Archive for 'Earthquake Information' Category

Reconstruction Agency inaugurated

Reconstruction Agency(/Fukkoucho, 復興庁)  came into being to boost the rebuilding activities from the aftermath of 3.11 disaster on this Feb.10th. http://www.reconstruction.go.jp/ The agency’s duration is planned to be 10 years and will be over at the end of March 2021.  The post of  the first  Reconstruction Minister was assumed by Tatsuo Hirano, an ex- Minister of State for Disaster Management.

The agency is directly controlled by Prime Minister and the Minister of  Reconstruction is in charge of  managing the total operations to assist the Prime Minister.  The agency ‘s  “Main Office” is in Tokyo,  a “Reconstruction Bureau” and a “Branch Office” is set in  Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima respectively,and an “Office” is set in Hachinohe City Aomori and Mito City Ibaraki respectively. The above prefectures and cities are all damaged areas of the 3.11.  The agency is in charge of  planning reconstruction strategies, approving the budgets for rebuildings, disgnating Reconstruction Special Zones, and so forth. Read the rest of this entry »

“LIGHTOPIA 2011″ currently held

“LIGHTOPIA 2011″, a festival of light is currently being held in Marunouchi, the business and political center near the Imperial Palace in Tokyo 22nd-29th(daily 17:00-22:00). http://www.kouto-tokyo.jp/

The event is has been annually hosted a few times at the end of a year jointly by  Tokyo commerce  chamber, Mitsubishi Real Estate and other major companies supported by  Tokyo Government, JTA, and other public associations.

At the festival, the venue of the road about 140M long between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace and other adjacent areas are breathtakingly beautifully decorated with illuminations and lanterns which have pictures or messages drawn by  elementary school pupils who are suffers of  the earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku and celebrities ,such as Shigeo Nagashima , the Lifetime Honorary Director of Yomiuri Giants,  Norio Sasaki , the manager of Nadeshiko Japan , some Nadeshio Japan’s members, and so forth.

This year’s subject of the festival is  ”Bonds, Hopes and to the Future ”, which implies we Japanese people strongly hope to regain vitality and energy overcoming the blow of the aftermath and huge grief of the earthquake related disaster and confirm and strengthen the solidarity of the nation so that we can create  bright future.

“Miracle pine seedlings growing in pods

Small seedlings of the so-called “miracle pine (奇跡の松）” tree that survived the March tsunami in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, are growing in pods at a forestry company institute and will be planted in the city at a future date.

Sumitomo Forestry Group said it has grown 18 seedlings from seeds taken from pine cones of the tree at its institute in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. It unveiled the plants during a press conference in Tokyo. Read the rest of this entry »

“The New Words- / The Buzzwords-of -The-Year 2011 ”

“The New Words- / The  Buzzwords-of -The-Year 2011 ” (/２０１１　ユーキャン新語・流行語大賞) awarding ceremony was hosted by U-Can on Dec.1st. http://singo.jiyu.co.jp/

The Grand prix was given to the word “Nadeshiko Japan”, the name of the winner of  FIFA Woman World Cup 2011.    The Top 10 are as follow;

Grand Prix-  ○ ”なでしこジャパン”(/Nadeshiko Japan)

○”絆”（/Kizuna,  bonds）, ○”スマホ”（/Sumaho, smartphone）,○”どじょう内閣”（/Dojoh Naikaku,  a loach cabinet）,○”どや顔”（/Doya Gao, a boastful facial expression）, ○”Kitaku-nanmin, a stranded commuter ”,○”こだまでしょうか？”（/Kodama de shouka?, Is that an echo ?）,○”３.１１”（/3.11）,○”風評被害”（/Fuhhyou Higai,  damages caused by rumor）,○”ラブ注入”（/love injection）

Some of the words are related to the earthquake and tsunami disaster on March 11th, some are contemporary fads of young people, some are expressions used by a politician or a TV personality.

 

“Inawashirokos” from disaster area to appear in NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen

Singers from areas hit by the March quake and tsunami will perform in NHK’s 62nd “Kohaku Uta Gassen” music extravaganza to be broadcast on New Year’s Eve.

Among the artists are Inawashirokos(猪苗代湖ズ）, a rock band whose members hail from disaster-hit Fukushima Prefecture, as well as veteran singers Toshiyuki Nishida and Masao Sen, Japan Broadcasting Corp. said in releasing the lineup of 55 individual and group performers in the event. Read the rest of this entry »

A photo studio was set at the meeting place in a temporally housing area

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

 

Celebration of ‘Shichi-Go-San’ for children

Devotees of the photograph in Ohfunato city voluntarily took pictures of children on November 4 beforehand, who are living in temporally houses for celebration of the occasion on November 15, the gala day for boys of three and five and girls of three and seven.

Shichi-Go-San (七五三) is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three- and seven-year-old girls and three- and five-year-old boys, held annually on November 15. As Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday, it is generally observed on the nearest weekend.

4 children of four and five years old attended the meeting place in the temporary housing in Nagasawa, Ohfunato town and put on their best clothes for the occasion helped by their family and volunteer staff.

The meeting place was temporarily changed as a photo studio and local photo lovers took commemorative pictures for them.

‘Although, we won’t be able to worship at a shrine, we are happy taking a commemorative photo at least.’ Mrs. Satoko Nishiyama (47) smiled in seeing her second son Mutsuo who putted on his best suite and necktie.

＜Reference＞

http://www.asahi.com/special/10005/TKY201111040414.html

View Nagasawa, Ohfunato town in a larger map

Sanriku Railway started its reconstruction work

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster–

The third sector ‘Sanriku Railway Co.’ has started reconstruction on November 3, which was suffered heavy damage from the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on March 11.

About 71.4 km of the railway has been suspended and its reconstruction will be carried out in three steps. Between Rikuchu-noda and Noda-tamagawa stations (4.0km) will be finished and start running the line between Kuji and Tanohata stations by April, 2012. The railway company plans to reopen its whole line (107.6 km) by April, 2014.

The ground-breaking ceremony and the Shinto ritual praying for safety reconstruction work were performed at the site in Noda village on this day.

First of all, the foundation of rail tracks damaged by the tsunami will be reconstructed between Rikuchu-noda and Noda-tamagawa stations. The reconstruction work between Noda-tamagawa and Tanohata stations will be carried out at the same time, so the line between Kuji and Tanohata stations (35.4 km) will be connected by April, 2012.

And then, the lines between Sakari and Yoshihama stations (21.6km) on the South Rias Line will be reopened by April, 2013 and between Omoto and Tanohata stations (10.5km) on the North Rias Line and between Yoshihama and Kamaishi stations (15km) on the South Rias Line will be by April, 2014, respectively.

About two third of the Sanriku rail way has been suspended now. Total cost for reconstruction will be about 11 billion yen. 575 million yen for design and planning will be supported by Iwate prefecture. Also the rest of total reconstruction cost will be supported by the nation.

‘We really appreciate the support from the nation as well as from the prefecture. We try our best for total recovery of the rail as soon as possible, which promotes reconstruction of cities and towns along the coast line of Sanriku.’ The president, Mr. Masahiko Mochizuki expressed.

＜Reference＞

http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2011/11/20111104t31006.htm

http://www.iwate-np.co.jp/cgi-bin/topnews.cgi?20111104_2

http://mytown.asahi.com/iwate/news.php?k_id=03000001111040003

View Rikuchu-noda station in a larger map

A Boston bag containing 11 million yen was caught in the fishing net off Ohfunato port

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

A Boston bag containing a large sum of money and others was found on October 8 in the sea off the coast of Sanriku town, Ohfunato city. Cash in the bag was 11 million yen which supposed to be carried away by the Tsunami on March 11.

According to the city officials, No. 2 Inarimaru, a fishing boat belonged to the marine products company in Kamaishi city, pulled up the bag from the sea in the fishing net while operating fishing in 23 km off Ryorizaki Promontory.

There were 1,100 pieces of 10,000 bills and others in the bag, but nothing was found in the bag, which indicates the proprietor.

The chief fisherman (59) delivered the bag to Ohfunato city on Octoboer 11 when the boat came back to Ohfunato port. The bag has been kept as a drifting object under Sea Casualties Rescue Act in the city. The object shall be kept until April 27, 2012. If nobody present until the date, the ownership of the object shall be transferred to the chief fisherman. Now the Fisheries Department of the city wishes to find real owner and return the bag to him or her.

＜Reference＞

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/region/news/111029/iwt11102914500001-n1.htm

http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2011/10/20111029t33016.htm

View Ohfunato in a larger map

A terminal station is now used as a community room for local citizens

Sakari station on Sanriku Railway South-rias Line

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

Sanriku Railway South-rias Line has been suspended since the disaster on March 11. The terminal station ‘Sakari’ on the line in Ohfunato city is now open public for local citizens and named as ‘Fureai Machiaishitu’ or community room. Iwate prefecture put the community room in NPO Dream-net Ohfunato’s charge and opened on October 5.

A part of the station is used as a Café space and open between 10:00 and 17:00 on free of charge. Volunteer people sometimes hold special events such as tea ceremony and handicraft lesson. Handcrafted articles and home made cakes are sold at a shop in the station. A part of earnings will be used for supporting Sanriku Railway.

A damaged coach flooded in the depot was pushed out about 100 meters by the railway staffs and moved to just beside of the station. It can be used as a place for special reconstruction events such as music concert.

‘We would like to provide a community place for local people and support reconstruction of our local railway.’ Mr. Hitoshi Nakamura (56), the manager, is determined to do.

＜Reference＞

http://mainichi.jp/

View Sakari Station in a larger map

Does a dying dragon come to life again?

Reconstruction scheme for JR East Ohfunato Line is hard to settle

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

JR East Ohfunato Line was greatly damaged by the tsunami on March 11, but its reconstruction scheme has not been settled yet. Although, it is picked up as one of the plans in the final reconstruction scheme of Ohfunato city, some committee members oppose its reopening.

The nickname of this line is the “Dragon Rail”, as the spur line is thought to resemble the thin tail of a Chinese dragon and as a statement of the speed of the train over the considerable distance. Express trains on this line are marked “Super Dragon”.

Rising of the tracks using as the double embankments against the next tsunami is another idea, but JR East is hard to accept it. ‘If the tracks are raised, we won’t be able to secure our passengers from natural disasters such as a strong wind.’ A representative from JR East expressed.

The reconstruction committee is looked unable to settle the scheme within a certain period of time. The matter had discussed several times at the past seven meetings. Some members advocated its discontinuance. They insist as ‘a crossing gate disturbed evacuation route when the tsunami washed’, or ‘number of passengers have decreased than before, so local people depend no more on the line.’

One of the committee members, Mr. Yuzou Kanno (77), CEO of Ohfunato Fish Market, appeals as such, ‘we must put on more importance providing adequate evacuation routes for the next tsunami than spend money for reconstruction of JR line.’

＜Reference＞

http://www.iwate-np.co.jp/

View JR Ohfunato Station in a larger map

Chestnuts farm was converted to a baseball playground

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

 

 

In most stricken towns and cities, many school playgrounds and parks have been used as the sites of temporary houses for victim families, so children have no place for their activities.

A farmer in Ohfunato city provided his chestnuts farm for baseball ground. It is prepared for local boys’ baseball team, which is equipped with net fence and lighting supported by foreign contributions. The baseball team could finish second on October 9 at the rookies’ baseball tournament in Tohoku district. It is a baseball team named ‘Massaki Junior Baseball Sports Club’ under the Japan Junior Sports Club Association (JJSA) organized by 31 children from Massaki Elementary School.

The Japan Junior Sports Clubs Association (JJSA) is the Japan’s largest youth sports group that was founded in 1962 by the Japan Sports Association (JASA). It was organized with the hope of “even just one more youth experiencing the joy of sports” and “an organization in society in which youth can cultivate their hearts, minds, and bodies through sports.” About 210,000 leaders and 880,000 members who love sports are registered in the Japan Junior Sports Club Association.

Although, after the disaster, they restarted training in the end of March, meanwhile construction of temporary houses was begun on their playground, and they were forced to stop training. The manager and other people concerned tried finding other substitute playground in their town but no possible one was found.

Mr. Katsutoshi Suzuki (71) offered his farm to the baseball team. His grandson, Keisuke belongs to the baseball team. Nearly 3,300 square meters of his chestnuts farm was flooded by the tsunami, so he decided providing it to local children. Actually, the playground was ready to use in August because the Agricultural Land Act requires complicated procedures for diversion. At the beginning, no lighting had been equipped, so their training was limited in day time. Contributions were sent from USA and France through local members of Rotary Club. Now they can play baseball even at night.

 ‘Now, we have a nice playground here. We would like to make our team stronger through hard training.’ Mr. Keita Sato (12), the captain of the baseball team, said in smile.

＜Reference＞

http://mainichi.jp/

http://www.japan-sports.or.jp/

View Massaki Elementary School in a larger map

YUI’s song for disaster victims tops Oricon chart

Singer YUI’s 20th single, “Green a.live,” has sold 56,000 CDs in its first week of release, reaching the No. 1 spot on Oricon’s chart for Oct 17.

YUI

YUI, 24, is a Japanese singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she played live at various locations in her home town before being noticed by Sony Music Japan when she was 17 and released her debut single months later.

YUI wrote the song to encourage victims of the March 11 disaster. YUI visited a school in Miyagi Prefecture and held a mini live event there. She said that “I tried to put into the song all the emotions I felt when I went to Miyagi. I hope it will offer some hope to the people in the disaster-hit areas.”

‘Sanma lamen’ or bowls of Chinese noodles in soup seasoned with Pacific saury have comeback

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

lamen 拉麺 or Chinese noodles in soup seasoned with ‘sanma’ or Pacific saury have gradually comeback serving in Ohfunato City. The fishing port of the city is ranked as one of the largest catch of Pacific saury in Japan.

On October 16, shopkeepers of Chinese noodle shops held a promotion event and served bowls of ‘Sanma lamen’ on free of charge. They are firmly determined to reconstruct their town in serving reasonable price of popular dishes.

Last year, a haul of Pacific saury in the Ohfunato city was about 21,700 tons and took fourth place in Japan. 10 of shopkeepers in the city has set up ‘Ohfunato Sanma Gourmet Society’ in 2010 and started serving each original style of ‘Sanma lamen’. Additional 3 Chinese noodle shops wanted to participate in the society just before the disaster. 5 among 13 shops were washed by the tsunami. Although, 8 shops left unhurt, they could not serve their original taste of ‘Sanma lamen’ because of power failure, no supply of water, and Pacific saury.

In the middle of September, the fishing season of saury was open, and a Chinese noodle shop named ‘Kokeshi’ in Sakari town has restarted serving ‘ground saury paste lamen’. However, freezing companies in the city have not been reconstructed yet. Supply of Pacific saury has not been guaranteed after the fishing season. ‘We would like to serve ‘ground saury paste lamen’ as long as we can.’ Mr. Kenji Ogata (60), the shopkeeper, hopes. Other 5 Chinese noodle shops in the city, including ‘Goishi Seaside Resthouse’, have restarted their own style ‘Sanma lamen.’　Additional 2 Chinese noodle shops are trying to serve their style ‘Sanma lamen’ at the expecting reconstruction event at ‘Goishi Seaside Resthouse’ on October 16.　300 bowls of free ‘Sanma lamen’ will be served at the event.

‘We would like to promote ‘Sanma lamen’ and try to recovery from the disaster through the event.’ Mr. Hirofumi Ogawa (57), the president of the society expressed.

＜Reference＞

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/

View Ohfunato City in a larger map

A large number of problems on the subject of city reconstruction scheme

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

Settlement of reconstruction plan for stricken sites which were damaged by the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster has been carried on forward at every local government. A full-scale argument for rebuilding of houses and communities will be carried out at the next stage.

Hyogo prefecture has begun dispatching of consultants to these local governments, who experienced the Great Hanshin earthquake or Kobe earthquake in 1995. However, the experienced consultants will confront a large number of problems to be solved, such as movement of housing sites to higher ground and making better use of tsunami flooded sites, which are hard to reach a consensus.  

Already seven months have passed since the disaster. The experts from Hyogo prefecture must grope their own way to support stricken cities in reconstruction.

Prof. Shiozaki from Kobe University and Mayor Mr. Toda

 

The death toll and still missing from the disaster have reached 446 in Ohfunato city as of September 29, 2011. The committee on reconstruction of Ohfunato city, headed by Professor Yoshimitsu Shiozaki from Kobe University, proposed the reconstruction scheme on September 6. The schema listed on about 230 projects, including moving of housing sites to higher ground and rebuilding of houses for victim families.

‘We have tried hearing opinions from citizens in every community which process is learned from experience in Kobe earthquake in 1995.’ Professor Shiozaki admits.

The committee is going to settle a basic policy on making a better use of tsunami flooded sites in every community, as such in housing, commercial, business, and danger zones. However, citizens could not conceal their irritation on slow process of settlement caused by delay of revised national budget that makes reconstruction projects feasible.

A man (61) who built his temporary fish shop in the seaside area where the ground has been sinking complained. ‘I could not bring my business step forward if this place is settled usable or not for my fish shop.’

A staff member from Takarazuka city dispatched in September to Onagawa town in Miyagi prefecture says, ‘I have many citizens who worry about possibility of rebuilding of houses at their original sites. This trend is something different from our case in 1995. ’

Hyogo prefectural government has started dispatching advisors to stricken cities and towns, who support voices from citizens in September. An architectural consultant in Kobe city, Mr. Ryuichi Nozaki (68) had exchanged views on the reconstruction matter with citizens in Kesennuma city, Miyagi prefecture in the middle of September. The city has already settled its reconstruction scheme. He is about to held consultations with not all the citizens but only those interested in the matter. Citizens from the districts subject to moving houses worry on their village shrines and succession of traditional local events. Over 20% of residents left from some districts.

The city planning, such as land readjustment project had settled within two months after Kobe earthquake in 1995. The forcible style of prompt settlement put some citizens off.

‘If the scheme is settled by a consultant under the large organization, towns tend to be formed something different from citizen’s desires.’ Mr. Nozaki worried. He urges citizens to set up conference for reconstruction of their town.

＜Reference＞

http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/

View Ohfunato City in a larger map

New biotechnology measure was employed for disposing heavy oil

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

Heavy oil, washed ashore in Ohfunato port at the tsunami on March 11, will manure the land. Demonstrative experimentation of production of manure from heavy oil through resolution by microbes has started at the factory site in Ohfunato town on October 7. Collected waste heavy oil is usually incinerated with adsorbent. This new disposal measure of waste heavy oil takes less environmental responsibility because it is expected to reduce volume of carbon dioxide emission.

Oita Industrial Research Institute (OIRI) has the patent and proposed the demonstrative experimentation to Ohfunato city for recovery of environment. The research institute in Oita prefecture had taken this biotechnology in 2004 at the capsized freighter in Mokuzai port in Hiroshima. The same experiment was employed in 6 prefectures already and a compost maker in Yamaguchi prefecture is trying employing this biotechnology.

Oita Industrial Research Institute (OIRI)

Tips of cedar bark in cotton bags are used as adsorbent in the experiment this time. About 250 litters heavy oil liquid and the adsorbent are buried into the mount of about 100 cubic meters raw materials for manure, which are mixture of larch bark and chicken droppings and others. It shall be mixed once in every two weeks then manure will be produced in 6 months.

An about 100 meters wide, 50 meters long, and 1,000 litter heavy oil washed ashore around Nagahama and Yamaguchi communities in Akasaki town at the tsunami. Only about 100 litters of heavy oil were burnt up in June by the volunteer people.

＜Reference＞

http://www.iwate-np.co.jp/

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/

http://www.tohkaishimpo.com/

View Yamaguchi in a larger map