Volume 104 - May 1, 2016

Iwate is hosting this year's National Sports Festival!
153 days until the National Sports Festival,and 174 days until the National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities!

"Moguranpia" Aquarium Reopens In Kuji

On April 23rd, 2016 （Sat）, Kuji's underground aquarium and science museum, "Moguranpia", （Samuraihama, Kuji）, reopened in its original location, 5 years after being completely destroyed in the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

The facility uses the inside of a tunnel of an oil storage base, and is the only underground aquarium in Japan. It has around 40 tanks of varying sizes, which display roughly 3,000 animals of 200 different species. The aquarium has about the same number of creatures as before the disaster.

At the opening ceremony, the city mayor, Mr. Joji Endo, said, "We're here today because of the assistance of people from all over the country. I want Moguranpia to become a symbol of the recovery, and a focal point for visitors to Kuji and the North Sanriku region."

A visiting associate professor at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, named Sakana-kun, has been collaborating with the aquarium since before the disaster and gave his support towards the reopening. As the head of the Moguranpia support group, he was delighted at the news. "The fish are back after 5 years away. If you watch them glitter as they swim, or look at their cute little faces, I'm sure you'll feel full of energy!" he said.

From the aquarium's underwater tunnel, you can see creatures like Kamekichi, the green sea turtle that miraculously survived the tsunami. Moguranpia is also planning "Nanbu Moguri" and "Hokugen no Ama" diving performances, once per day on weekends and holidays.

"Namiita Coast Village", A New Tourism Hub, Is Now Open （Otsuchi）

Otsuchi, which lost sandy beaches to land subsidence by the disaster, hosted the grand opening of the "Namiita Coast Village" in Kirikiri on April 17th, 2016 （Sun）. Around 200 local residents participated in the event, which was titled the "Namiita Coast Carnival".

The facility hosts three shops, a surfing store （K-SURF）, a cafe bar （JONMA） and an internet-connected co-working cafe （KAI-CAFE）. It also has a social space for visitors.

The grand opening event had t-shirt printing and an exhibition of local photography. Every visitor received a free scallop from the Sanriku coast.

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

Event: Beach Volleyball
Dates: August 28th （Sun）
Venue: A Specially-Constructed Venue in Takata, Rikuzentakata
Inquiries Phone: 0192-54-2111 （Rikuzentakata City） *Inquiries in Japanese, please.

RIKUZENTAKATA INFORMATION

Rikuzentakata, where the Pacific Ocean spreads out before your eyes. It serves as the southern gateway to the sprawling rias coastline of the Sanriku Fukko National Park. The Miraculous Pine, a single tree that survived the tsunami, stands as a symbol of the city's journey towards recovery, which it is currently undertaking thanks to the public's generous aid and encouragement. The annual Ugoku and Kenka Tanabata Festivals on August 7th attract large, bustling crowds, and is a great way to feel the verve of the southern coastal region of Kesen.

The Taro Kanko Hotel Memorial Opens to the Public （Miyako）

Conservation work has been completed on the Taro Kanko Hotel （in Taro, Miyako）, and the structure opened to the public on April 1st, 2016 （Fri） as a memorial of the disaster.

This is the first disaster memorial to open to the public that has used disaster reconstruction funds.

The tsunami reached the 4th floor of the 6 floor hotel, and only the structural framework remains of the bottom two floors. The hotel lies within Miyako City, which secured the land and structure so that they could preserve it for others to know the danger of tsunami and lessons learned.

You can reserve educational disaster prevention tours （called “Manabu Bosai”） where you can tour the inside of the hotel and see a video of the tsunami taken from the 6th floor.

• Reservations required
• Inquiries: Manabu Bosai

Phone: 0193-77-3305
　080-5739-6423
　9:00am - 6:00pm

Introducing: "The Wrapping Truck"

In order to support the reconstruction and National Sports Festival, Aichi Rikuun Co. （of Komaki, Aichi）, a delivery company in the Toyota Group, have created the "Wrapping Truck," a truck wrapped with Iwate-themed posters.

On April 11th, 2016 （Mon）, at the unveiling ceremony in front of the Iwate Prefectural Government, Governor Tasso presented a letter of thanks to Takashi Kobayashi, Aichi Rikuun's president.

The truck's container, which is roughly 12 meters long and 25 tons in weight, has been covered in vivid photographs from Iwate Prefecture, including the Miraculous Pine, the Sanriku Railway, shopkeepers from the Sanriku-Saiko Shopping Association, Hiraizumi and the Hashino Iron Mining Site （both are World Heritage Sites）, and the National Sports Festival.

The truck will make a round trip daily between Aichi Prefecture and the Toyota factory in Kanegasaki, promoting Iwate to everyone along the way.

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 Yasuko Furuno and her activities as the head of Child Support at Pact.

• Yasuko Furuno of Pact

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

Donations for survivors: Around 18.45494 billion yen （93,134 donations）
Donations for reconstruction projects: Around 19.76697 billion yen （7,691 donations）
Iwate Learning Hope Fund donations: Around 7.96499 billion yen （17,318 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 104. May 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 105 will be published on May 15th.