Project: Social Capital and Communities in Rural Areas

Department: Perpetuator

Language: English

Start on: Nov, 1st, 2023

Status: In Progress

Estimated finish by: Mar 1st, 2024

Author: Yoichi Shimizutani

Data Analysis: Mingzhen Zhang

Review: Jenny Gao

Abstract:

The earthquake that struck eastern Japan on March 11, 2011, claimed the lives of approximately 20,000 people. The cityscape was swept away by the ensuing tsunami, leaving behind a vast amount of debris and despair. Over time, efforts have been made for reconstruction and the revitalization of new communities. However, despite the importance of the perspective of those affected, especially the elderly, it is often overlooked. In the region of Ishinomaki, where the elderly make up 30% of the population, it is crucial to incorporate the elderly in the city planning for comprehensive community development. This research focuses on the importance of the elderly perspective in the context of "temple roles," "tourism," and "industry," which are considered essential for community regeneration.

Background of the Study

In the reconstruction after major disasters, the emphasis on rebuilding lives and social relationships has gained recognition, moving away from the focus on large-scale land readjustments and industrial infrastructure development seen after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. The importance of "the right to earn a living" (Fukuda, Yamana, Inoue, 2012) emphasized by Prime Minister Fukuda Toshiki during the Great Kanto Earthquake is being re-evaluated. In the context of prioritizing the rebuilding of people's lives, it is considered crucial for individual survivors to be involved in the reconstruction process and participate in decision-making for community rebuilding. However, there are often cases where decisions are made without the knowledge or consultation of the affected individuals (Nakajima, 2020). Previous studies on the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake highlighted the importance of community continuity during the temporary housing period for citizen participation in reconstruction. In the case of the Tohoku earthquake, a survey conducted in the temporary housing complexes in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, revealed that 94% of residents wished to maintain connections with their pre-disaster community when moving back to permanent housing (Nakashima, Kawasoe, Shioda, Oyane, 2015). Activities such as circle meetings and tea gatherings were reported within the temporary housing complexes, reflecting the emphasis on community formation to address the issue of solitary deaths in temporary housing.

Issues Raised

While maintaining connections during the temporary housing period is crucial, when considering the long-term revitalization of the region, it is essential to explore the potential of the entire community, including the pre-disaster residence. The study suggests that examining the characteristics of the former residence and considering the changes in the region are necessary for community regeneration. However, challenges arise from the geographical discontinuity of communities due to temporary housing life and population outflows, as well as the complexity of resident sentiments due to differences in disaster situations. Another challenge is the often overlooked perspective of the elderly in the process of rebuilding and revitalizing the community. The focus on the younger population in discussions about rebuilding creates significant psychological burdens for the elderly (Nakashima, 2020). For instance, new urban planning may assume car-dependent lifestyles, creating situations where residents without cars face difficulties in daily activities like shopping. The issue of public transportation is often neglected, posing ongoing challenges.

Background of the Participating Region

The study focuses on Miyagi Prefecture, particularly Ishinomaki City, which suffered massive damage from the tsunami. The Great East Japan Earthquake caused widespread tsunami disasters in the coastal areas of the Tohoku region, claiming approximately 20,000 lives. The affected areas were designated as "disaster-prone zones," making it impossible for residents to continue living in their homes and forcing them to relocate to higher ground or safer areas. Many of the affected regions were primary industries, mainly fisheries, and were already experiencing depopulation before the disaster. The study area, Orikawa district in Ishinomaki City, particularly suffered significant loss of young lives due to the tsunami, resulting in a demographic shift where the elderly constitute 35% of the population (GD Freak, 2023). In the Orikawa district, 418 people out of 2,489 residents in 712 households were reported as dead or missing. Four villages (Kama-tani, Ma-gaki, Naga-men, O-zaki) were designated as disaster-prone zones due to the tsunami that traveled 3 to 5 km upstream from the river mouth. In Kama-tani, 30% of residents, and in Ma-gaki, over 40% of residents, became victims of the disaster. The Orikawa Elementary School in Kama-tani, with 74 students and 10 staff members, experienced significant casualties. While some housing reconstruction took place, with five households in the Ma-gaki area successfully moving to higher ground, the majority of residents underwent group relocation. The "Toko-danchi," a group relocation site within 15 km inland, completed its construction in March 2017, becoming the last to be completed in Ishinomaki. Approximately 30% of former residents gradually moved to permanent housing, completing the relocation of all households by the summer of 2019. In March 2018, the "Futago Higashi-cho Neighborhood Association" was established by relocated households from the Orikawa district. In the former residence, agriculture and fisheries continued after the earthquake, but it took until August 2013 for power to be fully restored in O-zaki and Naga-men. The restoration of the public water supply was completed in the fall of 2016.

The main livelihoods in the region are fisheries and agriculture, but since 1968, with the expansion of the Ishinomaki factory by Jukyu Seishi (now Nippon Paper Industries), more young people have found employment in Ishinomaki City. In the 1990s, electronics component factories were established in Kohoku-cho, and women also began working in factories. In the village of O-zaki, closest to the river mouth, many residents are full-time fishermen engaged in oyster cultivation and set-net fishing in the inner waters of Naga-men. In the Naga-men area, flat land at sea level is used for agriculture, with large-scale paddy field development taking place since 1998. Kama-tani, where the former Orikawa Village office was located, was the central village with facilities such as a post office, police box, registration office, supermarket, sewing factory, and metalworking factory before the disaster. Ma-gaki (part of the Haruka district) is a relatively new settlement created during the development of the new northern upstream area. After World War II, plans were made for land reclamation in Naga-men to increase rice production, causing a division among residents. The plan was ultimately canceled, and in 1998, the children of those who had opposed the landfill established the "Clean Hakuba Association" to conduct coastal cleanup activities. In O-zaki, the wife of a fisherman opened the guesthouse "Nonbiri Mura" in 1993, promoting local production for local consumption and engaging in exchanges with consumers. Based on these activities, post-disaster, fishermen in Naga-men initiated community revitalization activities, leading to the establishment of the nonprofit organization "Orikaihi" in September 2013 (Gyoudou, 2013). As part of the overall efforts for the recovery of the Orikawa district, an ad-hoc group called the "Orikawa District Reconstruction Council" was established at the end of 2011. Particularly famous is the "Tragedy of Orikawa Elementary School." After the earthquake, teachers and students evacuated to the schoolyard. However, a massive tsunami struck, taking the lives of many, including teachers and students. The tragic event was widely covered by the media, serving not only as news but also prompting a reevaluation of disaster preparedness and the importance of solidarity, sparking societal discussions and actions. In this study, one of the survivors, identified as T.T. (24), was contacted and cooperated with the research as an interviewee.

Purpose of this paper

     In this area, young generation is passed away because of Tsunami in 2011. Therefore, there re aged city already. Average age of this area is over 65 years old. To investigate this religion allows us to show how we should organize and model case of ageing society.

Result 

      To rebuild community and aged friendly city, we could conclude that we need some social center to build community. There are three main factors which are temple, tourism and industries.