OJIYA, Niigata Pref. -- Shinichi Kusajima set off for Kobe on Jan. 20, 1995, just three days after the Great Hanshin Earthquake hit the port city and surrounding areas.

He was one of the roughly 1.38 million people from around the country whom Hyogo Prefecture estimates helped out in quake-ravaged areas of Kobe, nine neighboring municipalities and Awaji Island in the first year following the temblor, which resulted in more than 6,400 lives lost and displaced more than 300,000 people.

Kusajima, 39, quit a Tokyo-based organic vegetable distribution company and cofounded the volunteer group Kobe Genkimura. He stayed in the city for three years to support survivors.