Volume 122 - February 15, 2017

Construction work is continuing on the coast despite the cold weather, and there’s a real sense of progress.

Construction of Iwate's Largest Seawall Almost Complete （Rikuzentakata）

The Prefectural Government has almost finished construction of the largest seawall in Iwate. The 12.5m tall, 2,000m long wall is located in Rikuzentakata, which suffered severe damage in the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

The previous seawall had two sections, a 3m wall on the ocean side, and a 5.5m wall on the inland side. However, both were destroyed by the 17m tsunami wave, which also wiped out a pine grove and sandy beach.

Construction of the new seawall, which began in March 2013, is now 90% complete. It is also made up of two sections. The first, next to the ocean, is 3m tall and 1,900m long. The second, which stands behind the first, is 12.5m tall and 2,000m long. Its dimensions are based on the typical height of tsunami that occur here every few decades.

The next step is to build more seawalls at regular intervals, which will eventually join up with the floodgates in the seaside city of Kesennuma （Miyagi Prefecture）. Construction is due to be completed by March 2020.

Work is also progressing on a new sandy beach in front of the first wall, and a pine grove behind it. Construction of the “Takada-Matsubara Tsunami Reconstruction Memorial Park”, on the inland side, is due to be completed by March 2021.

Advance Screenings of the Iwate Reconstruction Dramas （6 locations）

Iwate has created two dramas, “Japan’s Smallest Bookstore” and “Winter Firefly”, which tell stories from the reconstruction.

Advance screenings will be held in the prefecture before their television broadcast. Admission is free, but reservations （via the web, fax or postcard） are required.

Advance screening schedule

• Ofunato
  Time: March 4th （Sat） 13:30
  Venue: Rias Hall
• Kuji
  Time: March 5th （Sun） 13:30
  Venue: Amber Hall
• Kitakami
  Time: March 5th （Sun） 13:00
  Venue: Sakura Hall
• Miyako
  Time: March 7th （Tue） 18:30
  Venue: Miyako Public Hall
• Ichinoseki
  Time: March 8th （Wed） 18:30
  Venue: Ichinoseki Culture Center
• Morioka
  Time: March 10th （Fri） 18:30
  Venue: Morioka Civic Cultural Hall

Inquiries

Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Reconstruction Film Project
6-1 Shike-cho, Morioka, Iwate （Within Iwate Broadcasting, Co., Ltd.）
Phone：019-623-3131　FAX: 019-651-2428
Mail：info@iwatefukkoudouga.jp

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）

New Restaurant Facility Opens in Kamaishi

On January 27th （Fri）, 2017, an opening ceremony was held for “Kamaishi Isaribi Kamariba”, a new restaurant complex. It’s located in a central district of Kamaishi, which suffered damage in the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The city hopes for this district to be a busy shopping hub.

The facility is a single-story, lightweight steel structure, with 3 connected sections and a total floor space of 394 m2. Its name, “Kamariba”, was made by joining the phrase “Come to Kamaishi” with the word for “place”.

The facility consists of 12 restaurants, which will open one-by-one before the end of April. Seven of these are run by disaster victims, including three that ran businesses in Kamaishi’s well-known “Nonbe Alley”, a drinking area that was destroyed in the disaster. The remaining five restaurants are new businesses （including one yet to be decided）.

The new facility will take over Nonbe Alley’s role as one of Kamaishi’s busiest areas.

Hokugen Yuzu Apple Juice Now On Sale

On February 14th （Tue）, 2017, a new product called “Hokugen Yuzu Apple Juice” was announced and put on sale. It’s a blend of juices from Hokugen yuzu* and Yonesaki apples, which are both grown in Rikuzentakata.

*Yuzu are a Japanese citrus fruit, and Hokugen means this is the northernmost region in Japan that they are grown.

The product was developed by the Ofunato Agriculture and Forestry Promotion Center, in order to raise awareness of Hokugen Yuzu, increase tourism, and expand the market for products made in the Kesennuma region. It was developed with the assistance of Megumi Onodera, head of Megumi Planning, and manufactured by Fureai Ichiba, a local farming association.

The product’s only ingredients are Rikuzentakata’s Hokugen yuzu, Yonesaki apples, and honey from Kesennuma. The acidity of the yuzu matches the apple’s sweetness perfectly, giving the juice a
rich, yet refreshing taste.

The price is 324 yen （including tax） per 200ml bottle. The juice is now on sale at farmer’s markets and other stores in Rikuzentakata.

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 Kazuya Yoshino and his work promoting Otsuchi Town and its local ingredients.

• Kazuya Yoshino of Otsuchi Gourmet News

Casualties and Damage in Iwate （as of January 31, 2017）

• Deaths: 4,672; Missing: 1,123
• Buildings destroyed （residences only, total/partial）: 26,077

Thank you for all of your support! （as of January 31, 2017）

Donations for survivors: Around 18.5302 billion yen （94,345 donations）
Donations for reconstruction projects: Around 19.8551 billion yen （8,065 donations）
Iwate Learning Hope Fund donations: Around 8.7314 billion yen （19,643 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 122. February 15, 2017.
Published by the General Affairs Division, Bureau of Reconstruction, Iwate Prefecture.
Phone: 019-629-6925
Editing & Printing: SYNAPSE

*News from Iwate's Reconstruction Volume 123 will be published on March 15th.