Found: Children's Book about Giant Wave in Japan

This is a children's book I read maybe about some fifteen years ago, though I wouldn't know exactly how long ago it was published. The story was about a group of people living in a village in Japan near the ocean. The main character's best friend lost his parents to a giant wave/storm/tsunami at some point and I believe he might now live with the main character and his parents after this because they are still children. I think near the end there is some talk about the future as they grow up and the best friend who lost his family is said to intend to marry the main character's sister. The best friend says he will build a house completely open to the ocean because he refuses to be afraid of it. The main character thinks this may be not a good idea, but his father and sister appreciate the bravery and acceptance of the risks of life it implies. I also remember there being a scene involving a poem about how the children of God (meaning humans) are strange and contradictory.

The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck?

That's exactly the one, I knew as soon as I saw the cover, thank you so much! Also, so interesting that it is by Pearl S. Buck, I've read some of her work as an adult and never suspected she also wrote this children's book I read so long ago. Thank you so again!

>3 sadafkadir: You're welcome!

Name that children's book.

A family friend gave me a line from the book and said help me find this book. The quote is "she lived in a cozy little coop behind the plumb tree."

Thanks for any help.

Emily