The news from Iwate as it moves toward reconstruction We are deeply grateful for the heartwarming encouragement and support received from both within and outside of in the News from Iwate’s Reconstruction aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, which struck on March 11, 2011. The precious bonds created during this time will always be cherished. Ganbaro, Iwate! Volume 139 We will now bring you the news from Iwate’s reconstruction. Let’s stick together, Iwate! July 2018 Edition

Iwate Prefecture's First Ferry Line Commences from Miyako Harbor MIYAKO

June 22nd (Fri) - The long awaited “Kuromori Kagura Dance," a traditional The following morning, a welcoming maiden voyage of the Miyako – Muroran performance art of the Miyako area. ceremony awaited the ferry's first return The Silver Queen's Captain Furukawa to port from Muroran City. In front of the Ferry line departed from Miyako Harbor. The ferry line is the first to be also participated in this ceremonial ferry terminal, Miyako's Yamaguchi Taiko established within the prefecture, event, in which he placed an arm into group greeted the ferry alongside the mouth of a Shishigashira lion head around 800 townspeople to celebrate its operated by Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen (of mask to be "bitten" as a rite of spiritual official commission. Tokyo). "The Silver Queen" will travel strengthening, the purpose of which is This, along with the new Sanriku coastal from Miyako City to Muroran (in to wish for safe sailing. Afterwards, highway, is expected to attract more ) in ten hours, offering one around 1,000 townspeople gathered to visitors to the area, while simultaneously round trip per day. On the 22nd, the see the Silver Queen off on its serving to better facilitate the ferry's departure was preceded by the momentous first voyage. distribution of goods.

The Silver Queen departs from Miyako Harbor Kuromori Kagura spiritual strengthening The ferry is greeted by Miyako’s Yamaguchi Taiko group

Sanriku Food Court in Ofunato & the B-1 Grand Prix OFUNATO

On July 7th and 8th (Sat-Sun), the During the event, you could find Also, in addition to a PR display for "Sanriku Food Court (Gurutto offerings such as Ofunato's local saury the 2019 Rugby World Cup™, Ofunato Shokudo) in OFUNATO & B-1 Grand fish dumplings, or fresh oysters grilled City put on a display in collaboration Prix" was held at the Kyassen Ofunato in miso from Rikuzentakata City. Along with Mogami Town in Yamagata shopping center, which opened last with 10 groups from along the (its sister city) starring the year in the city’s central district. coast, 7 groups from the B-1 Grand Semi Onsen Traditional Arts This event serves to showcase the food and charm of the coastal regions, Prix (a national food competition) set Preservation Society's drum group. It and takes place every year. This is the up stalls as well. All those attending was two days of regional exchange and third time the event has been held, lined up to get a taste of this gourmet enjoying the best of what the Iwate following Kuji last year. food for only 500 yen or less. coast has to offer.

Semi Onsen Traditional Arts Preservation Society's The Sanriku Food Court An Ofunato City business offering saury dumplings drum group’s performance い We areわ recruiting members for the Iwate Free to Reconstruction Supporters Team! Know, Buy, Eat, Go – and Help Support Us! register! て We復 are now recruiting both individual and group (corporate or other) members in the Greater Tokyo興 Area for the “Iwate Reconstruction Supporters”. Members are e-mailed information regarding reconstructionだ and tourism in Iwate, and upcoming events in the Tokyo area. (Information only available in Japanese.) よ り For more information, please see the website of the Tokyo Iwate Ooendan Search Branch Office of the Iwate Prefectural Government: 第 1 Giving thanks to The Tohokujin Spirit The Japan Golf Tour Organization OFUNATO donates handicap-accessible vehicles J-League Players Association for the reconstruction June 9th (Sat), Ofunato City - The Tohokujin Spirit J-League Players June 15th (Fri) – The Japan Golf Tour Organization's chairman Ryo Association (hereafter: The Tohokujin Spirit) was presented with a Ishikawa visited the community center Fureai Land (in Morioka City’s letter of thanks at the Akasaki Sports Field in Ofunato, as the field Sanbonyanagi), where he donated handicap-accessible vehicles. wouldn’t have been possible without the Association. Players from the Japan Golf Tour Players Association have been The Tohokujin Spirit is an association of current pro-soccer players donating 1% of their acquired prize money since 2012 (around 30 from Tohoku, and led by Mitsuo Ogasawara of the Kashima Antlers, million yen) to a charity fund for the reconstruction, and have used they began installing safety nets, toilets, a prefab clubhouse etc. in these charity funds to buy light vehicles since 2014. They have 2013. They have held soccer classes and exchange events, in donated ten cars each to Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima's social addition to helping provide for the installation of artificial grass on the field. welfare councils. The letter presentation ceremony was held at the clubhouse at the These vehicles will be used by the social welfare councils of the Akasaki Sports Field. As a founder of the association, Ogasawara cities and towns of Miyako, Ofunato, Kitakami, Tono, Oshu, Takizawa, Mitsuo attended the ceremony, where he was handed the letter of Nishiwaga, Otsuchi, Iwaizumi, and Hirono to look after the elderly of thanks by Ofunato City's Mayor Toda. their respective areas. The new field is in fact on the former site of Akasaki Elementary At the presentation ceremony, Chairman Ishikawa said, "I hope that School, which damaged heavily in the Great East Japan Earthquake we players all work together to use the power of golf to make and Tsunami. Following the completion of the clubhouse in April Tohoku whole again.” Each of the representatives of the social 2018, the field is now available for use. The Akasaki Sports Field will welfare councils received a commemorative letter from Ishikawa. be a new hub of sports exchange, and will be used by the people of Ofunato for soccer, mini-golf, and other sports of all kinds.

Chairman Ishikawa and an attendee with a Commemorative photo of the presentation Mayor Toda presents a letter of thanks to Mr. Ogasawara and other people donated vehicle ceremony involved with the Akasaki Sports Field Mr. Ogasawara. (Photo: Iwate Prefecture Social Welfare (Photo: Iwate Prefecture Social Welfare (Photo: Ofunato City) (Photo: Ofunato City) Council) Council) The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami devastated the Iwate coast. As the reconstruction proceeds, lessons learned from the disaster are being passed along in the Messages for the Future coastal communities. Earthquakes will happen again in the future, and natural disasters can strike at any time. We will introduce some of the lessons we learned to help others

prepare for these incidents. IWAIZUMI Raising awareness, Association of Iwaizumi Tour one person at a time Director of the Guides Information Association of Iwaizumi We have always felt it was critical to Tour Guides be prepared in Iwaizumi. Even before The Association of Iwaizumi Guides provides the 2011 disaster, we have held talented guides to anyone who wishes to see the Mr. Toshiaki town-wide disaster drills. rich natural beauty of Iwaizumi. Takehana The guide squad, first response The "Ocean and Story" course's hike of the firefighting squad, emergency rice Sanriku Coast brings participants to the tsunami Knowing the history of disasters provision squad; all roles have been monument and other areas that suffered, looking back on documents and photos from the time of in your area assigned in advance. However, the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami to In Iwaizumi, there are monuments to fostering disaster awareness in the help convey the lessons of the past. the 1896 Sanriku Earthquake and people of Iwaizumi remains the biggest the 1933 Showa Sanriku Earthquake challenge. First and foremost, it is essential to Address: Iwate Prefecture, Shimohei-gun, and Tsunami. These monuments still Iwaizumi-cho, Iwaizumi-aza Kannari 1-1 stand today, to convey their lesson. know your evacuation procedures so Operating period: Year-round Disasters always repeat themselves, that everyone can be responsible for Groups can be as small as 1 person. their own lives. Necessary time: About 1 hour so it is crucial that we learn about the Bookings: Inquire by phone history of our regions, and the disasters of the past. Listen to the stories of your elders about the disasters they have ■Inquiries・Applications■ witnessed – this is not something that Association of Iwaizumi Tour Guides only happens to someone else. TEL：0194-22-5955 Knowing the history will help prepare FAX：0194-22-4911 us for the next disaster.

Reach for the skies! A Tree-Planting Beaches newly TANOHATA・OFUNATO・ Event for the Future - NODA reopened 8 years Planting of Broad-leafed Trees after the disaster RIKUZENTAKATA

On June 10th (Sun), the Noda-Sennen-no-Matsu Several beach resorts located in Tanohata, Ofunato, and organization hosted "Reach for the Skies! A Tree-Planting Rikuzentakata have reopened for the first time, 8 years Event for the Future" in the Maehama district of Noda since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Village. Ten thousand black pine trees once stood in Tanohata Village - Two beaches were heavily damaged by approximately twelve hectares of the area. But waves the disaster in the village. While the affected beaches from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami swept aren't ready to open yet, so many residents have called for most of them away. At the tree-planting event, 200 local a beach that a new beach resort was created at the and non-local participants gathered to plant 300 trees of Tsukuehama beach (now that reconstruction has been five species: kobushi magnolia, Japanese rowan, beach completed). rose, Quercus serrata (a type of oak tree), and burning bush. Ofunato City - Since the reopening of the Okirainamiita At the end of the activity, participants were gifted with beach resort last year, the Yoshihama beach resort in the some Noda-brand hibiscus flavored pink salt (specially Sanriku district also reopened this summer, making 2 out 3 made for the event) and a hand-crafted wooden keyring beaches in the city now accessible to the public. as appreciation of their work. Cotton candy was also served from solar-power operated machines. Rikuzentakata City - The Last October, roughly a thousand black pine trees were Hirota beach resort (Hirota Taneichi Beach Park (Hirono) planted within 0.2 hectare as commemoration of the Town - Ono and Taya coast) replantation of a natural, tide-water control forest was once a popular leisure Samuraihama (Kuji) (hosted by the Prefectural Northern Iwate Regional spot heavily damaged by Funato (Kuji)

Development Bureau, Noda Village, and Iwate Prefectural the disaster. But fortunately Fudaihama (Fudai) Greening Promotion Committee - Noda Branch). The not all of the beach sand district aims to completely restore the forest by the end of washed away so the Ono Tsukuehama Beach (Tanohata) March 2020. beach resort is now Jodogahama (Miyako) reopened since reconstruct- ion of the seawalls was Uranohama (Yamada) completed. Aragami (Yamada)

Kirikiri (Otsuchi) With the beaches now accessible, there are high Yoshihama (Ofunato) hopes for an increase in beach swimmers for the Okirainamiita (Ofunato)

summer in the affected Ono (Rikuzentakata) coastal regions.

Participants work to plant trees (Photo: Noda Village) The reopened beach resorts of the Sanriku coast of Iwate

SanrikuSanriku Event Event Information Information

Taste of Omoe Kesen Town RIKUZEN 8/5 MIYAKO 8/7 TAKATA 8/18 The 29th North-ou HIRONO Festival Kenka Tanabata & Takata Sun Tue Nanyadoyara Dance Festival Town Ugoku Tanabata Sat Location: Omoe Harbor Festival Location: central Ono district and Ono Location: Kenka Tanabata Festival - in front of the Elementary School In addition to sea urchins in season, there will be lots of Imaizumi Public Housing (Kesen Town) Introduced in northern Iwate from southern Aomori, the fresh seafood to buy at the festival. There will be a nice Ugoku Tanabata Festival - Takata Town Nanyadoyara is said to be Japan's oldest form of obon opportunity to take a tour boat towards the Todogasaki The Kenka ("Brawl") Tanabata Festival is a competition dance festival. You will be able to enjoy a range of Lighthouse - the most eastern end of the main island where gorgeously decorated dashi (parade) floats tied to different dances that parade along the central area of the () of Japan. You will also be able to partake in a cedar log fight to the end until either one knock each town with over 1000 dancers. festive events such as seaweed-satchel tossing. other out. For the Ugoku ("Moving") Tanabata Festival, similarly decorated dashi floats parade around the town. Contact Hirono Event Executive Committee Contact Omoe Fishery Cooperative Association Contact Rikuzentakata Tourism (Hirono Regional Promotions Division) ☎ 0193-68-2211 Association ☎ 0192-54-5011 ☎ 0194-77-2111

Tue Fireworks Information for the Coastal 8/12 Sun 8/14

Miyako Summer MIYAKO Fireworks Festival in Yamada YAMADA Region Fireworks Display Location ■Dezaki District 8/4 Sat Contact ■Miyako Chamber of Commerce and Location ■Yamada Fish Market area ☎ Contact ■Yamada Chamber of Commerce - Youth Sanriku & Ofunato Summer OFUNATO Industry 0193-62-3233 Fireworks Festival Division ☎ 0193-82-2515 Location ■Ofunato bay 8/12 Sun Contact ■Sanriku - Ofunato Summer Festival 8/16 Thu Executive Committee (within Ofunato Chamber of 2018 Kamaishi Evening Fireworks KAMAISHI Commerce & Industry) ☎ 0192-26-2141 Kuji Lantern Floating and KUJI Location ■Kamaishi bay Fireworks Evening Festival Contact ■Kamaishi Tourism and Products Association 8/11 Sat (Hol) ☎ 0193-27-8172 Location ■ area LIGHT UP NIPPON Contact ■Kuji Fireworks Evening Festival Executive Tue Location ■Noda (Tofugaura Park), Tanohata (Sanriku 8/14 Committee (Kuji Tourism & Products Association) ☎ Railways - Shimanokoshi station area), Kesen River Fireworks Display - RIKUZENTAKATA 0194-66-9200 Miyako (Taro district event space), Otsuchi (Namiita Pray for Reconstruction- Coast Village), Ofunato (Urahama Beach), etc Location ■Undecided Please contact individual locations for more Contact ■LIGHT UP NIPPON Executive Committee Contact ■Rikuzentakata Tourism Association http://lightupnippon.jp/ information. ☎ 0192-54-5011 Making use of the discontinued rail line - MIYAKO Explore The Iwaizumi Line Draisine Sanriku The Iwaizumi rail line that connected Moichi Station in Miyako to Iwaizumi Station was discontinued in 2014. Now, a specific part of the line that formerly ran between Iwate-Wainai Station to Nakazato Station is currently being reused for a new activity using a draisine (type of rail vehicle). Participants can operate a 2-to 4-person type draisine to pedal roundtrip (3km/way) on the rail. Duration: Approx. 30 - 45min Start-off Location: Former Iwate-Wainai Station (21-1-3 Wainai, Miyako City) Dates: Weekends and holidays between April 1 (Sun) - November 25 (Sun) *For groups of more than 8 people, the activity can be done on weekdays with advance reservation KUJI Schedule: Trip 1: 10:00 Trip 2: 11:00 Trip 3: 12:00 The Iwaizumi Trip 4: 13:00 Trip 5: 14:00 Trip 6: 15:00 Line Draisine Fees: Two-person ride - ¥2000/draisine IWAIZUMI Four-person ride - ¥2000/draisine MORIOKA ★ Advanced reservation a must. MIYAKO Please contact between 10:00 - 15:00 for HANAMAKI reservations or questions. KAMAISHI ■Contact■ Wainai-Kariya Regional Promotion Pedaling the draisine against the wind Society (Photo: Wainai-Kariya Regional Promotion ☎ 080-5564-2310 Society)

This series, "People for Sanriku in Iwate", introduces “As for the reconstruction, while I understand unsung heroes working diligently towards the reconstruction in Sanriku's disaster-hit regions. It people may have different opinions about it, I follows on from the "People for Sanriku's Future" think we're progressing from an objective series. In part 84, we’ll meet Mr. Mitoshi Oba. standpoint," he commented as he observed the town from his boat. <<< PROFILE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "We saw a decrease in customers after the disaster. Now, volunteers from other prefectures Mr. Oba is from Otsuchi. After high school, he moved to and construction workers come by to occasionally Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture where he lived fish. But, as we approach an end to the and worked there for 6 years. Being the eldest son, he had thoughts of returning to Otsuchi someday, and did reconstruction, those people are slowly going to so in 2013 after the disaster. He has taken over his move away. We have to think about what we'll Works at Ohakozaki Fishing family’s fishing equipment store and fishing boat. At the have to do when that happens," he added as he Equipment same time, he endeavors to promote the charms of reflected on his, and the town’s, future. Mr. Mitoshi Oba Otsuchi and its sea. Increased convenience the coastal Reflecting on the future after reconstruction transportation network

Mr. Oba sails out into the sea with his customers “I believe Otsuchi’s a nice place even for younger almost every day. With his inherited fishing boat, people. But I also understand that it’s difficult to he also gives hour-long guided tours of the convince them to stay. I think we first must Otsuchi bay called the "Otsuchi Bay Cruising rebuild the town to make it enjoyable even for Tour". non-local residents. In Otsuchi, we have not only the sea but also rivers and mountains. People "You can see a different perspective of Otsuchi here are warm and welcoming. I believe that's from the sea. When I was just a kid, I used to something we'll have to work on to promote often play at the beaches but now it's all gone. these charms of Otsuchi so that we can be a place The guided tour is also a way for me to reminisce that more deeply connects with all people," Mr. about the past.” “You can go fishing on the Ohba vowed to further promote the best parts of water at our store!” the town and the sea.

Casualties & Damage in Iwate As of June 30, 2018 Thank you for all your support! As of June 30, 2018

▶Human casualties/deaths: (direct) 4,673 Missing: 1,115 Donations for survivors: Around ¥18.63344 billion (95,921 donations) (related) 467 Donations for reconstruction projects: Around ¥19.93708 billion (8,630 donations) ▶ Iwate Learning Hope Fund donations: Around ¥9.49913 billion (21,932 donations) Buildings destroyed (residences only, total/partial): 26,079 To make a donation to aid in Iwate’s reconstruction: ※ This fund is to assist in the study and daily life of affected www.pref.iwate.jp/fukkounougoki/dayori/news/011100.html children by encouraging sport and study activities.

Check out the Iwate Earthquake News from Iwate’s Reconstruction Web and Tsunami Archive ~Hope~ Watch videos on the news and People for Over 20,000 articles to read Sanriku’s Future! http://iwate-archive.pref.iwat Check out our website for more! e.jp/ News from Iwate’s Reconstruction, Volume 139. July 2018. Published by the General Affairs Division, Bureau of Reconstruction, Iwate Prefecture. TEL: 019-629-6945

News from Iwate’s Reconstruction Volume 140 will be published on August 25. Editing & Printing：SYNAPSE