Volume 93 - October 1, 2015

The trees have started to change color in the mountains, and more leaves fall with every passing day.

On-site Reconstruction Study Tour for Students （Rikuzentakata）

On September 7, 2015 （Mon）, an on-site reconstruction study tour for university students took place in Rikuzentakata.

It was the first time a tour has been held specifically for students. The idea was to give them an understanding of the reconstruction projects and support measures for the survivors that are underway as they prepare to enter the working world. 31 students from Iwate and 6 from outside Iwate took part in the tour, which stopped at 5 different sites.

First, the participants climbed the second embankment in the Takada district, a mound of earth exceeding 10m in height, and observed the continuing restoration work on the sea walls. The project manager outlined the plan to restore the white sand and pine trees on Takata-Matsubara's beach.

Then, at former roadsite station Tapic 45, participants were given an outline on land usage and plans for the Takata-Matsubara Tsunami Reconstruction Memorial Parkto be finished in 2020. They also got a view of the “Bridge of Hope”, a conveyor belt that was installed last year in March to transport dirt and soil used to build up the land.

Next on the tour was the disaster recovery site at Kesengawa River, where a 12.5m embankment with 211m of flood gates is being built. At the Citizen Exchange Plaza, a place located within the Shimowano public housing complex where citizens could gather, they learned about comprehensive care initiatives.

The last stop was the Rikuzentakata Community Hall, where the students heard about regional development from the Town Redevelopment Cooperative Center's staff. They were able ask questions and exchange opinions about the current progress and future expansion of the city's urban development.

A student from Morioka gave their impression of the tour. "You can't get a real sense of the reconstruction from TV and newspapers. I had to see the real thing before I understood the gap between inland and the coast.

In related news, a closing ceremony for the "Bridge of Hope," which has suspended its operations, was held on September 15th （Tue）. It will now be used on a much reduced basis, at successive building sites in the region.

Examining the Data in Vol. 15 of the Iwate Reconstruction Index Report

The Iwate Reconstruction Index Report is published periodically and serves to make it easier to understand the current state of affairs and recent trends in Iwate’s reconstruction efforts, particularly in the 12 affected coastal municipalities. Below are outlined the main points from volume 15 of the report （as of August 26, 2015）.

Rebuilding Lives

Progress Rate on Public Housing for Survivors: 30%
1,789 Completed Housing Units
（692 prefectural, 1,097 municipal） （as of the end of June 2015）
*1,525 （574 prefectural, 951 municipal） completed housing units; 26% progress rate （at the end of March 2015）
There is a 30% completion rate on the 5,876 planned number of residential construction projects （2,784 prefectural, 3,092 municipal）.

Regenerating Industries

Fisheries Catch in Fish Markets: 138,381 metric tons （95.9% of 3-year average）
（Current total for the fiscal year of April 2015-June 2015）
In addition to the recovery of the Isada krill catch, which had a weak market last year, the amount of mackerel caught increased considerably, recovering market catch levels close to those of the 3-year average before the disaster.

Ensuring Safety

Progress Rate on Construction Works: 16%
Number of Projects Completed: 1,285
（as of the end of June 2015）
There is a 16% completion rate on the 8,083 planned number of residential construction projects.

We are recruiting members for the Iwate Reconstruction Supporters Team!

Know, Buy, Eat, Go - and Help Support Us!

Free to Register!

We are now recruiting both individual and group （corporate or other） members in the Greater Tokyo Area for the “Iwate Reconstruction Supporters”. Members are e-mailed information regarding reconstruction and tourism in Iwate, and upcoming events in the Tokyo area. （Information only available in Japanese.）

For more information, please see the website of the Tokyo Branch Office of the Iwate Prefectural Government:

• Iwate Prefectural Government Tokyo Office

Local Fisherman Team Up with Sanriku Railway to Promote Wakame Seaweed （Fudai, Miyako, Ofunato）

On September 12, 2015 （Sat）, the Sanriku Iwate Wakame Ouji Train on Sanriku Railway's North Rias Line （between Miyako and Kuji） began operations.

This was started as part of the Nihon-ichi Sanriku Iwate Wakame Reconstruction Campaign, which aims to restore and expand the Sanriku wakame market. Inside the train, an election run by the prefecture was held to see which wakame was the most popular with passengers.

7 Wakame Ouji, or Wakame Princes, were selected from 4 wakame-producing areas within Iwate （Fudai, Taro [Miyako], Omoe [Miyako], Yoshihama [Ofunato]）. They rode on the train along with roughly 40 other participants and showed off their prized wakame.

Special bentos filled with wakame were passed out as well. The participants spent a great day enjoying wakame, one of the most famous local products of the Sanriku coast.

University Students Build Dome-Shaped Produce Stand ODENSE Number 3 （Miyako）

On September 18, 2015 （Fri）, the dome-shaped produce stand ODENSE Number 3 was built in Taro, Miyako by volunteer students; thank you letters were sent to these students, who came from various universities like Ritsumeikan University （Kusatsu, Shiga）, Osaka Sangyo University （Daito, Osaka）, National University of Laos, and Islamic University of Indonesia.

The domes were built as contribution to the reconstruction by Professor Munemoto's class in the Department of Architecture and Urban Design, College of Science and Engineering at Ritsumeikan University. For this year's project, architecture students from Indonesia and Laos joined in as well. The students hoped that through these projects, they would be able to show the rest of the world the lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and how the people in the Tohoku region are working hard towards reconstruction.

The students arrived in Taro on September 7th （Mon） of this year, where they settled into everyday activities like cooking and cleaning while they worked on construction of the produce stand. ODENSE 3 will open its doors for business next spring. Its opening is hoped to bring about revitalization for the region.

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 Kei Nakano and the activites of his NPO wiz.

• Kei Nakano of NPO wiz

Casualties and Damage in Iwate （as of August 31, 2015）

• Human casualties/deaths: 4,672; Missing: 1,129
• Buildings destroyed （residences only, total/partial）: 26,164

Thank you for all of your support! （as of August 31, 2015）

Donations for survivors: Around 18.431 billion yen （91,932 donations）
Donations for reconstruction projects: Around 19.68777 billion yen （7,429 donations）
Iwate Learning Hope Fund donations: Around 7.68855 billion yen （16,125 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 93. October 1, 2015.
Published by the General Affairs Division, Bureau of Reconstruction, Iwate Prefecture.
Phone: 019-629-6925
Editing & Printing: SYNAPSE

*News from Iwate's Reconstruction Volume 94 will be published on October 15.