Volume 101 - February 15, 2015

The splendor of Iwate's winter will be on full display as the skiing portion of the National Winter Sports Festival in Iwate opens on February 20th.

The Land of Hope National Winter Sports Festival starts in Iwate!

Spreading the joy. Giving thanks.

On January 27, 2016 （Wed）, the opening ceremony of the skating and ice hockey games for the 2016 Land of Hope National Winter Sports Festival was held in the Iwate Prefectural Martial Arts Stadium （Morioka City）. This is the 71st National Sports Festival. Approximately 1,700 athletes and spectators from 44 prefectures attended the ceremony.

It's been 46 years since the national event was last held in Iwate, and 11 years since the last winter games. This year, Iwate will be hosting all the games from both the national sports festival and the winter games.
The national event opened up with the slogan "Spread the joy. Giving thanks." as a message of gratitude from Iwate to the rest of Japan for all of the support that was given to the prefecture after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Governor Tasso gave an opening speech. "The reconstruction is still ongoing, but I hope that through this National Sports Festival, which will be the first in a disaster-affected prefecture, we can express our thanks to all who supported us, and also show everyone in Japan that Iwate is working hard.”

"Fellow athletes from all over the country have come together for this event. I hope that we can show off our strength, skills and minds which we worked so hard to train. I want to spread courage, hope and happiness to many people, and do my best to push through to the very end," said Ms. Konami Soga, one of the athletes on the Iwate Team.

On February 20, 2016 （Sat）, the skiing competition will open up in Hachimantai, where an exciting battle towards victory will occur on the ski slopes.

Kamaishi High School Chosen for the 88th National High School Baseball Tournament

On January 29, 2016 （Fri）, Kamaishi High School was elected as a 21st century candidate school by the selection committee （screening process held in Osaka） to enter the 88th National High School Baseball Tournament.

Kamaishi suffered enormous damage during the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. They were nominated on the criteria that many of the baseball members are still living in emergency housing from the disaster, yet remain outstanding students in both academics and athletics despite this hardship.

"I want to really focus on each game and make history for the school," said Coach Takehiko Sasaki on the high school entering the Spring Koshien Tournament.

The lottery to decide the games will occur on March 11. The tournament will begin on March 20, where the school will fight towards reaching its dreams.

Screening of the NHK Drama Special set in Ofunato, Koi no Sanriku Ressha-kon de Iko! （Love in Sanriku - On the Dating Train!）

In support of the disaster affected areas, NHK has released a drama special called Koi no Sanriku Ressha-kon de Iko!. It will start airing on February 27, 2016 （Sat）.

Commemorating the approach of the 5th year since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, this heartwarming, romantic and comical drama is set in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture. It follows a character who works diligently through both her work and love life.

【Broadcasting schedule】
NHK GTV Starts on February 27, 2016 （Sat）
Every Saturday 22:00-22:44 ※22:15-22:59 for episode 3
【Cast】　Nao Matsushita, Masanobu Ando, Shizuyo Yamazaki （Nankai Candies）, Yuina Kuroshima, Koudai Asaka, Hyunri, YOUNG DAIS, Danmitsu, Mayu Matsuoka, Sansei Shiomi, Hiroaki Murakami, Keiko Matsuzaka etc.

Otsuchi Thanksgiving Day

On January 30th, 2016 （Sat）, the Otsuchi Thanksgiving Day was held at Otsuchi Central Public Hall in Kozuchi.

The purpose of the event was to communicate the reconstruction's progress to the supporters, volunteers and workers who have contributed to it, and to return their kindness. Around 300 people attended.

The ceremony included performances by a local wind orchestra on the "Giving Back*" stage, and a demonstration of the tiger folk dance. The reconstruction's supporters exchanged messages with Otsuchi's residents. Three people from each group gave a speech expressing their thoughts.

Rice porridge with salmon flakes and freshly-broiled scallops were passed out to the crowd. Over the course of the day, the reconstruction's supporters and Otsuchi's residents were able to strengthen their relationship.

*"Ongaeshi （Giving Back）" stage. A play on words, as "on" is written with the character for "music", and can also be interpreted as "playing back music".

Ama-chan Train “Shiosai Memories” Ending in March

The Sanriku North Rias Line's "Shiosai Memories" train, which was created in connection with the 2013 NHK TV drama Ama-chan, is being retired.

The Shiosai Memories train was specially designed to recreate scenes from the drama. The train began its services on April 5th, 2015, in commemoration of the one year anniversary of the reopening of all the lines on the Sanriku Railway. It ran 4 trips until December that year, attracting Ama-chan fans from all over the country.

Shiosai Memories' final outing, known as its "Sayonara Version," takes place on March 19th, 2016 （Sat）. It will make two return journeys along the Sanriku Northern Rias Line, between Kuji and Tanohata.

• Capacity: 30 people per trip
• Reservations required
  　　※From Feb 19th （Fri.）
• Inquiries:
  Kuji Station, Sanriku Railway
  Phone: 0194-52-0177
  （Inquiries in Japanese, please）

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 Ai Kaneda and her work publicizing the Ofunato area with Ohfunako, a website targeted at women.

• Ai Kaneda of Arrow Links

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

• Deaths: 4,672; Missing: 1,124
• Buildings destroyed （residences only, total/partial）: 26,168

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

Donations for survivors: Around 18.44261 billion yen （92,726 donations）
Donations for reconstruction projects: Around 19.72817 billion yen （7,624 donations）
Iwate Learning Hope Fund donations: Around 7.92813 billion yen （17,177 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 101. February 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 102 will be published on March 15.