Volume 123 - March 15, 2017

Six years have passed since the disaster, and these days you can start to see Iwate’s renewed towns and overall reconstruction taking shape.

Six Years Since That Day - Memorial Service Held in Kamaishi

On March 11th, 2017 （Sat）, Iwate Prefecture and Kamaishi City held a joint memorial service in Kamaishi High School’s gymnasium, to mark the 6th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Around 750 people attended, including bereaved family members.

Live footage from national government’s ceremony at the National Theatre （Chiyoda, Tokyo） was broadcast during the service. At 2:46pm, the time the earthquake occurred, the attendees observed a minute’s silence.

Governor Tasso gave a ceremonial address. “We will remember the victims and their hometowns. The terrible spectacle of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, as well as the lessons we learned from it - we will carve the experience onto our hearts, so we can pass it on to the next generation. We must continue the reconstruction. Those of us still alive should combine our power, and work towards protecting lives, while building a home in Sanriku where people can live together with the land and the sea,” he said.

Those of us still alive should combine our power, and work towards protecting lives, while building a home in Sanriku where people can live together with the land and the sea,” he said.

Next, there was a speech from a representative of the bereaved families. Yoshio Miura, whose wife died in the Unosumai Disaster Prevention Center, said. “In an instant, the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake snatched away our peaceful lives. It took away the place where we lived, and forced us to live as victims. It was a forceful reminder of the threat of nature. Not a day goes by where I don’t think of the deep sadness felt by those who lost their beloved families. I strongly hope that we can put disaster prevention measures in place to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again,” he said.

Not a day goes by where I don’t think of the deep sadness felt by those who lost their beloved families. I strongly hope that we can put disaster prevention measures in place to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again,” he said.

After the speech, the 30 members of the Kamaishi Choir Association sang “Flower of Eternity” and “Stand Alone”.

Lastly, the Seihahogaku-kai, a Japanese music performance group, played koto music while attendees left white chrysanthemums on the altar, and offered a prayer to the victims.

In Iwate Prefecture, 5,134 lives were lost in the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami （4,672 direct deaths and 462 related deaths）. 1,122 people remain unaccounted for. （as of February 28th, 2017）

We are recruiting members for the Iwate Reconstruction Supporters Team!

Know, Buy, Eat, Go - and Help Support Us!

Free to Register!

We are now recruiting both individual and group （corporate or other） members in the Greater Tokyo Area for the “Iwate Reconstruction Supporters”. Members are e-mailed information regarding reconstruction and tourism in Iwate, and upcoming events in the Tokyo area. （Information only available in Japanese.）

For more information, please see the website of the Tokyo Branch Office of the Iwate Prefectural Government:

• Tokyo Branch Office of the Iwate Prefectural Government（外部リンク）

Construction Completed on Crypt for Anonymous Tsunami Victims

On February 19th, 2017 （Sun）, a ceremony was held to inter the ashes of the unknown victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The ceremony was held at the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Crypt, a new, purpose-built structure in Shiroyama, Otsuchi.

Around 70 people attended the ceremony, including bereaved families. The remains of 70 anonymous victims, the largest amount of any town hit by the disaster, were gently interred by town officials. As priests chanted, the attendees left an offering of flowers, and prayed for the dead.

The crypt is a wooden, single-story structure （10m2） overlooking the town. It was built to give bereaved families a place to feel close to their loved ones. The structure was designed so that the sunlight shines in the windows on March 11th every year, to represent the hope that the victims are close to the places they called home.

Other memorial services will take place here in the future. The crypt will be a place where people can reflect on their memories of their loved ones.

Construction Begins on Takata-Matsubara Memorial Park

On March 5th, 2017 （Sun）, a ceremony was held in the Kesen area of Rikuzentakata to mark the start of construction work on Takata-Matsubara Memorial Park.

The national, prefectural, and city governments are collaborating on the project, which will be a memorial to the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. It will also help ensure that the memories and lessons of 3.11 are passed on to future generations. Around 100 people attended the ceremony, including Vice-Minister Tanaka of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, as well as Governor Tasso and Rikuzentakata’s Mayor Toba. After the ground-breaking ceremony, the Kesen Kenka Tanabata Society gave a lively taiko performance.

Memorial facilities will be built in each of the three disaster-affected prefectures. This one in Rikuzentakata is the first to undergo construction.

The park will measure 130 hectares in total. It is the first nationally-run memorial & prayer facility in the country to be put up after a natural disaster. Iwate Prefecture will also build a disaster and tsunami memorial exhibit, as well as a new “michi no eki” （rest stop） and exercise facilities. Construction is due to be completed in 2020.

Feature

Many young people are diligently helping the affected area of Sanriku move toward a full reconstruction. The section “People for Sanriku’s Future” introduces these young people and their powerful feelings.

Click the link to read about Riho Buto and her patisserie that specializes in low-sugar, low-calorie cakes.

• Riho Buto of Patisserie Hotaka

Casualties and Damage in Iwate （as of February 28, 2017）

• Deaths: （direct） 4,672, （indirect） 462; Missing: 1,122
• Buildings destroyed （residences only, total/partial）: 26,077

Thank you for all of your support! （as of February 28, 2017）

Donations for survivors: Around 18.53108 billion yen （94,421 donations）
Donations for reconstruction projects: Around 19.8957 billion yen （8,091 donations）
Iwate Learning Hope Fund donations: Around 8.72105 billion yen （19,717 donations）
※ This fund is to assist in the study and daily life of affected
children by encouraging sport and study activities.

• To make a donation to aid in Iwate's reconstruction, click here.

Contact

News from Iwate’s Reconstruction, Volume 123. March 15, 2017.
Published by the General Affairs Division, Bureau of Reconstruction, Iwate Prefecture.
Phone: 019-629-6945
Editing & Printing: SYNAPSE

*News from Iwate's Reconstruction Volume 124 will be published on April 15th.