Disaster Affected Areas

①Minamisanriku

Recovery Situation in Minami-Sanriku

It’s been three years since the earthquake. The enormous amount of debris covering the ground has been removed. The leveling construction work has started in order to help the town fully function as soon as possible. In Shizugawa Bay, which is blessed with an abundance of seafood, they culture brown seaweed, oyster, scallop, sea squirt, white salmon, and so on. Those who engage in the marine culture mentioned above as well as the fishermen are beginning to regain their livelihood. In “Minami-Sanriku Sansan Shopping District” and “Isatomae Fukko Shopping District,” local products have been added to the regular line-up. At the eating spots a specialty “Kirakira Rice Bowl” makes everyone smile. Thanks to the people all over the world for their support! Minami-Sanriku is promoting recovery so that everyone can smile from the heart.

②Ishinomaki

Recovery Situation in Ishinomaki

Although it took nearly three years after the earthquake, huge piles of debris which were scattered about the city were finally removed. There are still a lot of challenges ahead for the recovery, including many aspects of people’s daily lives, but some positive signs have been seen. For example, in the tourism industry, Ishinomori Manga Museum which used to be a symbol of Manga city, Ishinomaki, was reopened, and also people created a new recipe named “Kinka Rice-bowl” using seafood from the coast of Kinkazan, one of the three major fishing grounds in the world.

Recovery Shopping Street where disaster-affected shops got together, and a new project, guided tours to get around the disaster areas and learn about the quake and tsunami, are also attracting attention.

③Matsushima

Recovery Situation in Matsushima

The earthquake damage in Matsushima town wasn’t as major as other coastal areas because the islands in Matsushima bay protected the town from the tsunami onslaught. Matsushima is still as beautiful as it was before the earthquake.

However, the number of the visitors to Matsushima decreased to 80 percent of the pre-quake level, and foreign visitors fell by 50 percent after the quake. Matsushima, which survived the tsunami, became a member of “The Most Beautiful Bays in the World,” an NGO located in Vannes City (the Golfe du Morbihan tourist office) in France. The messages about Matsushima’s appealing points are sent out to 31 countries and their locales through the network. People in Matsushima are grateful to both the domestic and foreign support, and make efforts to entertain the guests so that visitors can enjoy themselves.

④Sendai Airport