Volume 115 - October 15, 2016

Iwate is hosting this year's National Sports Festival!
The National Sports Festival is finished!
7 days until the National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities!

Iwate on Display at the 2016 National Sports Festival

All across Iwate, for 11 days between October 1st （Sat） and 11th （Tue）, athletes competed fiercely in the 71st National Sports Festival of Japan, known as the “Land of Hope Iwate National Sports Festival”.

This was the first time the competition had been hosted in Iwate since 1970, and the first time the disaster region has held the games since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. It was a chance for the prefecture to show its appreciation for all the support it has received, and to show off its charms as it moves towards reconstruction. The competition’s slogan was “Spreading the joy. Giving thanks.”

On October 1st （Sat）, their majesties the Emperor and Empress came to Kitakami Stadium to witness the opening ceremony. It began with a series of introductory performances, entitled “Thank You from the Land of Hope”. First, the actor Hiroaki Murakami （originally from Rikuzentakata） told the tale of Iwate’s triumph over disaster, and its journey towards reconstruction. Next, a group of children read “Strong in the Rain”, a poem by Kenji Miyazawa. Kamaishi’s tiger dancers competed with Kitakami’s demon’s sword dancers. A song and dance group, featuring members from Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima, gave a performance entitled “New Relationships in Tohoku”. Finally, a group of 700 Sansa Odori dancers dynamically expressed Iwate’s journey towards a glittering future, while also giving thanks for the help the prefecture has received.

Joy and thanks! The Opening Ceremony

At the official opening ceremony, starting with Okinawa, teams from all 47 prefectures entered the arena. The athletes and fans then observed a minute’s silence out of respect for those who lost their lives in the disaster.

Governor Tasso gave a greeting. “This is the first time for the disaster area to host this sports festival since the 3.11 disaster, and I’d like everyone to see how hard we’re working towards reconstruction. At the same time, I offer my sincere thanks for everyone’s support.”

Torches from 33 locations across Iwate were transported by relay to a central flame. The audience of 12,000 people burst into applause as the fire was lit. Iwate’s representative athletes, Eiki Takahashi and Misaki Ozawa, gave a speech expressing their commitment to fair play, and the National Sports Festival officially began.

23,000 athletes from all 47 of Japan’s prefectures （including swimmers, whose events had already taken place） took part in the competition. 36 official events and a special high school baseball competition were held across 24 different locations.

Exceeding expectations and giving thanks

The closing ceremony on October 11th （Tue） was attended by 16,000 people, including the athletes, festival staff and spectators. The special guest was Prince and Princess Akishino.

Iwate’s target before the competition was to finish within the top 8, with a total of at least 1,550 points. In the end they scored 1,924 points, across both this competition and the winter event. They finished second in the combined male and female rankings （The Emperor’s Cup）, and second in the female rankings （The Empress’ Cup） with 981 points. They fully exceeded expectations, to the delight of everyone in the prefecture.

The National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities

Continuing on from the National Sports Festival is the “Land of Hope” 16th National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities, which takes place over three days between October 22nd （Sat） and 24th （Mon）. 3,300 athletes will compete in 13 solo and group events.

Volunteer in the Typhoon #10 Disaster Areas

Typhoon #10 caused enormous damage. We’re seeking volunteers to help in Kuji, Iwaizumi and Miyako, which suffered the most.

Kuji

• Kuji Disaster Volunteer Center
  Phone: 0194-53-3380

Iwaizumi

• Iwaizumi Disaster Volunteer Center
  Phone: 090-7079-6035
• Kogawa Satellite
  Phone: 090-2270-0244
• Omoto Satellite
  Phone: 090-2270-0246

Miyako

We are operating a bus service to take volunteers from Miyako to Iwaizumi （weekdays only）.

• Miyako City Council of Social Welfare
  Phone: 0193-64-5050

Otsuchi Gakuen Starts Classes in New Building （Otsuchi）

Construction on Otsuchi Gakuen, the first school in Iwate that teaches all compulsory education grades in one building, has been completed. On September 26th, 2016 （Mon）, classes were held for the first time in the new school building.

It's been approximately 5 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Since then, students at Otsuchi Elementary School and Otsuchi Middle School have been attending classes in a temporary school building. In April 2016, the two schools combined to form Otsuchi Gakuen （Principal Atsushi Omori, 637 students enrolled）. In September, the construction on the long-awaited new school building was completed.

The new building is located where Otsuchi High School used to be, on elevated ground. It is a two-story wooden structure built with reinforced concrete.

The wood is taken from Japanese cedar and larch trees in the town. The school also has an indoor exercise room, an indoor pool, library, and a cafeteria. It has been designated as an evacuation site during times of disaster.

Setting a New Guinness World Record Lining Up 1,260 Pacific Saury （Ofunato）

On October 9th, 2016 （Sun）, an event was held at a fish market in Ofunato to break the Guinness World Record for the "longest line of edible fish".

This was a collaborative effort of the residents between Ofunato and the government, to promote Ofunato as a city with delicious fish.

About 361 locals and tourists attended the event. The participants worked diligently to line up and make sure the heads and tails stayed on the fish as they aimed for the world record.

The participants were able to line up 1,260 pacific saury, beating the former world record of 1,000 dried Japanese seabream in Toba, Mie Prefecture. The venue was filled with loud applause and cheers.

"I hope Ofunato will become widely known as a place with delicious pacific saury," said the mayor of Ofunato, Kimiaki Toda, as he accepted the certificate.

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 Mizuki Fukushi and her work with the Yamada Specialty Products Market Co-Op.

• Mizuki Fukushi of the Yamada Specialties Market

Casualties and Damage in Iwate （as of September 30, 2016）

• Deaths: 4,672; Missing: 1,123
• Buildings destroyed （residences only, total/partial）: 26,075

Thank you for all of your support! （as of September 30, 2016）

Donations for survivors: Around 18.5632 billion yen （93,854 donations）
Donations for reconstruction projects: Around 19.79252 billion yen （7,877 donations）
Iwate Learning Hope Fund donations: Around 8.55577 billion yen （18,328 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 115. October 15, 2016.
Published by the General Affairs Division, Bureau of Reconstruction, Iwate Prefecture.
Phone: 019-629-6925
Editing & Printing: SYNAPSE

*News from Iwate's Reconstruction Volume 116 will be published on November 1st.