( CNN ) -- Futoshi Toba 's wife was killed by last year 's tsunami but as a father of two and mayor of Rikuzentakata in Japan 's Iwate Prefecture he has little time to grieve . Toba 's daily routine starts by driving his two sons -- 13-year-old Taiga and 11-year-old Kanato -- to their elementary and junior high schools ; two structures that were not affected by the tsunami and the reason they were not victims of the disaster . Fortunately for Toba the route does n't take him past his old house where his wife perished . He says he does n't like to see it and be reminded of his loss . Like many overstretched single parents , Toba sees his shortcomings before his successes . `` To be honest , I have n't done enough for my boys as a father , '' he says , the weariness of the year weighing on the 47-year-old 's face . `` But I try to be with them when I have time . '' As Mayor of Rikuzentakata , time is in short supply for Toba . The work to rebuild the town 's entire downtown that destroyed by the tsunami is almost overwhelming . The cost of the damage is estimated at $ 1.6 billion . Much of the rubble has been cleared away but the shells of many of the larger structures still stand . The mayor has laid out an eight year reconstruction plan and recently secured funding from the Japanese government . The first three years are dedicated to mapping out the infrastructure and design of a new city , which includes moving its center to higher ground . Send in your memories of last year 's disaster in Japan . Toba spends most of his days fielding questions and demands from residents , while prioritizing the endless needs of a city on the mend . He 's also an advocate for the city , urging the remaining 22,000 residents to stay through the long rebuilding process . More than 1,000 people have n't heeded his call and have abandoned the city . Fumiko Suzuki is one resident who is sticking it out in Rikuzentakata . A nurse at a local hospital destroyed by the tsunami , she was in shock immediately after the disaster and recounted how she had to leave bedridden patients to drown in their hospital beds . `` The patients could n't walk . I looked out and the wave was as high as the fourth floor window , '' she said when interviewed soon after the tragedy . `` ' I 'm sorry , ' I told the patient , and I ran upstairs . It is the biggest regret I have . '' Suzuki was set to retire this year but has continued to work in a temporary building that is the city 's hospital . She lost her home and relatives in the disaster and sees little joy in giving up what 's left in her life . `` One year is n't enough to heal , '' she says . `` My job is to be with people and share their pain . '' Suzuki says without the survivors ' personal sacrifice and determination to stay and rebuild , the town will disappear . Mayor Toba is a potent symbol of that personal sacrifice . He does n't want to be seen as a brave man and uses his work as an escape from his terrible sorrow . `` My job as mayor takes precedence to being a father right now . I do n't have time to be alone . I do n't have time to feel sad or cry , which may mentally help me survive right now . `` It is hard for me to live without the person who was supposed to always be with me . I feel her telling me to work hard for this town . Someday soon my sons will look at this town and understand why their father was n't around more . ''
Mayor of city in Osaka prefecture lost wife in the tsunami . Personal struggle to raise his sons and rebuild the city of Rikuzentakata . Hope that residents of city will return , although 1,000 have left .