in mid-june, watanabe returned to hakozaki with the carp streamers. each streamer carried a message from its donor. this one is from a former resident of this area. >> translator: it says the donor raised children here for four years, and she hopes the coastal region will recover as soon as possible. >> reporter: the streamers came from all parts of the country, like hiroshima, tokyo and nagano. there was a letter from a mother who lost her son in an accident. it says "i couldn't part with the streamer for the sake of my son, but i'm going to put the past behind me by sending this to you. i hope you will be able to hold your head high and begin moving ahead." >> translator: i can understand her feeling, so i want to put up the streamer with great respect. >> reporter: when the day came to hoist the 300 carp streamers, 15 fishermen gathered at the elementary school. they used seven ropes to put up the streamers. their handling of the ropes and teamwork were just what you'd expect from fishermen. the streamer donated by the mother who lost her son has a