Archive for 'Earthquake Information' Category

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

All Hands Volunteers finished supporting activities and left from Ohfunato and Rikuzen-takata cities

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

All Hands Volunteers that have supported victim citizens in Ohfunato and Rikuzen-takata Cities finished their activities on September 30. Although, only 30 members will stay for remaining recovering works and dispose of their foothold in the cities, most of them went back to their own countries.

The international volunteer group has sent members to all over the world for supporting victim people when natural disasters happened such as tsunamis and earthquakes. The members from the All Hands Volunteers had also supported victims caused by the September 2009 Sumatra earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

The volunteer members have stayed in both cities and engaged in reconstruction works, such as taking out mud from side ditches and clearing of rubbles at the stricken towns in about six months since April.

On September 3, they returned tableware to Ohfunato City which they borrowed through Ofunato International Association. All tableware was stored into cardboard boxes after washed. Ms. Yukako Chiba (53) from Sakari town and Ms. Tokuko Kanno (62) from Hikoroich town helped them, who were in charged of cooking dinners for volunteer members.

‘We could engage in volunteer activities backed by many people in both cities. We deeply appreciated their cooperation, including help of Ohfunato International Association that arranged our tableware.’ Mr. Chris Turner, the project director of All Hands, appreciated.

They are scheduled to stay in the city for remaining recovering works and dispose of their foothold in Sakri town and Takkon town.

You could find their massage for supporting activities at stricken sites in Tohoku District on their home page.

All Hands Volunteers is pleased to announce All Hands Asia, our newly formed Japan-based General Incorporated Association, and welcomes Representative Director Satoshi Kitahama. We further wish to welcome Henry Takata and Laura Winthrop (AHV Board Member) and David Campbell (Executive Director of AHV) as Directors to the Board of AHA. All Hands Asia establishes our permanent presence in Japan and the greater Asia-Pacific region and affirms our continued support of Tohoku’s tsunami-affected populations as they recover from the events of March 11.

Under All Hands Asia, Project Tohoku will have an extended volunteer presence until November 12 and maintain a firm commitment to the long-term recovery of Japan into 2012 and beyond.

In over five months on the ground, we have witnessed incredible progress and recovery in northeast Japan. The resolve and industriousness of the Japanese people is to be credited for achieving so much in such a short time. The government has moved emergency shelter residents into approximately 50,000 newly constructed temporary homes in less than six-months, and fleets of heavy machinery have cleared and sorted more than 11 million tons of debris. Construction crews are repairing and rebuilding homes, and basic services are mostly restored. The response has been truly impressive.

Within this well coordinated recovery effort, we have applied our characteristic flexible approach to identify gaps and rapidly deploy volunteers to meet those needs. Thanks to the generous support of donors, the cooperation of city and prefectural supporters, and of course the efforts of over 800 enthusiastic volunteers from Japan and 30 other countries around the world, we have provided direct assistance to more than 4000 citizens through 48,000 hours of volunteer labor. We have gutted and repaired homes, rehabilitated business sites, mucked out municipal drainage canals and restored treasured family photos. Work remains, but with the rapid pace of recovery it is an ever-shifting landscape and we must stay nimble to be effective. After September we will engage a smaller group of volunteers and roll out a long-term recovery strategy, particularly designed to meet the needs of affected local businesses. We will focus on applying our generous donor contributions to public parks rehabilitation, school library restocking, supporting infrastructure projects such as those needed to raise the docks of hundreds of ports on the coast that sank up to a meter in the earthquake, and other economic revitalization efforts, such as creation of new industry.

We have successfully completed the third round of volunteer applicants. As space and logistics necessarily limit our volunteer numbers, we will only reopen applications if we extend or expand our project. Thank you for your interest and your support.

Thank you for your continued support of All Hands Volunteers in Japan and around the world. To find out about our other projects visit www.hands.org

＜Reference＞

http://www.tohkaishimpo.com/

http://hands.org/

View Ohfunato in a larger map

Spa Resort Hawaiians in Iwaki, Fukushima partially reopen with admission fee 50% discount

“Spa Resort Hawaiians”, a popular spa resort in Iwaki City in Fukushima Pref. reopened on this Oct 1st for the first time in 200 days, since the huge earthquake and tsunami disaster in Tohoku on March 11th. http://www.hawaiians.co.jp/english/index3.html

This time the resort partially reopened with ,such as the four spa facilities including a huge open-air bath and a part of accommodation facility.  The main facility called “Water Park” and a new hotel under construction are scheduled to be open in the next January.

Just before the opening time 10:00am, there were more than 200 people standing in line to wait for the reopening.  And a special reopening ceremony was hosted by the operation company  Joban Kosan Co.,Ltd..  At the ceremony, the famous hula team of this resort, Hula Girls of 28 members  performed a special hula show.

The team leader Maluhia Yukari said, “Now we finally have this day because  you have always given us warm encouragements and supports. “

 

And the president Kazuhiko Saito made a speech saying, “We would keep exerting every effort co-operating with local communities to make our resort more pleasant than it was before the earthquake disaster. Before the disaster we used to served 380,000  overnight guests and  1.5 million one-day visitors a year. We aim to regain the same level number of visitors before the disaster in three years, primarily implementing endeavors to dispel damages caused by harmful rumers. ”

Yu Aoi, a popular young female actor who played a main character of a movie “Hula Girl”(/フラガール) (http://blog.excite.co.jp/hula-girl/) that described the back story of this resort in 2006, and  Shizuyo Yamazaki , a popular  vaudevillian who played a part in the movie as well , attended the ceremony.  Aoi said,”Though I am not from Fukushima, still I feel as if this place were my real home. I really would like to come up with what I can do and carry them out to help peoeple here.”, while Yamazaki said,”I am very happy for every one here gives us such a warm welcome.”. 

 

 

The admission fee of the resort is half- priced during the partial operation period as follows;

Adult(a junior high school student or older) : ￥1500  (normally:￥3150), Child (an elementary school pupil):￥800(normally: ￥2000), and   Infant ( a 3-year-old or older and younger than a Child  kid):￥500 (normally:￥1400), and there are some other discount rates for groups and the disabled.

Upon the grand opening scheduled in the next January, the fee prices are to be resumed to the normal ones.

Originally, the resort was founded in order to reinvigorate the area which once had been prosperous with mining industry and had become deteriorated after the total closure of the mines. The project of the spa resort was dramatically successful and led that area to  flourishing again. That historical back story and success were described in the above mentined movie. Therefore, people hope the resort “again” will work as a messiah  to save the area or whole of Fukushima which is now suffering from the radiation problem and other aftermaths of the disaster. I do hope that will work to bring good rebuilding and prosperity again soon as well.

 

An energetic ‘Soran dancing’ was performed at the athletic meet

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

Akasaki Junior High School Students enjoyed annual event at the ground of other school.

The athletic meet of Akasaki Junior High School was held on October 1 not at their own school ground but at that of Ohfunato Elementary Scholl. Their athletic meet is usually held in May, but this year it has been put off because their school was flooded by the tsunami on March 11.

On the fine autumn day, all students were participated in high spirits. Hot games, such as tug-of-war and cavalry battles were demonstrated, between two groups divided as red and white teams. Prayed and thanked for reconstruction of their town, ‘Akachu Soran’ or a traditional Japanese dancing in Akasaki Junior High style with a traditional folk song ‘Soran-bushi’ was demonstrated by all students. Big cheering and clapping from their parents at the ground encouraged performers.

‘It was a good opportunity to hand down our traditional style of ‘Soran Dancing’ to 1^st grade students.’ Mr. Takuto Ishibashi, the captain of the red team, looked in a sense of fulfillment.

‘We are very happy having our final athletic meet in junior high. We could create a cheerful atmosphere than before through preparation of the athletic meet and training on dancing. We really appreciate many supports from people all over Japan and abroad.’ Ms. Chihiro Sakiyama, the representative of the students’ association, looked deeply touched by their kindness.

Tsunami flooded Akasaki Junior High School

 

The students have no school building now, so they are forced to learn at Ohfunato Junior High School in next town. However, its school ground is now occupied by the temporary houses for tsunami victim families, so the school ground of Ohfunato Elementary School was used for their athletic meet instead.

Sōran Bushi (ソーラン節) is one of the most famous traditional songs (minyo) in Japan. It is a Japanese sea shanty that is said to have been first sung by the fishermen of Hokkaido, northern Japan.

Sōran Bushi accompanies the bon dance in many parts of Japan, and it has its own dancing styles that date back generations. The dance moves depict fishermen dragging nets, pulling ropes and carrying luggage over their shoulders.

Rough English Translation:

Oh!!! Soran, soran, soran
soran, soran, soran. (Oh, yeah!)
When we hear the jabbering of seagulls on the high seas,
we know we can’t give up our fishing lives on the ocean.

CHORUS
Put your backs into it! Heave, ho! Heave, ho!
(Heave, ho! Heave, ho!)

Oh!!! Soran…
Boss, I tell you, the size of this catch of herring
is different from all the others. And it’s all MINE.

Oh!!! Soran…
Even if I row four and a half metres,
I couldn’t get that girl’s attention.

Oh!!! Soran…
A flighty seagull twitters in excitement
As it sees my bare skin, glistening with ocean surf.

＜Reference＞

http://www.iwate-np.co.jp/hisaichi/h201110/h1110024.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C5%8Dran_Bushi

View Ohfunato Elementary School in a larger map

There are too many worries for victim families before arrival of cold season

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

Repeated trial and error has been practiced among victim citizens and local government for preparations for the cold season in the temporary houses. Winter clothes and other home appearances which were given from all over Japan as supporting goods and preserved in the city have been delivered to the tsunami victims.

On the other hand, some citizens have been confused how to put summer clothes away in a limited space of the temporary houses. Some households are confused on how to use heaters. There are too many worries before a long and severe cold season. It will pass 7 months soon since the disaster.

Low temperature marks 10 degrees centigrade in these days and autumn deepens day by day. Although, the stricken cities and towns could overcome hottest season, the first winter will arrive there.

Over 6,500 pieces of blanket were delivered to each victim citizen in the end of September, who is now living in the temporary houses, private rent rooms, and public houses in Ohfunato City.

These blankets were sent from all over Japan and had been preserved in the city before distributing to victim citizens.

＜Reference＞

http://www.iwate-np.co.jp/311shinsai/sh201109/sh1109302.html

View Ohfunato City in a larger map

Volunteer female staffs from foreign countries performed beautiful Japanese dancing

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

 

Five ladies under the international volunteer group ‘All Hands’ 

Five female staffs under the international volunteer group ‘All Hands’ visited to console the people in the daycare nursing home for elderly people in Sakari Town on September 27. These ladies born in foreign countries, such as Hong Kong, U.S.A., and U.K., have participated in volunteer activities in Ohfunato and Rikuzen-takata Cities. Young foreign ladies demonstrate their Japanese dancing which they have trained since August under the guidance of Ms. Noriko Sakamoto.

They started learn Japanese dancing as they participated to local star festival in Sakari Town on August 6 and 7 and have continued training while they have engaged in volunteer activities. Their demonstrations of Japanese dancing counted already three times. Including this time, one performance was at the event called ‘Three Big Festivals in North Tohoku’ held in Sakari Town on September 3 and another was at the meeting to show respect for the aged held in Takkon Town on September 18. Contrary to usual working clothes of T-shirt with Jeans, they put in beautiful ‘Yukata’ or cotton kimono with a flower pattern this day.

‘Nan to menkoi!’ ‘Minna kawaii goto!’ → ‘They are cute!’ All elderly people in the home were surprised at their beautifully changed looking with saying in local dialect. Five foreign ladies performed Japanese dancing in a graceful feminine carriage with Japanese songs such as ‘Sakura Sakura or cherry blossoms’ and ‘Kojo-no Tsuki or the moon at the old castle ’. Their third dancing, on the other hand, was changed cheerfully with a local song ‘Ohfunato in Sanriki’. They danced beating time with elder people’s hands with shouts of encouragement ‘wa-shoi, wa-shoi!’ They exchanged communication with elderly people and took commemorative pictures after the demonstration.

Ms. Wayne (24) from U.S.A said fluently in Japanese. ‘I have been interested in Japan since my childhood. Especially, I really liked to train Japanese dancing. I am happy because my dream came true.’

‘All of them are very earnest in training and their dancing has improved remarkably. Actually, I was encouraged by them while I was in despair after the disaster. I enjoyed training Japanese dancing to them. The instructor, Ms. Sakamoto, was glad to repay for support activities done by ‘All Hans’ at the stricken towns in Ohfunato City.

＜Reference＞

http://www.tohkaishimpo.com/

View Sakari Daycare Nursing Home in a larger map

‘MOS Burger’ sells ‘Nanbu-dori’ burgers using brand chicken produced in Ohfunato City

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

One of the large fast-food chains in Japan ‘MOS Burger’ put new style ‘Nanbu-dori Zangi Burgers’ on sale which use famous brand chicken ‘Nanbu-dori’ produced by ‘Amatake Food Co. in Ohfunato City. The famous brand chicken breast is deep fried in ‘Zangi’ style and seasoned with special sauce mixed with soy sauce, Sendai soybean paste, and mayonnaise.

The large burger chain has used famous brand chicken produced in Ohfunato City three times, because the founder of ‘MOS Burger’ company Satoshi Sakurada (櫻田 慧), was from Ohfunato City. ‘MOS Burger’ has waited for recovery of Amatake Food Co. from the disaster and produced 4^th original burgers used with ‘Nanbu-dori’ chicken.

“We would like to inform our vitality to all over Japan again through providing our brand chicken ‘Nanbu-dori’.” Mr. Hidiki Amatake, the president of the Aamatake Food Co. is firmly determined.

‘Nanbu-dori’ burgers are on sale from September 16 to the beginning of October at their 145 burger shops in Tohoku and Hokkaido.

Nanbu-Dori are raised from their ‘Grand Parents Stock（GPS）’in Iwate through prevention of epidemics and sanitary systems. Amatake also make it possible a stable production of ‘Nanbu-Dori’ as they do not use any antibiotics or synthetics during the whole raising period.

Amatake company imports GPS from Hubbard Co.,Ltd. in France, which is world famous for raising red chickens.　This is to prevent ‘Avian Inf.’　which has a very high infectious rate across the globe.　Therefore, we also make it possible to maintain a stable production. Amatake company also have created their own three-generation system for developing our unique Nanbu-Dori breed. After our own in-house quarantine, the first generation is put in a special newly-built chicken house. After hatching, the second generation roosters are crossed with domestic White Rock hens. The product of these roosters and White Rock hens is the Nanbu-Dori chicken. Amatake company was the first company in raising chicken companies of Japan to start raising chickens from GPS.

MOS Food Services, Inc. (株式会社モスフードサービス), doing business as MOS Burger (モスバーガー “MOS” or “Mountain Ocean Sun”), is a fast food restaurants chain (fast-casual) that originated in Japan. It is now the second-largest fast-food franchise in Japan after McDonald’s, and owns numerous overseas outlets over East Asia, including Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, and until 2005, Hawaii. It is also the name of the standard hamburger offered by the restaurant, being its first product when the restaurant was founded in 1972. The publicly-traded company also runs 80^C stores, MOS’s-C, Mother Leaf, Shanghalichiba, Mamedori, and Stefan Grill outlets. The company had 1327 stores in 2005, down from 1458 in 2001. One slogan used within its stores is “Japanese Fine Burger and Coffee”.

＜Reference＞

http://mainichi.jp/

http://www.tohkaishimpo.com/i

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

http://www.amatake.co.jp/english/index.html

View Amatake Co. in a larger map

5,000 pieces of fresh Pacific saury　were brought directly from Ohfunato Port

‘Pacific saury Festival at Tokyo Tower’

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

The citizens of the stricken city really wished to show their gratitude for supports

 

‘Pacific saury Festival at Tokyo Tower’is held on September 23. About 5,000 pieces of fresh saury were brought from Ohfunato City where suffered great damages at the tsunami on March 11.

Visitors to the symbol tower of Tokyo enjoyed tasting of broiled sauries served on free at the festival site.

The festival has been held three times each year since 2009 under the co-sponsorship of Ohfunato City and Tokyo Tower for promoting marine products of the city.

Although, most people doubted that the festival would be held or not this year, citizens of Ohfunato City strongly hoped of its open. The citizens of the stricken city really wished to show their gratitude for supports from all over Japan through the festival.

The catch of Pacific saury in Ohfunato fishing port ranks as the 4^th in Japan.

However, the port suffered great damages at the disaster, such as subsidence of the wharf and washing off of fishing boats.

Its fish market partially reopened in May and now freezers and refrigerators for preserving fish have been reconstructed nearly 60% of before the disaster.

5,000 pieces of fresh Pacific saury served to visitors were brought directly from Ohfunato port after unload from fishing boat on September 20.

Fishes looked rather lager than the previous year.

‘We have waited more than two hours before served broiled Pacific saury. It was delicious with putting on rich fat.’ Mr. Hidiki Sanekuni (39) and his family from Aoba Ward, Yokoham City smiled.

They really wished earlier recovery from the disaster for stricken towns and cities.

Mr. Nobuo Niinuma (69), the bureau chief of the Ohfunato Sightseeing and Products Association, expressed at the site.　‘We must not being in tragic, but show our brave and full of vitality. Otherwise people who lost their lives at the tsunami never rest in peace. We wish to appeal our determination for reconstruction for all over Japan from the center of Tokyo.’

 

Tokyo Tower (東京タワー) is a communication and observation tower located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At 332.5 metres (1,091 ft), it is the second tallest artificial structure in Japan. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations.

Built in 1958, the tower’s main sources of revenue are tourism and antenna leasing. Over 150 million people have visited the tower since its opening. In the Foot Town, a 4-storey building located directly under the tower, houses museums, restaurants and shops. Departing from here, guests can visit two observation decks. The 2-storey Main Observatory is located at 150 metres (490 ft), while the smaller Special Observatory reaches a height of 250 metres (820 ft).

The tower acts as a support structure for an antenna. Originally intended for television broadcasting, radio antennas were installed in 1961 and the tower is now used to broadcast signals for Japanese media outlets such as NHK, TBS and Fuji TV. Japan’s planned digital television transition by July 2011 is problematic, however. Tokyo Tower’s current height is not high enough to adequately support complete terrestrial digital broadcasting to the area. A taller digital broadcasting tower, known as Tokyo Sky Tree, is currently planned to open in 2012.

＜Reference＞

http://mainichi.jp/

http://www.kyodonews.jp/

http://www.tohkaishimpo.com/i

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

View Tokyo Tower in a larger map

Japanese government gave a letter of appreciation to the international relief column from China

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

Mr. Uichiro Niwa, the Japanese Ambassador to China, invited 15 members of the international relief column to East Japan to his official residence in China on September 20, and gave a letter of appreciation for their effort. They engaged in relief activities in Ohfunato City just after the East Japan Earthquake.

Representing of the Japanese government, Ambassador Niwa expressed his gratitude to warm concern and support from the Chinese government and the people.

He expressed his sublime respect for 15 members who had been earnestly engaged in relief activities in awful surroundings after the disaster.

‘Both, your country and Japan have been damaged by natural disasters many times. We hope both countries can build up the strength of cooperation in this field.’ Mr. Ambassador expressed.

The letter of gratitude from the mayor of Ohfunato City was also handed over to them. The mayor, Mr. Kimiaki Toda, deeply appreciated for immediate arrival of members for relief activities at the stricken site.

＜Reference＞

http://j.people.com.cn/94474/7601120.html

View Ohfunato City in a larger map

A volunteer team from Kobe University came back to Akasaki Town for supporting tsunami victims

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

A volunteer team from Kobe University revisited Akasaki Town, Ohfunato City and has based on the Akasaki Fishing Village Center for supporting tsunami victims.　They had once stayed there in May when the center was used as the emergency shelter for tsunami victims. Compare to the last visit, requirements from local people have been changed so they are trying to be handymen for residents living in the temporary houses.

The volunteer team under the title ‘The Work Camp Project for Supporting Ohfunato City’ is consisted of 28 members mainly from Kobe University, including students from other four universities and working members of society. 20 members among them have started supporting activities since September 18. Their main purpose is promoting friendship while helping local residents.

The volunteer team had communicated with Mr. Tadao Yoshida, the director of the center, and an advance visiting team distributed handbills to each temporary house to catch their requisitions beforehand. Making benches was their first jobs on September 18 according to the requirement from the residents.

They had a strategy meeting with Mr. Yoshida at night to cope with many requirements such as ‘setting up of website’, ‘escorting of shopping’ and additional new requests gathered while they communicated with residents.

‘We sometimes have something hard to ask neighbors. They are very helpful.’ The director of the community center appreciates their support.

‘Although, we directly participated in volunteer activities before getting permission from the volunteer center of the city in May, local people in Akasaki had warmly accepted our offer. And this time, Kobe University is welcomed again. We would like to keep communication with people in Akasaki for long.’ Mr. Takehiro Azuma, a sophomore of Kobe University, declares his determination.

＜Reference＞

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

View Akasaki Community Center in a larger map

Disaster charity goods on sale at Tokyo sumo hall

Sales of charity goods aimed at supporting reconstruction of quake- and tsunami-hit areas in northeastern Japan have begun at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan hall（両国国技館ホール）, where the autumn sumo tournament is currently being staged.

All proceeds from the sales will be donated for reconstruction projects, with T-shirts, towels and badges being among the products sold under the charity drive “Dosukoi Nippon Project (どすこい日本プロジェクト）,” named after a chant associated with sumo wrestlers when psyching themselves up for a challenge.

The charity drive at the hall for the 15-day autumn sumo meet that began Sept. 11, exactly six months after the disaster, was organized by some sumo elders.

Spinning tops with designs based on sumo grand champions from disaster-hit Miyagi Prefecture and using wood from the region have also been sold.

The toy set named “Sendai Date no Sumo Koma” (仙台伊達の相撲独楽/Spinning Tops of Sendai Date) contains four spinning tops and a circular platform like a sumo ring, in which the tops battle it out. Date is the name of a local feudal warlord family.

Is cultural asset an obstacle for reconstruction?

[From Ohfunato City-my stricken home town]

- East Japan Great Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster-

 

Stricken area is wavered between preservation and development

Which is crucial issue, preservation of cultural asset or living of the tsunami victims? There is an argument on a remains of ancient Japan located in the high ground from the tsunami flooded area in Iwate Prefecture.

Although, the remains shall be a good housing area for the tsunami victims who wish moving from tsunami flooded area, there is a strict regulation on the cultural remains.

‘Fundamentally, it is very important cultural asset……’

‘We wish to ease restrictions on cultural assets.’

Local people are really thrown into confusion on to their proud of historical remains.

‘Is a historical site more precious than our lives?’ One of the residents in Takonoura Community, Ohfunato City questioned at the residence meeting for reconstruction on the middle of September.

About 50 households in the community were suffered by the tsunami.

A group of more than 20 households among them have wished moving to the high ground, which is designated as the historical site by the nation.

7 among 15 proprietors of that land also lost their homes.

The national designated historical site ‘Takonoura Shell Mound’ stretches over on the hill 35 meters above the sea.

A large number of earthenware, human bones, and remains of houses in the Jomon Era were found and over 55,000 squire meters have been designated as the national historical site. 
The thickest part of shell layer is more than 2 meters and is well known as one of the biggest shell mounds in Japan with its scale and appropriate condition of preservation.

A national designated historical site is strictly limited its land use under the Cultural Properties Protection Law of Japan and all development projects require permit of the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs.

According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, main purpose of designation on a historical site is appropriate preservation in a long period, and therefore no house can be moved in the site.

‘We would like to observe opinion from the national government that tends to preserve our valuable cultural assets.’ The officer from Ohfunato City presented at the community meeting for reconstruction. On the other hand, residents strongly wish deregulation of the law on a part of the historical site. The city and residents are estranged from each other.

Does it have such a value?

There are discrepancies between the two on value of the historical site

‘I was not aware of the value that the historical site has.’ A woman (66) who lives in the temporary house in Takanoura Community leans her head to the side.

Although, there is a signboard indicating ‘Takonoura Shell Mound’, the historical site has been utterly neglected.

Usually it has no visitors from other cities and towns and even local residents never realize its value.

The group of 15 proprietors submitted the proposal to Ohfunato City for wishing deregulation on the historical site in June.

‘Although, the shell mound is a historical treasure of the nation, it is hard to become a real treasure of us, if the city won’t be able to prepare any expecting housing site for moving from the tsunami flooded area.’ Mr. Kentaro Shida (82), one of the proprietors, laid bare his heart in confusion.

＜Reference＞

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/

View Takonura Shell Mound in a larger map