Volume 103 - April 15, 2016

Iwate is hosting this year's National Sports Festival!
169 days until the National Sports Festival, and 190 days until the National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities!

Kamaishi High School Wins the "Supporters' Prize - Award of Excellence"

At the 88th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament （organized by Mainichi Shimbun and the Japan High School Baseball Federation）, Kamaishi High School's cheer team won the "Supporters Prize - Award of Excellence". On April 7th, 2016 （Thu）, an award ceremony was held at the school.

It has been 20 years since the school made it to the tournament. During the match against their first opponents, Shodoshima High School （Kagawa Prefecture）, Kamaishi High School's cheer team was highly regarded for its long-distance support and manners within the stadium.

The leader of the cheer team, Nozomi Kikuchi （3rd year）, expressed his gratitude. "I think we managed to outdo Shodoshima's 2,000 supporters. We were able to take home the prize because of everyone's hard work. Good effort, everyone!"

Next, Principal Kazuya Sato gave his thoughts. "Considering the difficulties you've all had to overcome, I'm sure it was an exciting first victory for you all,” he reflected.

The captain of the baseball team, Tomoya Kikuchi （3rd year）, set his sights on the future: the summer Koshien games. "Our aim was to write a new chapter in Kamaishi High School's history. I'm happy that, with everyone's support, we were able to achieve that. We're going to train even harder, and work towards Koshien."

Results from the Iwate Reconstruction Watchers Survey #1 for 2016

Iwate Prefecture conducts the Iwate Reconstruction Watchers Survey in order to periodically measure Iwate's reconstruction progress from the earthquake and tsunami. The survey targets people living or working in the disaster-affected municipalities, and is conducted once every three months.

Here are some key points extracted from the results of the first survey this year （conducted in January 2016）.

Have the lives of the survivors recovered?

“Fully recovered” or “Mostly recovered”: 73.2% （last time: 66.4%）
There was praise for the ongoing relocation of people into new homes on elevated land. However, there was also concern at the cost of rent for the public housing for survivors.

How do you feel about the recovery of the local economy?

“Fully recovered” or “Mostly recovered”: 54.3% （last time: 54.2%）
Some people pointed out that many businesses are recording better results than before the disaster. However, there was also concern at the amount of young people leaving the prefecture, the insufficient workforce, and the fall in revenue due to a poor salmon catch.

How do you feel about the disaster mitigation measures?

“Satisfactory” or “Mostly satisfactory”: 38.8% （last time: 33.3%）
Some were happy at the progress made on tidal defenses, as well as the maintenance and improvement of roads that can be safely used in a disaster. However, others said that, five years on, they need an opportunity to heighten disaster prevention awareness.

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

Event: Rubber-ball Baseball
Dates: October 2nd （Sun） to 5th （Wed）
Venue: Ocean View Stadium
Contact Phone: 0194-65-2111 （Hirono Town）
Demonstrations:
Surfing: September 4th （Sun） / Park Golf: September 25th （Sun）

HIRONO INFORMATION

Hirono is blessed by both hilly farm land and by the riches of the North Sanriku coast. It boasts Iwate's biggest catch of Taneichi sea urchins, which are famous for their value and rich sweetness. Every July, visitors flock here for the Taneichi Sea Urchin Festival. Ono Campus, a green space for woodworking studios and other crafts, is dedicated to the idea that handicrafts enrich our lives. The warmth of the craftwork and the abundant natural environment speak to the hearts of the visitors.

Reopening Ceremony Marks Another Step Towards Revitalization of the City Center （Ofunato）

On March 13, 2016 （Sun）, the first grand reopening ceremony of the Ofunato Station area, which received heavy damage during the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, was held in the plaza in front of the station. Including local government workers, 600 people attended the ceremony to celebrate the brand new start for the city.

The project is part of ongoing tsunami reconstruction work on central areas, which is intended to promote activity and revitalization in the city. Roughly 2.3 hectares have been completed so far.

Ofunato Plaza Hotel was rebuilt in a new location, a 2,400 square meter taxi hub was set up in front of the station and a terminal for BRT （Bus Rapid Transit） buses was installed.

There are plans on finishing construction on large commercial facilities by 2017, marking another step towards genuine reconstruction.

Construction Completed on Otsuchi's New Fire Station

On March 19th, 2016 （Sat）, a ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of Otsuchi Fire Station, which was destroyed in the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and rebuilt on the former site of Otsuchi Junior High School.

Approximately 130 people attended the ceremony, including firefighters and other related persons. Kouzou Hirano, the mayor of Otsuchi, spoke at the ceremony: “I want us to learn the lessons from our experiences five years ago, and to use that knowledge during our next encounter with a disaster."

The new fire station is a three-story steel-reinforced building with a total floor area of 1,700 square meters. Helicopters are able to land in the station's parking lot, and power generators and solar panels were installed to ensure the availability of electricity during power outages. Residents have high hopes for the new facility as a disaster prevention base for the local community.

Kamaishi Fire Station, which was also destroyed during the disaster, has been performing its duties in its new building since April 2014.

Sanriku Event Information - Spring has come to Iwate!

4/29 （Fri）
Sanriku Yamada Oyster Festival
Venue: Yamada Fish Market （Yamada）
Buy fresh seafood caught in Yamada Bay! Cook and eat what you buy right away at the BBQ corner. Also: Free samples of oyster soup.
Contact: Yamada Public Relations Planning Committee: 0193-82-2515

4/29 （Fri） - 5/5 （Thu）
Jodogahama Festival
Venue: Jodogahama area （Miyako）
A special one-day event where you can rent rowboats for free, and try out sea kayaking! Pork soup and crab soup stands are scheduled to be at the event.
Contact: Miyako Tourism Cultural Exchange Association: 0193-62-3534

5/4 （Wed） - 5/5 （Fri）
Ryusendo Festival
Venue: Ryusendo Cave （Iwaizumi）
Local product sales, a stage for traditional performances, and a mochi catching event where you can win prizes! The first few people who come will receive a free local Iwaizumi product.
Contact: Ryusendo Office: 0194-22-2566

5/3 （Tue） - 5/4 （Wed）
Shukunohe Sea Urchin Market
Venue: Shukunohe Fishing Harbor （Hirono）
Local fishermen will sell sea urchins, abalone, and wild sea squirt that they have caught. You can also eat grilled seafood, seafood soup, raw sea urchin over rice, and so on.
Contact: Taneichi South Fisheries Cooperative: 0194-75-3611

5/4 （Wed） - 5/5 （Thu）
Goishi Coast Tourism Festival
Venue: In the plaza in front of the Goishi Coast rest stop （Ofunato）
Traditional performances, local dishes from Ofunato, a hearty seafood hotpot made with local products, etc.
Contact: Goishi Coast Tourism Festival Planning Committee: 0192-27-3111

5/14 （Sat）
Unotori Shrine Festival
Venue: Unotori Shrine （Fudai）
This shrine festival is held on April 8 on the old Japanese calendar. Unotori Kagura, which was designated by the national government as an important intangible folk cultural property, will be performed in the kagura hall.
Contact: Unotori Shrine: 0194-35-2339

5/22 （Sun）
Noda-Shio no Michi （Salt Road） Walking Event
Venue: Shio no Michi
（Yamane, Kuji City - Noda Town）
A popular walking event along the "Noda Shio Beko Road", which connects the coast and inlands. Salt produced in Noda is carried along this mountain trail on the backs of cows.
Contact: Noda-Shio no Michi Walking Event Planning Committee: 0194-78-4171

Reopenings!

4/16
Kitayamazaki Cliff Sightseeing Cruise
Back in Service! （Tanohata）
The cruise, which was closed during the winter due to maintenance, is now up and running again.

4/23
Moguranpia - Kuji Underground Aquarium
Reopened! （Kuji）
Grand reopening of the aquarium that was destroyed 5 years ago in the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

The details for these events are subject to change. Please contact the organizers before attending.

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 103. April 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 104 will be published on May 1st.