Volume 108 - July 1, 2016

Iwate is hosting this year's National Sports Festival!
92 days until the National Sports Festival, and 113 days until the National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities!

"Iwate Reconstruction for Tomorrow" Seminar Is a Roaring Success （Morioka）

On June 18th, 2016 （Sat）, the first "Iwate Reconstruction for Tomorrow" seminar of the year was held at Hotel Higashi-Nihon Morioka.

This is the seminar's second year. It's organized by the local industrial-academic-governmental collaborative association Iwate Tomorrow Design, in order to provide a networking opportunity for people who want to be involved in the reconstruction.

First, the Vice Minister of the National Reconstruction Agency, Masakatsu Okamoto, introduced the main topic, "Future Challenges and Developments for a Genuine Reconstruction". The keynote speakers were Masaya Hayashida （Kirin） and Daiju Takahashi （Eat, and Energize the East）. In the second half of the seminar, they were joined by Takeichi Kimigahora （Yamakiichi） and Governor Tasso for a panel discussion. They exchanged opinions on the topic "Moving Towards a Genuine Reconstruction in Sanriku".

During the event, the speakers introduced a number of foodstuffs, like swimming scallops, Tono padron peppers and Cava canned mackerel. People had a chance to try these foods at the networking event after the seminar. The people of Sanriku are very proud of their produce, which is sure to play a big part in the ongoing reconstruction.

The next Iwate Reconstruction for Tomorrow seminar will be held on August 7th （Sun.） at Miyako Public Hall.

National Bull-Wrestling Tournament Held in Kuji!

On June 12th, 2016 （Sun）, the 19th National Bull-Wrestling Summit and Tournament was held at the Hiraniwa Bull-Wrestling Park in Yamagata, Kuji.

The National Summit moves between the 9 cities （across 6 prefectures） that hold bull-wrestling tournaments. Kuji is the only host in Tohoku. This was the city's first summit in 7 years, and its first since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

A commemorative bull-wrestling tournament took place at the same time as the summit. There were 16 bouts, featuring 32 bulls weighing from 410 kilograms to over a ton. Besides the bulls raised in Kuji, there were others from Okinawa, Kagoshima and Niigata. The audience clapped and cheered as the bulls locked horns.

The Hiraniwa Highlands will host the "Shirokaba Tournament", its 3rd of the year, on August 21st （Sun）.

Spreading the joy. Giving thanks. The Land of Hope Iwate National Sports Festival and National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities

Event: Open Water Swimming Date: September 6th, 2016 （Tue）
Venue: Nebama Beach, Kamaishi

Event: Triathlon Date: October 2nd, 2016 （Sun）
Venue: Nebama Beach, Kamaishi

Event: Rugby Sevens Date: October 4th-7th, 2016 （Tue – Fri）
Venue: Kamaishi Stadium

Inquiries Phone: 0193-22-8847 （National Sports Festival Promotion Division）

KAMAISHI INFORMATION

Kamaishi, in the south-east of Iwate Prefecture, is blessed with a pleasant climate all year round. It is home to the World Heritage Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site, and will be a host city for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Its recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami is still underway, but with their motto of "never bend, never break", Kamaishi's people are working tirelessly towards their vision of the city's future: Sanriku's beacon of hope and happiness.

Faster Alerts for Earthquakes and Tsunami Thanks to the S-net Landing Station in Miyako

The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture is currently undertaking a project called the Seafloor Observation Network for Earthquakes and Tsunamis along the Japan Trench （S-net）. It consists of a network of cables on the Pacific Ocean seafloor, where seismometers and tsunami meters will be placed from Hokkaido to the Kanto region. On June 10th, 2016 （Fri）, construction on the landing station in Miyako was finished. A trial operation was carried out, which was followed by an official opening ceremony.

S-net is a network of cables roughly 5,700 kilometers in length, connecting Kushiro Bay in Hokkaido with Boso Bay, all the way down in Chiba. The network consists of 150 seafloor observation stations that transmit real-time tsunami and seismic data to the Research Institute and Japan Meteorological Agency via the 5 coastal landing stations.

This system will allow earthquakes to be detected roughly 30 seconds in advance, and tsunamis 20 minutes in advance. This information can then be transmitted to the public via early earthquake and tsunami
warning systems.

New tourism opportunity - Official opening of the Iwaizumi Line Rail Bike!

On June 12th, 2016 （Sun.）, the Iwaizumi Line rail bikes were offering free rides along the discontinued Iwaizumi railway line that ran between Iwate Wainai Station and Nakazato Station.

The former 38-kilometer JR Iwaizumi Line connected Miyako and Iwaizumi, but was decommissioned in April 2014. In an effort to use the railway as a resource for tourism, the Miyako Wainai Kariya Regional Development Association came up with rail bikes （bicycles that run on top of the railway lines）.

There were two 2-person bikes and two 4-person bikes; four in total. The course was a 6-kilometer round trip, which took a total of 45-50 minutes to complete. The residents who participated were able to enjoy the lush nature and refreshing breeze.

The rail bikes will officially be available to the public from June 19th （Sun）, providing a brand-new tourism opportunity in the region.

* Operates on weekends and holidays
[Reservations and Inquiries]
Wainai Kariya Regional Development Association
Phone: 080-5564-2310
（Inquiries in Japanese, please）

Sanriku Event Information - Summer festivals in Sanriku!!

7/16 （Sat） -7/17（Sun）
Kamaishi Marugoto Taste Festival
Venue: Sea Plaza Yu （Kamaishi City）
A festival celebrating industrial, marine, and agricultural products. Two days of eating your fill and having as much fun as you possibly can in Kamaishi!
Inquiries: Kamaishi Tourism and Convention Association: 0193-27-8172

7/17 （Sun）
Taneichi Sea Urchin Festival
Venue: Taneichi Seaside Park Event Plaza （Hirono Town）
Buy shelled and unshelled sea urchins, make your own raw sea urchin rice bowl or try catching and shelling them yourself.
Inquiries: Hirono Event Program Planning Committee: 0194-65-5916

7/17 （Sun）
Ryusendo Summer Festival
Venue: Around Ryusendo Cave （Iwaizumi Town）
Buy grilled Iwaizumi shorthorn beef, watch traditional folk performances and explore the mysteries of Ryusendo.
Inquiries: Ryusendo Caves Office: 0194-22-2566

7/30 （Sat） -7/31（Sun）
Miyako Summer Festival
Venue: Downtown Miyako, Dezaki area （Miyako City）
Traditional local performances will fill the city with a lively summer atmosphere. There will also be an ocean taiko drum festival, and a tugboat festival featuring rows of fishing boats.
Inquiries: Miyako Chamber of Commerce & Industry: 0193-62-3233

7/31 （Sun）
Kuji Port and Fish Festival
Venue: Around Kuji Bay （Kuji City）
An event based around Kuji Bay where you can enjoy the wonders of the ocean. The onstage performances and fresh seafood stalls will introduce visitors to the charms of Kuji’s ocean.
Inquiries: Kuji Port and Fish Festival Planning Committee: 0194-52-2123

7/31 （Sun）
Fudai Marugoto Genki Market
Venue: Fudai town area （Fudai Village）
Escape the route 45 highway and jump into pedestrian heaven in Fudai. We will send our joy to Japan, and to the rest of the world.
Inquiries: Fudai Marugoto Genki Market Planning Committee: 0194-35-2114

8/5 （Sat） -8/6（Sun）
Sanriku-Ofunato Summer Festival
Venue: Venue: Around Ofunato Fish Market, Chayamae wharf, etc. （Ofunato City）
A festival held in and around the Ofunato Fish Market, featuring a fireworks festival （with 8,000 fireworks）, street dancing, a Tanabata naval parade, food stalls and much more.
Inquiries: Sanriku-Ofunato Summer Festival Planning Committee: 0192-26-2141

8/11 （Thu）
LIGHT UP NIPPON in Noda
Venue: In front of the town hall
Fireworks representing prayers for reconstruction and mourning for the dead will be set off at the coastal regions that were damaged during the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
Inquiries: Noda Industry Promotions Division: 0194-78-2926

Please call in advance before attending an event, as the details are subject to change. Inquiries in Japanese, please.

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

• Deaths: 4,672; Missing: 1,123
• Buildings destroyed （residences only, total/partial）: 26,168

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

Donations for survivors: Around 18.49702 billion yen （93,427 donations）
Donations for reconstruction projects: Around 19.77156 billion yen （7,766 donations）
Iwate Learning Hope Fund donations: Around 8.42247 billion yen （17,864 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 108. July 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 109 will be published on July 15th.