Today marks 31 years since the Hanshin Awaji Earthquake.

Kobe, Japan, a city that is also my wife’s hometown, is a place close to our hearts.

We remember the 6,434 lives lost during the approximately 15 seconds of violent shaking on the morning of January 17, 1995.

Kobe, Japan, has since made a remarkable recovery. This day remains in our hearts and in our memory.今までも、そしてこれからも美しい神戸へ 合掌