Six
years have passed after the Great East Japan Earthquake. People in the
quake-hit areas -- Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures -- continue to struggle
to recover from the damages. Many efforts are being made by NPOs, companies,
local communities and individuals.
One
of these efforts is Japanese walnuts (wagurumi)
project carried out by Save Iwate, a NPO in Iwate Prefecture. I attended an
event held in Mejiro, Tokyo, to promote the project.
The
project started just after the quake in 2011. There are many Japanese walnuts trees
in Iwate Prefecture and people can easily pick up the nuts even if they do not
have special tools and skills. It was possible six years ago for those who were severely
hit by the quake and tsunami disasters to collects the nuts.
Save
Iwate organized a network to buy the walnuts from them.
The
question was (is) how to sell the nuts. Japanese walnut has good taste and is
believed to be healthier (than western walnuts). However, it is smaller and
tougher. It is harder than western walnuts to crack the shell, which leads to
be more costly.
One
possibility to overcome the problem is to develop more attractive products from
the nuts. Save Iwate has developed various products. They include:
Walnuts sweets, Walnuts soft cream,
Walnuts sweets, Walnuts soft cream,
Walnut
liqueur (kurumi no osake)
and
many others. The NPO is trying to develop more.
A
lunch was served at the event. Japanese walnuts were used in all dishes. (see also the top photo)
Attendants
to the event include specialists of the foods, those who are active in the
activities to reactivate the local communities, consultants, media persons, and
activist in Tohoku reconstruction activities. (see als the second photo from the top)
Six yeras after the quake (March 11, 2017)
Save Iwate @ Morioka, Sanriku Coast
3 years after the quake @ Iwate
Four and half years after the quake (Oct. 31- Nov.1, 2015)
Autumn scenes @ Iwate (Oct.31-Nov.1, 2015)
