, bartender, and manager until he decided to make a career change. For the past several years, he has been a freelance journalist specializing in crime, sports, and history.