Yuichi Kuwano of Sea Front Ltd.

A town built by the locals

In the spring of 2012, Mr. Kuwano visited Ofunato to help out as a volunteer. In October that year, he joined a non-profit organization and moved there permanently. He currently spends his time promoting Ofunato in his role as a crew member aboard a boat called Shiosai.

After experiencing life in Ofunato, Mr. Kuwano spoke about the reconstruction. “Everyone has a different idea of what 'reconstruction' means. To some people, it means returning things to the way they were before, while others think it means building a completely new town. We still need a lot of support, but I feel like it's about time that the locals start to gradually build their own town."

Ofunato is now my hometown

"I was born and raised in Tokyo, so it feels like I don't have a hometown. I'm jealous of people who do. Since moving to Ofunato I've felt a sense of fulfillment that doesn't exist in big cities. There's so much nature, plenty of food, and the people are great. It's really a great place. I love the fact that the boat I work on sails on the sea rather than a river. The locals who suffered because of the tsunami might think bitterly of the sea, but by steadily promoting tourism of the sea and scenery, we can encourage more people to come here. Ofunato's a place to put down your roots."

It's hoped that Mr. Kuwano's feelings towards the region will become a driving force behind Ofunato's reconstruction.

Profile

Yuichi Kuwano:
Sea Front Ltd.
Shiosai Boat Crew Member

Originally from Nerima, Tokyo.

While working in the IT industry, Mr. Kuwano came to Ofunato in 2012 as a volunteer, then moved to Ofunato permanently in October of that year. He joined a non-profit organization, where he started work related to the reconstruction.

Since January 2015 he has worked as a crew member for Sea Front Ltd., which operates a boat called Shiosai.