Volume 114 - October 1, 2016

Iwate is hosting this year's National Sports Festival!
The National Sports Festival is happening right now!
21 days until the National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities!

More Damage from Typhoon No. 10 - 139.44328 billion yen

On September 23rd, 2016 （Fri）, Iwate Prefecture set up a Typhoon Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Promotion Headquarters to carry out relief activities in areas that were hit by the effects of heavy rain from Typhoon No. 10.

At 10 AM on September 27th, 2016 （Tue.）, 367 people in Iwaizumi and Tanohata were reported to have evacuated their homes. The number of damaged and flooded buildings rose to 4,028 - 61% were deemed to be either completely or partially destroyed.

The total damage across the prefecture amounts to 139.44328 billion yen as of September 27th 2016, but that total is expected to rise. While investigating the extent of the damage, the prefecture has begun preliminary recovery and reconstruction, in conjunction with related organizations. These initial measures aim to support the lives of the survivors, and to restart the agriculture, fishery, and tourism industries.

Total damage by sector

（As of September 27, 2016 at 10 AM）

Civil engineering: 87.667980 billion yen
Agriculture: 8.36989 billion yen
Forestry: 10.63051 billion yen
Fisheries: 6.51447 billion yen
Medical, social welfare: 1.00041 billion yen
Commerce, tourism: 22.90014 billion yen

Total

139.44328 billion yen

The last maestro of the 20th century - Iwate "Bonds of Reconstruction" Concert （Otsuchi）

On September 16th, 2016 （Fri）, the Iwate "Bonds of Reconstruction" Concert "Ivry Gitlis's World" was held in the lobby of Sanriku Hana Hotel Hamagiku （Otsuchi）.

Mr. Gitlis is originally from Israel and is 94 years old. He is currently the oldest active violinist in the world, and is often called the "Last Maestro of the 20th Century". He has performed in the disaster-affected areas almost every year since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. At the memorial service a year after the disaster, he performed with a violin made from Takata Matsubara pine wood.

At this year’s concert, he performed for roughly an hour, together with the pianist Shuku Iwasaki. The audience of around 70 people were mesmerized by the maestro’s beautiful music.

"I'm always thinking about the disaster affected areas. I want to come back to Iwate again," he said on stage after his performance, eliciting unbounded applause from the audience.

Mr. Gitlis made a school visit to Kiri Kiri Gakuen Elementary School before the concert, and interacted with the children through music.

Donations towards damage caused by Typhoon No. 10

We are collecting donations to help those who suffered damage from heavy rain, storms, and strong waves during Typhoon No. 10.

In order to donate, you must be able to make a bank transfer （振込, furikomi） from a Japanese bank account. Currently, we are not able to accept overseas donations. We have printed the information in Japanese in roman letters, but information must be inputted in Japanese characters. Ask a bank teller for assistance.

Japanese Red Cross Society Iwate Prefecture Branch

　< Iwate Bank Main Branch >
　Account Number: Futsuu 0500445
　Account Holder: Nihon Sekijuujisha Iwateken Shibu Shibuchou Tasso Takuya

Community Chest of Iwate Prefecture

< Yuucho Bank >
Account Number: 00130‐2‐387497
: 019-ten Current Bank ※This information is needed when using other banks’ ATMs or internet banking
Account Holder: Iwateken Kyoudou Bokinkai Taifuu 10gou Ooame Saigai Gienkin

< Iwate Bank Main Branch >
Account Number: Futsuu 2241853
Account Holder: Shakai fukushi houjin Iwateken Kyoudou Bokinkai Iwateken
Taifuu 10gou Ooamenado Saigai Gienkin

Contact

Office of Health and Welfare Planning
Iwate Prefectural Government Department of Health and Welfare
Phone: 019-629-5408 （direct） 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
（Inquiries in Japanese, please）

• Donations for the damage done by Typhoon #10 （Lionrock）

A Hot Air Balloon Event in Support of the Reconstruction （Ofunato）

On September 3rd （Sat） and 4th （Sun）, “Look at the Sky”, a hot air balloon event in support of the reconstruction, was held in Akasaki, Ofunato. It was sponsored by the non-profit organization Kizuna Project Sanriku.

The event began as a way to bring happiness to children suffering from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. After being held for the first time in Ofunato in August 2011, it took place in various locations across the three disaster-hit prefectures, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. This was the 18th time the event has been held.

On the evening of Saturday 3rd, the crowd enjoyed the magical sight of hot air balloons creating a floating illumination against the evening sky, coordinated in time to music.

Early on the morning of Sunday 4th, families and friends took part in a hot air balloon flight experience. In total, 238 people were taken 20 meters up in the air, where they could gaze down upon Ofunato’s ongoing reconstruction.

A candlelight memorial: Washi Candle Garden Tohoku 2016 （Tokyo）

From September 9th （Fri） to September 11th （Sun）, 2016, “Washi Candle Garden, Tohoku 2016” was held at Tokyo Midtown in Minato Ward. People who suffered during the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami wrote their thoughts on pieces of washi paper, and set them alight.

The event was organized by students of the “Love Japan Project”, run by Sadayuki Murakami of Tama University. Under the theme of “connecting information to action”, it aimed to communicate the thoughts of the people suffering from the disaster, 5 and a half years on.

The students met 3,600 disaster victims, spread across 40 settlements in 3 prefectures, 2,400 of whom wrote messages on washi paper. They also made candles from washi paper stamped with the handprints of 1,200 children from Tohoku and Tokyo. Altogether the students prepared 4,700 washi paper candles, each containing a thought or memory.

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 Yasushi Hanasaka and his work in development at Ferias Kamaishi.

• Yasushi Hanasaka of Ferias Kamaishi

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

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

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

Donations for survivors: Around 18.5313 billion yen （93,724 donations）
Donations for reconstruction projects: Around 19.77904 billion yen （7,837 donations）
Iwate Learning Hope Fund donations: Around 8.51776 billion yen （18,168 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 114. October 1, 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 115 will be published on October 15th.