Half a year after the tsunami

By Stefan SchauweckerOctober 18, 2011

This is the second part (part one is here) of an open ended series to document the recovery of the tsunami hit coast of northeastern Japan, where approximately 20,000 people lost their lives and entire towns were destroyed in the afternoon of March 11, 2011.

A little bit over half a year after the tsunami, we revisited some of the worst hit cities along the Sanriku Coast in Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures on October 18. In most areas the debris has been sorted and collected into huge mountains, paving the way for reconstruction. The towns are expected to come up with concrete reconstruction plans over the next few months.

We started our day with a visit to Matsushima, a major tourist destination outside of Sendai, which escaped major damage by the tsunami thanks to its protected location inside an island dotted bay. Many of Matsushima's tourist attractions reopened in time for the Golden Week by late April, and today we were glad to see a considerable number of tourists.

Despite the positive trend, however, visitor numbers to Matsushima remain clearly below last year's figures. Radiation fears are probably among the major causes behind this, as the town is located \"only\" 100 kilometers north of the nuclear plants. These fears, however, are unfounded, as Matsushima records radiation levels that are practically unchanged from before the accident.

Many of the souvenir shops along the coastal main road have reopened
Compare: **October 2011** - April 2011

Tourists have returned to the Godaido Hall in Matsushima

Cruises of Matsushima Bay resumed on April 29

Our next stop was Ishinomaki City, where more people lost their lives and more homes were destroyed than in any other municipality.

The view from Hiyoriyama Park revealed big progress in removing debris
Compare: **October 2011** - April 2011

The Ishinomori Manga Museum (building with white roof) still lacked electricity, gas and water
Compare: **October 2011** - April 2011

Some but not all stranded ships have been removed
Compare: **October 2011** - April 2011

In the city center, which got flooded by the tsunami, quite a few businesses have reopened

Traffic lights were functioning again, and repair works were going on in many places

We continued the coast northwards to Minamisanriku, whose entire town center was destroyed by the tsunami on March 11.

The removal of debris has progressed well in the town center of Minamisanriku
Compare: **October 2011** - April 2011

View from Shizugawa Station, the town's main train station
Compare: **October 2011** - April 2011

The railway tracks were removed and stacked on piles

The former timetable of Shizugawa Station

A car remains on top of an apartment building

Destroyed cars piled together in front of a damaged torii gate

A mobile ramen restaurant provided food in Minamisanriku's town center

A temporary convenience store opened just outside of the town center

Local seafood dishes were available at the Hotel Kanyo just outside of the town center

Further north we paid a quick visit to Kesennuma City. Clean up efforts have progressed here as well, but the works are impeded by the fact that the earthquake caused the city to drop in elevation by a few centimeters, resulting in flooding during high tide in some areas.