Volume 121 - February 1, 2017

Despite the cold weather sweeping across the country, there is less snow than normal in Iwate’s lowlands, making for a comfortable winter.

The Iwate Sanriku Reconstruction Forum in Morioka/Kamaishi

On January 20th （Fri） and 21st （Sat）, Iwate Prefecture hosted the Iwate Sanriku Reconstruction Forum in Morioka and Kamaishi.

The main conference was held on the 21st at Aiina in Morioka, with the theme, “Passing the Disaster and Reconstruction On to the Next Generation”. 250 people from in and outside of the prefecture attended. Governor Tasso spoke about the workers dispatched to Iwate from across the country, and the status of the reconstruction. He talked about a digital archive of disaster information to open in late March, which is one way to communicate the lessons learned from the disaster to future generations. He also mentioned the “Disaster Memorial Complex” （preliminary title）, which will be built in Rikuzentakata. “We hope to communicate the lessons learned from the disaster to people both in and outside of Iwate, in order to prevent more disasters in the future,” he said.

Next, Toshikazu Kanuka, Assistant Director of the News Department at Iwate Nippo, gave a keynote speech titled “Traces of Life”. He introduced a digital archive of documents about how the victims of the disaster acted between the time the earthquake struck, and the time the tsunami hit. He also spoke about the lessons learned, which can save lives in the future.

Afterwards, the Iwaizumi High School Folk Arts Club introduced the Nakano Nanazumai, a traditional dance. The crowd enjoyed their powerful performance.

The last people to take the stage were Kumiko Motoda （a Disaster Education Guide from the Miyako Tourism Cultural Exchange Association）, Kenji Saito （Director of the Ofunato Tsunami Museum）, and Asami Matsuoka （Program Manager of the Google Disaster Prevention and Reconstruction Project）. They spoke about raising awareness of disaster prevention, the need to pass on the lessons learned from the disaster, and the importance of communicating that information using many different methods.

Tsunami Floodgates to be Automated

Iwate Prefecture plans to introduce a system that automatically closes floodgates, as well as the doors on seawalls, in the event of a tsunami warning.

During the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, 48 firefighters lost their lives as they tried to close the gates.

In light of that fact, the system will be introduced in key areas. In the event of a tsunami, Iwate Prefecture would first receive a warning from J-ALERT, a country-wide alarm system that dispatches information via satellite. It would then be able to send an electronic instruction, also via satellite, to simultaneously close the necessary floodgates and doors. This automation means that the operator wouldn’t have to physically be in the disaster area.

The system covers roughly 220 gates and doors. It will be introduced in some areas from July this year, and then phased in at further locations as the construction of new seawalls is completed. The aim is for the entire Iwate coast to be covered by 2019.

"e! Iwate" information service app

“e! Iwate” is a mobile app that sends you news and information about Iwate’s Reconstruction （in Japanese）. You can then re-post this information on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Downloads available for the following smart phone models:
Android OS4.0 and newer, iOS6.0 and newer

*Sorry, information in Japanese only.

Disaster-inspired Art Exhibition Opens in Hanamaki

On January 12th 2017 （Thu）, an art exhibition called “Life Can’t Stop Creating – Objects Born From Disaster” opened at Runbini Art Gallery in Hoshigaoka, Hanamaki City. The exhibition, which is backed up the Iwate Board of Education, contains artworks inspired by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Since the tsunami, Runbini Art Gallery has created a succession of disaster-influenced exhibitions. This latest show features around 100 artworks produced in the 3 affected prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima.

The museum’s Art Director, Takashi Itagaki, commented, “I want visitors to think about the people behind the artwork, and the connections between people. I hope they realize that new things can be born out of adversity.”

The exhibition continues until March 17th, 2017 （Fri）.

Young Government Workers Present Creative Policies （Morioka）

On January 25th （Wed） and 26th （Thu） 2017, the second “Sanriku Put-Your-Creativity-To-Work Academy” was held in Morioka. The event invites young government employees working on the coast to put forward new policy ideas, in order to address the challenges facing the Sanriku region as it moves through and beyond the reconstruction.

At the event, nine people presented their policy ideas. The extremely varied suggestions included introducing new brands to sell agriculture, forestry and fishery products, job-hunting assistance for people coming back to Iwate after living elsewhere, promoting the appeal of farming to address the labor shortage, planting trees to secure lumber resources, and using hometown tax funds to create experience-based tourism programs.

The policies were evaluated by a team of lecturers, led by Mitsuhiro Seki from Hitotsubashi University. The presenters also took questions from an animated audience, which included government
employees, university students and representatives of local industry. The aim of the proposals was to affect local government policy ideas in the future.

Sanriku Winter Event Information

Event information is subject to change. Please inquire before attending.
*Inquiries in Japanese, please.

Sanriku Ofunato Camellia Festival
1/14 （Sat） - 3/20 （Mon）
Venue: World Camellia Center, Goishi
An exhibition of 550 varieties of camellia, from 13 different countries. Various special events will be held over the course of the exhibition. Camellia plants and goods will be on sale.
Inquiries: Camellia Festival Executive Committee: 0192-27-3111

The 2nd Otsuchi Variety Show
2/5 （Sun）
Venue: Shiroyama Park Gymnasium, Otsuchi
The main event is “A Comedy with Love, Laughter and Tears”, a collaboration between local residents and people helping with the reconstruction. Also featuring dance, puppetry and more.
Inquiries: Otsuchi Community Support Department: 0193-42-8718

Hirono Color Vol.4
& Unique Free Market
2/11 （Sat）
Venue: Hirono Fisheries Hall
Hirono Color brings together the many different handicraft creators in Hirono, who brighten the town with their charming work. Many of these products will be for sale at a free market.
Inquiries: Hirono Color Office:

• https://hironocolor.jimdo.com/（外部リンク）

2017 Hiraniwa Kogen Ski Resort Festival
2/11 （Sat）
Venue: Hiraniwa Kogen Ski Resort
A fun and varied festival with mochi scattering, stalls selling local food, and more. The firework display at the finale will turn the winter night’s sky into a gorgeous display of color.
Inquiries: Kuji Industrial Construction Division: 0194-72-2111

Miyako Horsehair Crab Festival
2/26 （Sun）
Venue: Miyako Fish Market
Horsehair Crab epitomizes Miyako’s winter food. Besides buying them, visitors can take part in exciting events like fishing and auctions. Crab soup will be given out for free.
Inquiries: Miyako Tourism and Culture Association: 0193-62-3534

Ryusendo Cave Reopens
3/19 （Sun）
Venue: Ryusendo Cave
One of Japan’s top 3 limestone caves. Its “dragon blue” underground lake is among the clearest in the world. It will open for the first time in 7 months, following the typhoon in late August 2016.
Inquiries: Ryusendo Cave Office: 0194-22-2566

The Kotatsu Train on Sanriku Railway’s North Rias Line is running on Weekends and Holidays Until March 26th!
The train ride features an appearance from the infamous “Namomi” monster. Passengers receive a certificate, and a pack of Akaji Senbei Rice Crackers. On the train from Kuji to Miyako, when you reserve your seat you can also place an order for a sea urchin, abalone, or scallop boxed lunch.
Inquiries: Sanriku Railways, Passenger Services: 0193-62-8900

Casualties and Damage in Iwate （as of December 31, 2016）

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

Thank you for all of your support! （as of December 31, 2016）

Donations for survivors: Around 18.52227 billion yen （94,267 donations）
Donations for reconstruction projects: Around 19.8516 billion yen （8,048 donations）
Iwate Learning Hope Fund donations: Around 8.69353 billion yen （19,531 donations）
※ This fund is to assist in the study and daily life of affected
 children by encouraging sport and study activities.

Contact

News from Iwate’s Reconstruction, Volume 121. February 1, 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 122 will be published on February 15th.