Iwate Prefecture
Iwate Before Tsunami
With the fifth anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake this year the local government of Iwate Prefecture continues to work daily on an unprecedented scale towards the reconstruction. By March 2014 all of the waste and rubble from the earthquake had been dealt with. As well as the reopening of the entire Sanriku Railway line in April 2014 all public highways were brought under direct control of the central government for the commencement of reconstruction. By February 2016 80% of the publicly managed refuge housing needed had begun construction.
Five years after the earthquake this is the so called final year in the second phase of the revitalisation actualisation plan, officially titled the ‘full-scale reconstruction period’, and is recognised as an important period leading into the next stage of the recovery. At the same time as the prefecture working closely with municipalities within the prefecture and with central government developing public housing for the evacuees and coastal conservation facilities, the recovery activities are reaching their peak with the redevelopment of towns and villages and maintenances of highways and roads in this year where municipalities are throwing their full energy into tackling the issues.
Iwate After Tsunami
We would like to extend our deeply felt thanks to all those throughout Japan and the World who have offered their support and encouragement, and to those volunteers and other supporters who donated funds as well as the various other supports we have received.
The reconstruction in Iwate will take much time and the continued assistance of many people, we ask for the support and encouragement of those watching the future reconstruction
A video introducing the current situation of the reconstruction can be seen in the link below
“The Progress of reconstruction in Iwate” (video link, Japanese only)
Miyagi Prefecture
Over five years has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011. In March 2015 the United Kingdom’s Prince William visited the most damaged area of Ishinomaki City, the central area of Onagawa Town where catastrophic damage was seen as well as offering heart-warming support to the various agencies, businesses and citizens for which we offer heartfelt thanks.
Miyagi
Miyagi Prefecture is located around 300 kilometres northwest of Tokyo. The gigantic tsunami which was created by the earthquake resulted in the loss of over 10,000 lives. After the earthquake more than 320,000 people were made homeless and forced to live in places designated as evacuation centres such as school gymnasiums, and there are still around 42,000 continuing to live in temporary shelters.
In the damaged areas efforts continue to rebuild the lives of those evacuated in the earthquake with the rebuilding and new town developments and the restoration and reconstruction is continuing steadily. Public housing for the evacuees has reached a turning point and by March 2017 around 90% of the planned housing will be completed.
Further, the prefecture is actively working on restoring the key costal industries of fishing with new business development for foreign tourism sales channels.
We look forward to welcoming anyone in Japan who is interested in seeing how Miyagi is continuing the recovery.
Fukushima Prefecture
It was five years in March since the damage to the Dai-ichi nuclear facility caused by the earthquake. Since then, in particular with regard to the United Kingdom, we would like to offer our heartfelt thanks for all the support we have received from many countries.
Throughout the prefecture the rebuilding of lives continues for those evacuated citizens, as well as the decommissioning and measures against contaminated water, at the same time in the midst of this the region weathers reputation damage from rumours regarding the real situation while on the road to recovery.
Fukushima floating wind turbine project
On the other hand 79% of the disaster restoration work of the affected public civil engineering facilities has already been completed. Further, in the period from April to March 2016, the numbers of tourists visiting the area has returned to 90% of the figure in 2010. The promotion of renewable energy industries such as the floating wind turbine project, accumulation of medical device related industries and research, and the opening of integrated junior and senior high schools all point to steadily progressing plans for the future.
The ‘Seventh Pacific Islands Summit’ was held in May 2015 with the participation of various heads of government from countries in the south Pacific region visiting the prefecture. In addition, dignitaries and ambassadors from a variety of countries have visited on various occasion and seen for themselves the healthy state of the prefecture and initiatives ensuring the safety of produce from the region in order to tell the world.
‘Challenge’ is the key word for the prefecture, and we are continuing the recovery with more efficacy. We look forward to the future with the support and cooperation of our partners overseas.
For details of the current status of the recovery please see HERE
