MIYAGI-JONET: Reportage No. 3 from Kami-no Ie and Tsukihama

100 days have past since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster on 11 March.

9,200 people have been killed and 4,700 are still missing in Miyagi prefecture alone. This reality weighs heavily on the minds of us who have survived.

I received a letter from Mr. Katsumi Ono, the owner of the tourist home “Kami-no Ie” in Tsukihama.

You can read what he had to say in the letter in our last blog entry.

“Kami-no Ie” has been given great encouragement and wishes from people all over Japan who have known “Kami-no Ie” for a long time, said Mr. Ono.

Mr. Ono has drawn a blueprint of Tsukihama’s future and already made some specific suggestions for its reconstruction.

We wish him all the best.

We, members of Miyagi Jonet, had our Jonet salon meeting at the Onagawa General Gymnasium – now a shelter for many – in the morning and then split into 2 groups. One group took visitors to Ishinomaki and Tsukihama to show them the present condition.

The other group had another Jonet salon meeting in a shelter in Kaisenkaku, Onagawa in the afternoon, then came to Tsukihama to stay for a little while on their way back.

Electricity supply has been recovered so that people can watch television now. There is, however, still no internet connection, as the optic fiber cables have been cut off. Due to the severe damage to the house, water supply inside their house has yet to be restored.

While the priority has been given to the construction of temporary housing, building companies have not been able to arrange for enough building materials to fix the damage caused to private houses.

Even now meals are rationed. Bento (box meals) are distributed for breakfast and dinner, and bread for lunch.

Temporary housing has been built just in front of Kami-no Ie.

The installment of exterior parts of the temporary housing was finished today, and air conditioners and other household appliance were being installed inside.

I have been told that people will draw for the residence in temporary housing, and who wins can move in this month.

Soon people in the Satohama shelter and 3 families who have been evacuated from Kami-no Ie shall regain their private family living.

Operation vehicles have been brought to the shore to clean up debris. After separating metals and wood, all debris will be taken to a collection point.

I shall keep following the progress made in Tsukihama.

An elder friend of the landlady of Kami-no Ie.

The 5 pictures below are shots from

the Jonet salon meeting

at the Onagawa General Gymnasium shelter.