Japan Disaster Relief Closing Report

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Japan Disaster Relief Closing Report A journey to recovery CLOSING REPORT OF THE JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAMS CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 04 When a large earthquake and tsunami hit the northeastern In this document, we report on the strategy, the partners, coast of Japan on March 11, 2011, it deeply moved the whole and projects selected – and most importantly, the results PREFECTURES 06 of JTI – its management, its employees, and its business achieved. As you read about the varied programs and the PROJECTS AND PARTNERS 14 partners. In the spirit of solidarity, the Japan Disaster Relief benefits they have delivered, it will become clear that your PEOPLE 32 Fund (JDRF) was set up and within a few weeks it had raised support has made a real difference to the lives of numerous over CHF 5 million. individuals and communities in Japan. PREPAREDNESS 44 POST-IMPLEMENTATION 48 The JTI Foundation is our corporate foundation that has On behalf of the people who received your support, I would specialized in disaster aid for over a decade. It was chosen like to thank again those who have made possible all that to administer the Fund, with a mandate to help the victims has been achieved. of the disaster in clearly demonstrable ways. Pierre de Labouchere President of the Board of the JTI Foundation and CEO of JTI 1 CLOSING REPORT OF THE JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAMS 2 Distribution Introduction After the March 11 tragedy in Japan, the JTI Foundation’s priority of support: has been the transparent and effective use of donations, with the aim of providing relevant support to the victims of the disaster. Beneficiaries’ views on what needed to be done and how, have been critical in guiding our response. Since a national recovery plan takes time to develop and implement, 31.7% our programs had to focus on medium-sized projects rooted in local EMERGENCY RELIEF communities and developed together with local partners. Over time, two key themes have emerged in our choice of projects. First, the assistance to the most vulnerable: the elderly, the persons with disabilities and the rural communities. Second, a focus on long-term economic revitalization: paying particular attention to innovation and 68.3% creating employment opportunities. LONG-TERM RECOVERY This report accounts for the actions we have taken on your behalf. You will see that we have built strong partnerships, some of which will outlive the Japan Disaster Relief Fund itself. We hope you will agree that your contributions have been effectively translated into action, and have delivered concrete results. During the last two years, we have experienced great appreciation from individuals and communities affected by the disaster, and many people have demonstrated dignity, strength, and even optimism in the face of enormous challenges. It is on their behalf that I sincerely thank you for your support and your trust. Stefan Rissi Managing Director the JTI Foundation 3 CLOSING REPORT OF THE JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAMS INTRODUCTION 4 1 Prefectures AREAS AFFECTED BY THE DISASTER On March 11, 2011 a total of 21 Japanese prefectures were affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Most seriously hit were Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi. This section explores the characteristics of these regions to better understand the scale of the disaster and the challenges faced by the victims. The JTI Foundation projects in northeastern Japan IWATE Ofunato MIYAGI Otsuchi Onagawa Miyako Shiogama Yamada Kesennuma Kamaishi Minami Sanriku Rikuzentakata Ishinomaki Yamamoto-cho Ayukawa (Ishinomaki) FUKUSHIMA Higashi Matsushima Soma 5 CLOSING REPORT OF THE JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAMS PREFECTURES 6 FUKUSHIMA Fukushima is one of three Further inland, the region of Aizu THE LEGACY OF FUKUSHIMA 1 prefectures most damaged by is a mountainous area famed In the immediate aftermath of the events of March 11, 2011, for its scenic lakes, lush forests the tsunami, floodwaters coursed and the one closest to Tokyo. and snowy winters. Much of the through the Fukushima 1 nuclear As was the case with Iwate and prefecture – some 13 percent – power plant between Okuma-cho Miyagi prefectures, it was the is reserved for national parks. and Futaba-cho, causing the coastal population of Fukushima emergency generators that are that was most affected by the Fishing is an important economic vital to cooling the plant at times earthquake and tsunami. mainstay along the coast, as is of crisis, to fail. As a result, the agriculture in the central valley. outer housings of three of the six Fukushima is divided by mountain The prefecture is also noted for reactors at the site overheated ranges that run broadly parallel its power-generation industry and exploded. Subsequently, fires FUKUSHIMA to the coast. Hamadori, the and – in the context of the 2011 or partial meltdowns followed at a coastal region, is relatively flat disaster – it is for the crisis at the total of four units. and was most damaged by the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant tsunami. Inland, the Nakadori that the prefecture is unfortunately As a result of the disaster, a large region is the agricultural heart remembered. number of residents were forced of the prefecture and home to to leave their homes and an its capital, Fukushima City. evacuation cordon was established around the facility. The explosions saw leaks that resulted in increased radiation levels across Japan. PROJECTS IN FUKUSHIMA IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO DISASTER VICTIMS AAR JAPAN THROUGHOUT THE PREFECTURE PEST CONTROL NICCO SOMA 7 CLOSING REPORT OF THE JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAMS PREFECTURES 8 IWATE Iwate is situated in the larger region dependent on their catch. The The JTI Foundation support of Tohoku and to the north of Miyagi, prefecture – with a population of has targeted those segments another prefecture devastated by around 1.36 million – constitutes of Iwate’s population and the events of March 11. Iwate’s only a little over one percent of the economy most severely affected capital is Morioka. country’s total. As a result, Iwate by the catastrophe, including is by Japanese standards relatively fishermen, internally displaced Much of the prefecture is unpopulated. Only Hokkaido, the people, the elderly and persons mountainous, and forestry has island to the north, has a lower with disabilities. IWATE been one economic mainstay population density. In common over the years. The region is with many other parts of rural noted for its indigenous beech Japan, the prefecture also faces trees. The fishing and seafood progressive depopulation, which industries were particularly badly even before the recent disaster damaged by the tsunami, resulting has posed serious social and in great economic hardship both economic challenges. for fishermen and those onshore PROJECTS IN IWATE SUPPORT TO THE OFUNATO PWJ OFUNATO FISH RETAILER ASSOCIATION SUPPORT TO THE OFUNATO PWJ OFUNATO SMALL BUSINESSES SUPPORT TO THE OFUNATO PWJ OFUNATO AREA WOMEN’S COALITION REBUILDING COMMUNITY KNK OFUNATO CENTERS IN OFUNATO CITY OTSUCHI COMMUNITY STATION TMN OTSUCHI SANRIKU SEAFOOD GYOZA WORKSHOP TMN OTSUCHI 100 SANTA CLAUSES TMN OTSUCHI, OFUNATO IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AAR JAPAN MIYAKO, YAMADA, KAMAISHI, TO DISASTER VICTIMS RIKUZENTAKATA PEST CONTROL NICCO MIYAKO, TANOHATA, YAMADA, OTSUCHI, KAMAISHI, OFUNATO, RIKUZENTAKATA 9 CLOSING REPORT OF THE JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAMS PREFECTURES 10 MIYAGI Miyagi is located between Iwate The southern part of the prefecture As a result of the severe to the north and Fukushima borders Fukushima, and farmers damage to coastal areas, in the south. Much of the long in parts of Miyagi were subject the JTI Foundation has focused southeastern coast looks over to a government ban on beef a large part of its resources Sendai Bay, while the coastline movements over the summer of on projects in this prefecture to the northeast is more jagged 2011, in the wake of fears about – including those in the city of and mountainous. radioactive contamination. Ishinomaki, and the townships of Onagawa and Kesennuma. Sendai is also the largest city The coastal area of Miyagi was capital of the province, and home devastated by the tsunami that MIYAGI to many of its manufacturing followed the scale 9.0 earthquake. industries, which include In Miyagi as a whole, around electronics and food-processing. 10,000 people were killed or reported missing in the aftermath Agriculture and fisheries play of the disaster. Around 340,000 an important role in the local buildings were damaged or economy. The prefecture produces destroyed, at an estimated cost around 5% of the country’s rice, of CHF 80 billion. and a quarter of its oysters. PROJECTS IN MIYAGI REHABILITATION, PARTIAL SRC ONAGAWA RECONSTRUCTION AND TRANSFORMATION OF THE ONAGAWA TOWN HOSPITAL “FUYUMIZUTAMBO” SUSTAINABLE NICCO SHIOGAMA, KESENNUMA, REHABILITATION OF RICE FIELDS ISHINOMAKI, MINAMI SANRIKU CO-ORDINATION OF RELIEF IFSA ISHINOMAKI AND ASSISTANCE KESENNUMA TOURISM AND PWJ KESENNUMA FOOD-PROCESSING VENTURE COMMUNITY CENTER AND REFURBISHMENT AAR JAPAN ONAGAWA OF THE ONAGAWA HOT SPRING FACILITIES IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AAR JAPAN YAMAMOTO-CHO, TO DISASTER VICTIMS AYUKAWA, (ISHINOMAKI) PEST CONTROL NICCO KESENNUMA, MINAMI SANRIKU, ONAGAWA, ISHINOMAKI, HIGASHI MATSUSHIMA 11 CLOSING REPORT OF THE JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAMS PREFECTURES 12 2 Projects & Partners The JTI Foundation sought to address immediate relief and long-term socio- economic recovery. Through this section, 16 projects and 8 partners illustrate the achievements accomplished with the JTI Foundation’s support. 13 CLOSING REPORT OF THE JAPAN
Recommended publications
  • FONTI E DOCUMENTI STORICAMENTE.ORG Laboratorio Di Storia
    St�rica L A B O R A T O R I O D I S T O R I A ALMA MATER STUDIORUM Università di Bologna Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà FONTI E DOCUMENTI STORICAMENTE.ORG Laboratorio di Storia Florian Coulmas 3.11 From one Disaster to another: Japan’s Earthquake Numero 17 - 2021 ISSN: 1825-411X Art. 1 pp. 1-18 DOI: 10.12977/stor819 Editore: BraDypUS Data di pubblicazione: 05/03/2021 Sezione: Fonti e documenti 3.11 From one Disaster to another: Japan’s Earthquake FLORIAN COULMAS Univ. of Duisburg-Essen. IN-EAST Institute for East Asian Studies This paper recounts the experience of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake on 11th March 2011 and offers an assessment of reactions to it on personal, social and policy levels. Almost a decade after the event, it looks at traces of the disaster, discussing in particular the following questions. What were the consequences if any for Japan’s energy policy? What other conse- quences were there, for example, concerning crisis management? How did people integrate the earthquake into their view of history? How did the earthquake affect people’s life satisfaction? And how does it relate to current events? It argues that despite its for all concerned unpre- cedented severity the disaster led to gradual improvements, rather than fundamental change. Recollection: a personal view Is ten years ago “history”? To me it is the recent past. In a sense it’s the extended present; it is still with me. Just like the majority of the books of my library I then had, the Japanese porcelain cup of my morning coffee, even the car that I drive.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Fish Specimens Collected from the Tohoku District by the Saito Ho-On Kai Museum of Natural History
    Bull. Natl. Mus. Nat. Sci., Ser. A, 35(1), pp. 9–54, March 22, 2009 Historical Fish Specimens Collected from the Tohoku District by the Saito Ho-on Kai Museum of Natural History Keiichi Matsuura1, Gento Shinohara2 and Masanori Nakae1 1 Collection Center, National Museum of Nature and Science, 3–23–1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169–0073 Japan E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] 2 Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, 3–23–1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169–0073 Japan E-mail: [email protected] Abstract The fish collection of the Saito Ho-on Kai Museum of Natural History was transferred to the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo in February 2006. Ninety percent of the fish collection contains specimens collected from the Tohoku District during the period from 1930 to 1933 when natural environments of Japan were in good condition for various groups of fishes. The fish specimens from the Tohoku District were classified into 361 species/subspecies of 273 genera belonging to 131 families of 31 orders. A list of the species is shown with remarks on distribution. Key words: Fish specimens, Saito Ho-on Kai Museum, Tohoku District, inventory. stead of natural sicence. The museum has tried to Introduction keep its activity at the level before the war, but it The Saito Ho-on Kai Museum was established failed to do so because of financial difficulties. In in November 1933 in Sendai City, Miyagi Pre- 2005, the Saito Ho-on Kai Museum of Natural fecture, Japan.
    [Show full text]
  • English Language: J …Japanese E …English Organizer:Org
    Transmitting Practical Disaster Prevention Studies from Tohoku to the World Information Transmitted by IRIDeS The institute holds periodic meetings for the purpose of transmitting information and achieving cooperation and integration. 1 Expanded general meeting ●IRIDeS Now Shares information inside IRIDeS. ●Information on the IRIDeS Friday Forum Shares information on the content of research activities. ●Great East Japan Earthquake Watcher Follows the various activities in disaster sites and inside and outside of Japan, and social movements. 2 IRIDeS Friday Forum This forum is held on the evening of the 4th Friday of each month as a place for periodic announcements and discussions for the purpose of sharing information related to the research and other activities conducted at IRIDeS and to foster cooperation and integration in research. For details, 020153.03 see the website (http://irides.tohoku.ac.jp/event/irides-forum.html). Information is also published on the IRIDeS website. ●Activity announcements http://www.irides.tohoku.ac.jp/topics/index.html ●Future plans http://shinrokuden.irides.tohoku.ac.jp/ A three year journey traveled together with disaster affected areas Evolving disaster prevention and reduction. Creating a society prepared for large-scale disasters. IRIDeS Report 03 Issued on March 7, 2015 Edited and issued by the Tohoku University Name: IRIDeS International Research Institute of Disaster Science Symbolizes the Iris sanguinea, Iris laevigata, and Iris ensata, For queries regarding this document, as well as hope and nobility contact the following: Meaning of the logo: Reverses the Chinese character for ●Phone: 022-752-2049 “disaster”, to symbolize the determination for overcoming ●E-mail: [email protected] Close Up disasters by promoting recovery and reconstruction, and (Ask for Shosuke Sato or Kiyoshi Ito) creating a society that can intelligently handle disasters.
    [Show full text]
  • Minamisanriku Section Minamisanriku San San Shopping District Pedestrians, Or Have Roads with Heavy Traffic
    141°22′ 23′ 24′ 25′ 26′ 27′ 28′ 29′ 30′ 31′ 32′ 33′ 34′ 35′ From mid- to late May, see 50,000 azaleas in full bloom Toilet closed from December to mid-April Toilet closed from December to mid-April True Kesennuma City North 45’ 45’ 2 “Gyoja no Michi” Religious Path Magnetic 7°50′ 3 Mt. Tatsugane 行者の道 North 田束山 Cross stream, careful during high water Grave of Mankai Shonin Wooden sign with white lettering for “ふるさと緑の道” hiking course. 1 Arasawa Fudo Temple 荒沢不動尊 4 Thousand Branch Katsura Tree Hinokuchi Assembly Hall 千本桂 44’ 44’ 45 Magnetic North (Magnetic North Line) Snow builds up during winter, Sign: 巨石 (Giant rock) careful walking from here to Mt. Tatsugane The north as indicated by a magnetic compass is approximately 7º50' to the 6 west of true north(Shizugawa Standard.) Giant Boulders at Foot of Mt. Shingyodo Haraikawa Assembly Hall 神行堂山麓の巨石 Kamisawa Assembly Hall Isatomae Fukko Shopping District 伊里前福幸商店街 Go up steep slope 5 Sangan no Sato Viewpoint Utatsu Jr. High School Gym. 山がんの里遠望台 JR Utatsu Station (BRT) 43’ 43’ Cross concrete bridge Hayashigiwa Bus Stop See ice gobies swim upstream in late April to mid-May 8 Iriya Yes Studio Dojishita Community Center Shiki no Sato 入谷 Yes 工房 7 Iriya Hachiman-jinja Shrine 入谷八幡神社 398 Iriya Elem. School Gym. Minami Sanriku Town Minamisanriku Manabi no Sato Iriyado 42’ 42’ 9 Hikoro no Sato (Edo-era Dwelling) 【Iriya Walk】 Great view of rice paddies Try this program walking around ひころの里 the village. Visit the checkpoints Sign for Hikoro no Sato “ひころの里”in Japanese as a team to have lovely Sakurazawa Community Center 45 encounters with Iriya’s rich nature and friendly people.
    [Show full text]
  • Increasing Incidence of Tuberculosis Infection in the Coastal Region of Northern Miyagi After the Great East Japan Earthquake
    Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2016, 238, 187-195Increasing Incidence of TB Infection after Tohoku Disaster 187 Increasing Incidence of Tuberculosis Infection in the Coastal Region of Northern Miyagi after the Great East Japan Earthquake Masahiro Sakurai,1 Tatsuya Takahashi,1 Miyako Ohuchi,1 Yuki Terui,1 Kouji Kiryu2 and Kazuo Shikano1 1Division of Health and Welfare, Miyagi Prefectural Government, Ishinomaki, Miyagi, Japan 2Division of Health and Welfare, Metropolitan Government, Tokyo, Japan On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan. Within an hour of the earthquake, devastating tsunamis swept over the coastal region of the Miyagi Prefecture, facing Pacific Ocean. Accordingly, more than 400,000 residents were forced to stay at evacuation shelters. We investigated the changes in tuberculosis prevalence after the disaster. Annual data for all tuberculosis patients between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2013 were extracted from the database of the Miyagi Prefectural Government. In the coastal region of Northern Miyagi, the number of tuberculosis patients increased in the post-disaster period (p < 0.001, 9.6 vs.19.1 per 100,000 people), compared to the pre-disaster period. In contrast, its prevalence did not change in the inland region of Northern Miyagi and the coastal and inland regions of Southern Miyagi. Importantly, in the inland and coastal regions of Northern Miyagi, the number of patients with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) increased in the post- disaster period (p < 0.001). Furthermore, in the coastal shelters, 11 evacuees with the history of contacting tuberculosis patients were diagnosed with LTBI, whereas no cases of LTBI patients were observed in the inland shelters.
    [Show full text]
  • Response to the Great East Japan Earthquake in the Three Years from March 2011
    Response to the Great East Japan Earthquake in the Three Years from March 2011 JICA has continued related supportive activities during Yolanda in the Philippines), which struck the middle part of the three years from the right after the earthquake of the Philippines on November 8 and 9, 2013, JICA provided March 11, 2011, to the present. In the beginning, the main information on the study of reconstruction processes from activity was direct support, including shelter for evacuees, large-scale disasters, and officials from Higashimatsushima dispatch of JICA staff and former volunteers, coordination of City, Miyagi Prefecture, visited the damage area and gave international organizations from overseas, and cooperation advice based on the experiences of the Great East Japan with NGOs, which played a central part in people’s support Earthquake. to the damage area. At the present time JICA engages JICA uses Japan’s experience of recovery and recon- in information-sharing and submission, compilation of struction from large-scale disasters, including the Great lessons learned from reconstruction efforts, and support to East Japan Earthquake, for international cooperation to international conferences. developing countries. Regarding the damage by Typhoon Haiyan (called (1) Accommodation of people unable to return home, shelter for evacuees, provision of disaster 1. prevention supplies and storage space, and donation of money collected Tohoku Earthquake (2) Dispatch of JICA staff to NGOs, municipalities, and universities, offering of office space
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment of Tsunami Flood Situation from the Great East Japan Earthquake 55
    Assessment of Tsunami Flood Situation from the Great East Japan Earthquake 55 Assessment of Tsunami Flood Situation from the Great East Japan Earthquake Hidetoshi NAKAJIMA and Mamoru KOARAI Abstract The massive tsunami from the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake (hereinafter referred to as the “Tohoku Pacific Coast Earthquake”) that occurred on March 11, 2011, caused devastating damages along the Pacific Coast. The GSI immediately formed an emergency team and started investigating to uncover the situation of tsunami damage. We emphasized on promptness in the beginning of the survey, created the "Tsunami flood area overview map" with a purpose of improving the accuracy in our best effort over time, and kept on distributing the maps to the municipalities of the affected areas, the national disaster response headquarters etc, while also releasing this information on the GSI website. In addition to calculating the areas of inundation by the municipalities and by land use, an attempt was made to analyze the distance and elevation reached by tsunami in coastal Miyagi Prefecture. Furthermore, elevation was measured precisely by aerial laser survey mainly on areas where ground subsidence occurred due to the earthquake, and high precision elevation data and the digital elevation topographic map have been prepared/provided. 1. Creating an inundation area overview map There are two types of error cause which are 1.1 Method of creation "interpretation error" and "error in transferring onto Immediately after the tsunami disasters triggered by topographic map". Since single (aerial) photographs are the Tohoku Pacific Coast Earthquake on March 11th, the used for the interpretation, difference in landform GSI decided to create an "Tsunami flood area overview interpretation skills has little effect on the former, whereas map" to find out the situation of tsunami damage, and landform interpretation skills would be required to minimize created a damage overview map and also discussed about the latter.
    [Show full text]
  • ON-LAND CIVIL ENGINEERING Operations Construction of Bridge Pier on National Route 45 Across Kesennuma Bay in Matsuzaki District
    Newly Completed Project ON-LAND CIVIL ENGINEERING Operations Construction of Bridge Pier on National Route 45 across Kesennuma Bay in Matsuzaki District With a century-long history as a highly-reputed, reliable collection and treatment facilities, land development, The work has been completed in the city of Kesennuma in the Matsuzaki contractor in marine construction and engineering, and environmental mitigation and rehabilitation District of Miyagi Prefecture. TOA also has accumulated experience and expertise programs. In each and every project, TOA has devoted As a leading project for recovery from in on-land civil engineering through the completion of all of its capabilities to faithfully execute its duties the Great East Japan Earthquake. Along the Sanriku Coast in the various projects. Among the projects are roads, bridges, and responsibilities as a contractor, enhancing TOA’s Tohoku region, repair work is railways, tunnels, water dams, river dikes and water reputation as one of the most trustworthy contractors in being carried out at a rapid pace gates, water supply and drainage systems, sewage Japan. on the Sanriku Coast Expressway (Reconstruction Road), a 359 km stretch of a road specifically for use by automobiles that connects the Paiton III Power Plant (Indonesia) three prefectures of Miyagi, Iwate, and Aomori. Plans call for the construction of The construction of a supercritical the power plant was ordered by a bridge across Kesennuma Bay, pressure coal-fired power PT Paiton Energy, a company that which forms the main part of the generation plant was completed was established as an IPP. Toa Kesennuma road section of the in April 2012 in Paiton, which is Corporation was in charge of the Sanriku Coast Expressway.
    [Show full text]
  • Miyagi Prefecture Is Blessed with an Abundance of Natural Beauty and Numerous Historic Sites. Its Capital, Sendai, Boasts a Popu
    MIYAGI ACCESS & DATA Obihiro Shin chitose Domestic and International Air Routes Tomakomai Railway Routes Oshamanbe in the Tohoku Region Muroran Shinkansen (bullet train) Local train Shin Hakodate Sapporo (New Chitose) Ōminato Miyagi Prefecture is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty and Beijing Dalian numerous historic sites. Its capital, Sendai, boasts a population of over a million people and is Sendai仙台空港 Sendai Airport Seoul Airport Shin- filled with vitality and passion. Miyagi’s major attractions are introduced here. Komatsu Aomori Aomori Narita Izumo Hirosaki Nagoya(Chubu) Fukuoka Hiroshima Hachinohe Osaka(Itami) Shanghai Ōdate Osaka(kansai) Kuji Kobe Okinawa(Naha) Oga Taipei kansen Akita Morioka Honolulu Akita Shin Miyako Ōmagari Hanamaki Kamaishi Yokote Kitakami Guam Bangkok to the port of Hokkaido Sakata Ichinoseki (Tomakomai) Shinjō Naruko Yamagata Shinkansen Ishinomaki Matsushima International Murakami Yamagata Sendai Port of Sendai Domestic Approx. ShiroishiZaō Niigata Yonezawa 90minutes Fukushima (fastest train) from Tokyo to Sendai Aizu- Tohoku on the Tohoku wakamatsu Shinkansen Shinkansen Nagaoka Kōriyama Kashiwazaki to the port of Nagoya Sendai's Climate Naoetsu Echigo Iwaki (℃)( F) yuzawa (mm) 30 120 Joetsu Shinkansen Nikko Precipitation 200 Temperature Nagano Utsunomiya Shinkansen Maebashi 20 90 Mito Takasaki 100 10 60 Omiya Tokyo 0 30 Chiba 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Publication Date : December 2019 Publisher : Asia Promotion Division, Miyagi Prefectural Government Address : 3-8-1 Honcho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi
    [Show full text]
  • The Japan Tohoku Tsunami of March 11, 2011
    EERI Special Earthquake Report — November 2011 Learning from Earthquakes The Japan Tohoku Tsunami of March 11, 2011 This report summarizes the field Fukushima Prefecture because high US$300 billion, making it the most reconnaissance observations of radiation levels from the damaged costly disaster of all time (VoA, the EERI team led by Lori Dengler, Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power 2011). Humboldt State University, and plant have prevented field teams from There is no question that the Megumi Sugimoto, Earthquake working there. Much of the informa- tsunami was responsible for the Research Institute, University of tion in this preliminary report may huge scale of the catastrophe. A Tokyo, who visited the hardest-hit change as more data and reports are preliminary report released in April areas of Miyagi and Iwate Prefec- released. 2011 summarizing autopsy results tures in April and May 2011. It also The publication of this report is showed 92% of the victims died as includes observations from two In- supported by EERI under National a result of drowning (SEEDS Asia, ternational Tsunami Survey Teams Science Foundation grant #CMMI- 2011). If it is assumed that most of (ITSTs) deployed to study tsunami 1142058. the missing were washed to sea or deposits. The first team visited the deposited in accessible areas by Sendai area in May and was made Introduction the tsunami, the tsunami casualty up of Kazuhisa Goto, Chiba Insti- contribution increases to over 96%. tute of Technology; Shigehiro Fuji- The Mw 9.0 earthquake produced no, University of Tsukuba; Witek a great tsunami that killed nearly This report summarizes field recon- Szczuciski, Adam Mickiewicz Uni- 20,000 people and wreaked destruc- naissance efforts and reports, em- versity, Poland; Yuichi Nishimura, tion along the Tohoku (eastern) phasizing factors that exacerbated Hokkaido University; Daisuke Su- coast of Japan.
    [Show full text]
  • Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Update Wednesday, April 13, 2011
    Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Update Wednesday, April 13, 2011 Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font. Overview A powerful 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit Japan on March 11 at 1446 local time (0546 GMT), unleashing massive tsunami waves that crashed into Japan’s northeastern coast of Honshu, the largest and main island of Japan, resulting in widespread damage and destruction. According to the Government of Japan (GoJ), as of Wednesday (April 13), 13,392 people are 1 confirmed dead and 15,133 people are reported to be missing. The highest number of deaths reported are in Miyagi prefecture (8,190), followed by Iwate (3,867) and Fukushima (1,272). (NPA, NHK, Reuters, April 13) Earlier estimates from the UN of the number of people injured was at 2,869. Casualty numbers are likely to increase as officials in some areas have not been able to complete their tally of the missing, according to NHK, and as emergency teams continue to reach and assess affected areas. The earthquake sparked widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the shallow quake struck at a depth of six miles (10 km) (20 km deep according to Japan’s Meteorological Agency), around 80 miles (125 km) off the eastern coast of Japan, and 240 miles (380 km) northeast of Tokyo. Key Concerns: • Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) revised upward its evaluation of the severity of the situation at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station to level 7, which is the maximum rating on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES).
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Eastern Japan Earthquake 11 March 2011
    1 THE GREAT EASTERN JAPAN EARTHQUAKE 11 MARCH 2011 – LESSONS LEARNED AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS UNU-EHS Institute for Environment and Human Security 11 March 2013, UN Campus, Bonn Editors: Dinil Pushpalal, Jakob Rhyner, Vilma Hossini 2 Imprint United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) UN Campus, Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 10, 53113 Bonn, Germany Tel.: + 49-228-815-0200, Fax: + 49-228-815-0299 e-mail: [email protected] Design: Andrea Wendeler Copy-Editing: WordLink Proofreading: Janine Kandel, Sijia Yi, Stanislava Stoyanova Print: Druckerei Paffenholz, Bonn, Germany Print run: 250 Printed in an environmentally friendly manner. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s). Publication does not imply endorsement by the United Nations University of any of the views expressed. ISSN: 2075-0498 e-ISSN: 2304-0467 ISBN: 978-3-944535-20-3 e-ISBN: 978-3-944535-21-0 Cover photo: dugspr/flickr THE GREAT EAST JAPAN EARTHQUAKE 11 MARCH 2011 – LESSONS LEARNED AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS Editors: Dinil Pushpalal, Jakob Rhyner, Vilma Hossini Reviewed by UNU-EHS Foreword 4 11 March 2011 will always be remembered. Remembered by people in Japan, who experienced it as the worst day of their lives when confronted with great loss, fear and uncertainty. But, also, remembered around the world as a day when disaster took on unthinkable dimensions given the intensity as well progressing catenation that emerged that day. Yet, we must admit that it easily might have been even worse: the bulk of the radioactive cloud was blown out to the open sea and not towards Tokyo.
    [Show full text]