Four and half years from the quake: Sanriku, Iwate: Oct. 31-Nov.1, 2015

Four and half years have passed after the Great East Japan Earthquake. I, with my colleagues, visited the Sanriku Coast area of Iwate Prefecture, where the tsunami disaster made serious damages.

We moved up from south to north: Kesennuma (Miyagi Prefecture), Rikuzentakata, Ofunato, Kamaishi, and Otsuchi.

The works to hike the level of the lands were under way in many places. The scenes were impressive. (the left photo was taken in Otsuchi Town).

The roadside rest facility in Rikuzentakata was heavily destroyed by tsunami on March 11, 2011. (the top photo) 

Many people were killed here. We received an explanation from a local guide (who was also hit by the disaster) in front of the preserved building. The tsunami reached 14.5 meter high here.

The coast were covered with thousands of pine trees. All but one trees were washed away. The miracle pine tree was judged dead after several months, and the shape was preserved after having artificial treatments. It attracts tourists.

The city decided to develop new residential areas in the elevated lands and in the hilly areas. The lower lands are planned to be used only for public spaces and business purposes. Construction machines were moving everywhere.

Giant belt conveyors were used to carry the soil collected in the mountain to lower lands. The operation was over in September, but they still remained.

Many things remain unclear. The biggest question might be whether the residents return to the area when the works are completed.

A dome farm has been developed outside the central city. They produce lettuce here. 

Many temporary prefabricated houses and stores still remain in many places in the area. The shopping area in Ofunato is one example. This place will stop the operation shortly as new supermarkets and shopping houses have been built nearby.

We rode a railway from Koigahama station in Ofunato city to Kamaishi station. The railway got a heavy damage in the quake and recovered in 2014.

The train was presented by the Kuwait government.

There is a factory of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal just in front of Kamaishi station. The city developed with the steel maker. With downsizing of the factory, the population of the city decreased in decades. The earthquake and tsunami disaster hit the area in such business conditions.

Unosumai area, north from central Kamaishi, was severely hit by tsunami. A new rugby stadium is planned to be built to hold matched in 2019 in the Rugby World Cup.

Otsuchi Town got serious damages by tsunami. The mayor (town manager) as well as many town staff was killed. There are many public servants sent from the local governments throughout the nation working here.

The damaged town office still remains. The opinion spreads whether or not to preserve the building.

A reconstruction plan was made. The works to make new elevated lands, roads and other facilities have already started. Again, there remains a big question: whether people will come back even after the completion of the construction works. The question seems deeply related to the basic policy of rural developments.

The signs to show the tsunami and earthquake information were everywhere.

The situation is still hard and it is not easy to reconstruct the areas – this is what I honestly felt in Sanriku Coast. 

I reaffirmed the efforts made by many people of local communities, NGOs and other institutions in private and public sectors.  I saw many smiles of the people in the hotels, restaurants, shopping stores and other facilities, that was good.