Volume 85 - June 1, 2015

The Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site in Kamaishi to be designated as a World Heritage Site

On May 4, 2015 （Mon.）, the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution were recommended to be registered as a World Heritage Site by ICOMOS （International Council on Monuments and Sites）, the UNESCO advisory panel. These sites also include Kamaishi's Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site in Iwate Prefecture.

The Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution are related to the heavy industry that contributed to Japan's industrialization in the mid-to-late 19th century, such as shipbuilding, iron and steel manufacturing, and coal mining industries. The Sites are composed of 23 spots in 11 cities in 8 prefectures, such as the Yawata Steel Works （Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture） and the Hashima Coal Mines （Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture）, known as “Battleship Island.” Iwate’s Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site is Japan's oldest extant Western-style blast furnace.

The decision on World Heritage status will be decided at the end of June when the World Heritage Committee meets for its annual session.

In the two days after receiving the nomination, some 2,000 people visited the Hashino Information Center next to the site. There are high hopes that this will prove a boon for the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Shuttle Bus Service Starting in June
Starting on June 7 （Sun.）, a shuttle bus will run the 33km distance between JR Kamaishi Station to the Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site.

Shuttle Bus

Days in service: June 7, June 14, and weekends and holidays from June 20 to early December
Reservations required.
（Departs from JR Kamaishi Station at 10:00 and 13:00）
Cost: Senior high school students and above 2,000 yen / Elementary and junior high school students 1,000 yen / Preschool or younger FREE
Contact: Kamaishi Tourism Association 0193-22-5835 （Every day except Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.）
*Tours are Japanese language only.

Recruiting for a Full-Fledged Reconstruction!

We are recruiting people for term-limited contracts who are pursuing jobs in the reconstruction field. Work with us to build Iwate's future.

Employment term （tentative） - April 1, 2016 - March 31, 2019 （3 years）

Occupation Type	No. of Recruits	Main place of employment	Main job duties
General work	47	[Prefectural hires] A branch office （Regional Development Bureau, etc.） or the main prefectural office	Work related to support projects for restoration and reconstruction Approvals and licenses, general job duties
General work	47	[Municipal hires] Miyako City, Rikuzentakata City, Otsuchi Town, or Yamada Town	Front window services, national health insurance, consultation for those working on rebuilding their lives from the disaster Tax affairs, land acquisition/compensation, general job duties
Public works	38	[Prefectural hires] Mainly in one of the branch offices in the coastal regions （Regional Development Bureau, etc.） or the main prefectural office	Designing, estimating costs, placing orders, supervising, etc. for construction on rebuilding public facilities （seawalls, ports, fishing harbors, fishing grounds, roads, rivers, water services, etc.）
Public works	38	[Municipal hires] Miyako City, Rikuzentakata City, Otsuchi Town, or Tanohata Village	Designing, estimating costs, placing orders, supervising construction, etc. for rebuilding public facilities （roads, water and sewage, fishing harbors, etc.）
Construction	2	[Municipal hires only] Miyako City or Yamada Town	Verification of building construction, etc. Designing, estimating costs, placing orders, surveillance of public facilities

General Work
Application period: May 29, 2015 （Fri） - June 19 （Fri）
First exam: July 12, 2015 （Sun）

Public Works/Construction
Application period: May 29, 2015 （Fri） - June 19 （Fri）
First exam: Applicant screening

An Employment Information Session held by Disaster-affected Iwate, Miyagi, & Fukushima

• June 6, 2015 （Sat.）
  Starts at 12 （doors open at 11:30）
• Tokyo Metropolitan
  Government Building
  Metropolitan Assembly Building 1st
  Floor Citizens' Hall

• For more information （JPN only）（外部リンク）

Fishermen Workshops and Sappa Boats: a festival celebrating reconstruction （Tanohata）

In Tanohata Village’s Tsukue district lies the Tsukuehama Ban’yagun, or Fishermen’s Village of Tsukuehama. From May 2, 2015 through May 6 （Sat. - Wed.）, a festival was organized by the NPO Taikenmura Tanohata Network to celebrate the reconstruction of the village and its “Sappa” boats.

The Fisherman’s Village needed to be completely rebuilt following the earthquake and tsunami. With its reconstruction, the popular Sappa Boat Adventure attraction has been brought to the village through its main office and port now located in Tsukuehama, and the Fisherman’s Village can now begin full-fledged operations.

Many tourists from both within and outside of Iwate came to visit during the festival. Along with the Sappa Boat Adventure tours, people were able to experience the day-to-day life of a fishing village through activities like making salt by boiling down salt water, and a cooking class which taught how to remove the shells of fresh sea urchins and sea squirts.

Tohoku’s Rakuten Golden Eagles Donate Artificial Grass to Otsuchi

On May 2, 2015 （Sat.）, 46 elementary school students and their guardians were invited to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles vs. Saitama Seibu Lions baseball game （at the Rakuten Kobo Stadium in Miyagi） for the second Tohoku Smile Day.

This was held in part to support the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles also began fundraising to donate artificial grass for a multi-purpose sports ground to be built in Otsuchi Town.

These activities are a part of the Tohoku Smile Project, which uses the power of sports to bring happiness to the children of Tohoku. Otsuchi plans to use approximately 12,000 m² of artificial grass to construct the “Otsuchi Children Green Field” （preliminary name）. The field should be completed by March 2016.

Features

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 Ryota Anjo and his dream of becoming an apple farmer in Rikuzentakata.

• Ryota Anjo of Yonesaki Apples

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

Casualties and Damage in Iwate （as of April 30, 2015）

• Human casualties/deaths: 4,672; Missing: 1,129
• Buildings destroyed （residences only, total/partial）: 26,163

Thank you for all of your support! （as of April 30, 2015）

Donations for survivors: Around 18.38074 billion yen （91,452 donations）
Donations for reconstruction projects: Around 19.67782 billion yen （7,305 donations）
Iwate Learning Hope Fund donations: Around 7.31347 billion yen （15,346 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 85. June 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 86 will be published on June 15.