Thread: Strong quake prompts tsunami warning Japan

Six months on, quake-hit Noto struggles to restore phone networks

Monday marks six months since the massive New year's day earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula along the Sea of Japan.

The quake left local mobile phone networks paralyzed in many areas. Nearly 60 percent of base station cables were damaged far more seriously than in previous disasters.

The tremor left more than 3,300 people isolated in up to 24 areas in the central prefecture of Ishikawa.

Yamashita Tomotaka, a community leader in a mountainous area of Wajima City, said mudslides blocked all three access roads.

He said all mobile phones and fixed-line phones were useless immediately after the jolt.
Residents were unable to call for help from city authorities or anyone else.

"It was even impossible to call an ambulance. It's truly tough to be left without any means of communication," Yamashita said.

Six days after the quake, residents were finally able to make contact with the outside world. Ten days after the jolt, Self Defense Forces helicopters arrived to airlift about 30 residents to safer locations.

People in other parts of the prefecture had similar troubles. A communications ministry survey found that 57 percent of cables were rendered useless by mudslides or other problems. It was a situation far worse than in the 2011 quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Toyo University Professor Nakamura Isao said: "Here in the mountainous terrain of the Noto Peninsula, the quake triggered landslides that caused extensive damage to transmission lines. People's daily lives and administrative functions rely on telecommunications. And that's becoming more important than ever. I think it's necessary to maintain some form of continuous and dependable information channels."

A US satellite communication network called Starlink was installed at evacuation shelters and elsewhere until mobile phone and internet connections were restored. More than 600 devices, including reception antennas, were loaned out by the US firm and Japan's government.

The Starlink system was installed at an evacuation center in Suzu City. Iseki Juichi is a resident who did radio service work. He says some people didn't know how to make full use of the new system.

A medical support group visiting the shelter was unable to use an app to connect to the system, so Iseki helped them sort it out. He says that in other shelters antennas were set up in areas with poor radio wave reception.

The communications ministry is planning ways to improve emergency power sources at major base stations. It wants to make satellite connections available between the stations in the event of severed power cables.

The ministry is also setting up a system in which locals can have secure communications when disasters strike.

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Former Indonesian First Lady visits earthquake-hit Taiwan region

Former Indonesian First Lady Dewi Soekarno donated 10 million yen (NT$2.02 million, US$62,000) during a visit to earthquake-hit Hualien County Saturday (June 29).

Soekarno, 84, was the fourth wife of late President Soekarno, who ruled Indonesia from independence in 1945 to 1967 and died in 1970. She was born in Japan as Nemoto Naoko and married the Indonesian leader in 1962.

She flew from Tokyo to Taiwan Saturday morning, and immediately traveled onward to Hualien to hand over the donation on behalf of the NGO Amitie Sans Frontieres, per CNA. She expressed gratitude for Taiwan’s aid after the Japanese victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake, and praised the efforts of Taiwanese rescue teams in Hualien.

The magnitude 7.2 earthquake which hit the region on April 3 led to 18 deaths and two missing, while causing massive damage to the east coast county. The restoration of scenic areas at Taroko National Park will in some cases take seven years, according to officials.

Soekarno contrasted the fate of the survivors in Hualien with those of Japan’s Noto earthquake last January. In Japan, survivors still lived at a sports stadium in spaces only separated by cardboard, while those in Hualien had been provided with tents guaranteeing a higher level of privacy, she said.

Quake-Hit Districts on Noto Peninsula Consider Relocating; Residents Seek Areas Less Likely to Be Cut off Amid Disasters

At least four districts of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, a city hard hit by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, are considering the collective relocation of their residents, it has been learned.

These are the first such plans to be unveiled in areas affected by the Jan. 1 earthquake. All the four districts, which contain a total of 257 households, are aging and depopulated, and most of them are located in mountainous areas.

Severed roads temporarily isolated these districts after the quake. Many residents are hoping to relocate to places with a lower risk of isolation in case of natural disasters, and the Wajima municipal government plans to help them realize their plans. Other locations may follow suit now that these relocation plans have come to light.

Residents in up to 24 districts of four municipalities in the Okunoto region of Ishikawa Prefecture were isolated after the quake. Of these districts, 14 were in Wajima.

The four districts that are planning to relocate include the Monzen-machi Urakami district with 266 residents in 143 households; the Besshodani-machi district with 77 residents in 41 households; and the Uchikoshi-machi district with 22 residents in 11 households. These three are located in mountainous areas.

The remaining district is Inabune-machi, which is situated along the sea with 119 residents in 62 households.

In Monzen-machi Urakami, where 26 communities are scattered across the district, residents hope to collectively relocate to an area around the Urakami community center near the national highway. Residents in Besshodani-machi are considering moving to an area along the national highway about four kilometers north of the district, while those in Uchikoshi-machi are planning to go to an area along a prefectural road about two kilometers southeast of the district.

All the relocation sites are relatively close to their current residences and have better access to the city center.

“Our district has many elderly people. There was a landslide recently and it would dangerous if we’re cut off again,” said Hitoshi Yachi, 66, the head of the Uchikoshi-machi district.

Each district will hold discussions among its residents to decide whether everyone will relocate or only some of them. In Monzen-machi Urakami and Besshodani-machi, nearly half of the residents hope to relocate to new sites.

The Wajima municipal government has a “compact city” initiative to consolidate certain administrative and other functions, and the collective relocation plans are in line with that initiative. “We want to support these districts so that their communities will not be disbanded,” Wajima Mayor Shigeru Sakaguchi told The Yomiuri Shimbun on Wednesday.

In Noto, a town in the Okunoto region that was affected by tsunami, the head of the Shiromaru district and other residents were to discuss collective relocation with town officials on Wednesday. Shiromaru has 192 residents in 95 households.

In the cities of Suzu and Anamizu, there are reportedly no concrete plans for collective relocation.

Among the existing frameworks for collectively relocating residents is the disaster mitigation collective relocation promotion project, under which the central government subsidizes three-fourths of the land acquisition and other related costs. According to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, about 12,500 households collectively relocated to new sites following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Similar relocations took place in Nagaoka and Ojiya, both in Niigata Prefecture, after the 2004 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake.

6 Months Later, Noto Earthquake Victims Mourned

Residents of areas affected by the Jan. 1 Noto Peninsula earthquake in central Japan offered prayers for the victims on Monday, which marked half a year since the disaster.

At the Ishikawa prefectural government office in Kanazawa, the capital of the quake-hit prefecture, Governor Hiroshi Hase and prefectural government staff offered a moment of silence for the victims.

"The state of emergency for the quake has not been lifted yet," the governor told the staff. "Let's go forward bearing in mind the feelings of those who died regretful deaths."

The death toll of the magnitude-7.6 earthquake, including those who died due to causes indirectly related to the disaster, has reached 281.

Kyoko Kinoshita, a 62-year-old local resident, laid flowers and prayed for the victims near the Asaichi-dori morning market area in the Ishikawa city of Wajima, where damaged houses still remain in the aftermath of a massive fire triggered by the quake. She said she will never forget a classmate from high school who died in the disaster.

Visit to Ishikawa Prefecture to Confirm the Extent of the Damage Caused by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake

On July 1, 2024, Prime Minister Kishida visited Ishikawa Prefecture to confirm the extent of the damage caused by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

Prime Minister Kishida attended a launching ceremony of the Noto Creative Reconstruction Task Force in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture. The Prime Minister then observed the reconstruction of seawalls and the damage to hotels and inns in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

At the end of the visit, the Prime Minister spoke to the press regarding his visit.

Noto area still struggling with aftermath of New Year's quake

Six months since the New Year's Day quake struck the Noto Peninsula area of Ishikawa Prefecture, locals are continuing to struggle with the aftermath of the magnitude 7.6 temblor.

The quake, which left 281 people dead, also damaged 83,980 houses and forced up to 34,000 people to evacuate from their homes.

The number of evacuees dropped to 2,288 as of Thursday, and shelters are gradually shrinking. Water outages have been resolved except for about 1,500 houses in mountainous areas where there is a risk of landslides.

Construction of temporary housing has progressed, and about 17,000 people have moved in makeshift houses, including existing apartments rented by local governments. By the end of August, the Ishikawa Prefectural Government aims to complete about 6,800 houses that municipalities have applied for.

The demolition of collapsed houses at public expense, meanwhile, has not progressed. More than 18,000 of about 20,000 houses for which applications were accepted have not yet been dismantled.

The population outflow was serious in the prefecture, especially among younger generations. In four municipalities in the Okunoto region that were hit hard by the quake, the population fell by 2,600 in the four months since the quake, three times the number over the same period last year.

In the Okunoto region, elderly people accounted for as high as about 50% of the total population as of April, meaning that local governments have to step up efforts to prevent their isolated deaths.

The prefectural government and municipalities will use about ¥54 billion in reconstruction funds created with state tax grants to provide support for people affected by the quake.

Moment of silence marks 6 months since Noto quake

Locals held a moment of silence to mark 6 months since the Noto Peninsula earthquake as government funded demolition and cleanup operations of the area continue.

A moment of silence was observed on Asaichi Street in Wajima at 4:10PM, the time at which the shindo 7 or magnitude 7.6 New Year’s Day quake struck the peninsula and caused a large fire to break out.

Well wishes were decorated at stations along the Noto Railway, which fully resumed operation in April.

I feel that many people are looking after us.

People at each evacuation site were also seen praying.

Officials reported 299 deaths in the Noto Peninsula earthquake, including all those in the process of being recognized as a disaster related death.

2,086 people remain in evacuation sites as of July 1.

New recovery task force sent to Noto, 6 months after earthquake

Six months after the devastating Noto Peninsula earthquake, the government on July 1 deployed a new reconstruction task force to the stricken area for long-term operations.

The team, consisting of 150 officials from various government agencies, aims to accelerate cross-ministerial efforts while demonstrating the Kishida administration’s commitment to Noto’s recovery.

“The government will tackle problems through a unified effort to rebuild to meet the needs of the affected municipalities,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a meeting here to kickstart the task force.

He also unveiled a new subsidy program to promote tourism in the region, with up to 70 percent of travel expenses covered by the government. He added that details of the initiative will be announced later.

One goal of the task force is to streamline reconstruction efforts and enhance efficiency.

“Disaster recovery efforts are often fragmented and lack coordination between government agencies,” said an official from the prime minister’s office. “For example, just removing debris blocking part of a road can involve officials from multiple government offices. The task force aims to integrate these efforts.”

Due to the Noto Peninsula’s remote location and rugged geographical features, the New Year’s Day earthquake left officials struggling to get a thorough picture of the damage, causing delays in lifeline recoveries, according to a government report released last month.

Drawing on lessons learned from this and other reports, the task force will focus on rebuilding communities with enhanced disaster resilience.

Sources close to the prime minister said the renewed focus on Noto’s recovery may help strengthen Kishida’s position ahead of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election in September.

The sources said it is unusual for a government to heighten, rather than scale back, recovery efforts after the initial response in the first six months subsides.

Survey Finds Japan’s Noto Earthquake Survivors Less Optimistic; 30％ Think It May Take Over 10 years If Ever to Return to Pre-Quake Lives

More than 30% of Noto Peninsula Earthquake survivors either think it would take more than 10 years to return to their pre-quake lives, or would never happen, according to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey.

The percentage to the question, which asked how long they think it would take to return to a pre-quake life, increased by about 1.5 times compared to a previous survey conducted between Jan. 23-26 — about a month after the quake — showing a situation where many quake survivors have little hope about rebuilding their lives.

The recent survey was conducted on the same people who responded to the January survey, which was conducted on 133 people affected by the disaster in Ishikawa Prefecture. Ninety-six people responded to the recent survey, which was conducted between June 6-11 by phone or in person.

In the June survey, 10 people said it would take more than 10 years to return to their pre-disaster life, and 21 people said they did not think they could resume their lives. Eleven people had said in the January survey that it would take over 10 years, while only 10 people had said it would never get back to their pre-disaster life. The amount of respondents who gave the latter response was almost double from the January survey.

Behind such perspectives is slow progress on the demolition of damaged houses — a prerequisite for rebuilding their lives. The Ishikawa prefectural government expects to demolish about 22,000 houses by the end of October 2025. As of the end of June, however, only 1,076 houses were demolished, including those demolished at the owners’ own expense.

Many of the respondents gave comments for swift demolition using public funding, with a thirty-something year old Nanao woman saying, “We can live in temporary housing for no more than two years, but it takes time to rebuild a house.”

The slow restoration of infrastructure that supports respondents’ livelihood also has frustrated them. “I can’t work unless I can use the port,” a man in his 70s from Wajima said, while a man in his 50s in Shika said, “The roads have not been restored, so it takes time to commute.”

As for assistance expected from local governments, 41 people called for housing reconstruction costs, while 23 people responded with living expenses.

Digital artwork sale raises funds for summer festival in quake-hit Noto

Digital artworks are being sold to help organize a summer festival in a town on the Noto Peninsula, six months after it was hit by a powerful earthquake on New Year's Day.

The community festival, known as "Abare Matsuri," has been held every summer for several centuries in the Ushitsu district in the town of Noto.

The two-day event is scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday. A local construction company that has built floats for the festival for many years suffered damage in the earthquake.

All Nippon Airways set up the fund-raising campaign in cooperation with the calligraphy club at Noto High School. The airline operates regular flights between Noto and Tokyo.

A number of works of calligraphy featuring the kanji for "hope" and "reconstruction" are being sold in digital formats. Their authenticity is backed by digital certificates known as NFTs, or non-fungible tokens.

Each of the works is being offered for 5,000 yen, or around 31 dollars. Sales are expected to continue until November 30, and the proceeds will also be used to help the town's reconstruction.

Officials at All Nippon Airways say they will be happy if the campaign can help the town to continue holding the community festival despite the natural disaster.

Demolition work not progressing 6 months after Noto earthquake

Public-funded demolition work has fallen behind schedule, roads are still blocked by debris and water supplies remain cut off as of July 1, the sixth-month anniversary of the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

An increasing number of quake victims are moving from evacuation centers to temporary housing, taking their first steps toward rebuilding their lives.

But work to restore their lives has been hampered by the sluggish pace of repairing infrastructure.

According to the Ishikawa prefectural government, the death toll from the Jan. 1 quake had risen to 281, including 52 “disaster-related deaths,” as of June 27.

The figure was the third highest for earthquake disasters since the end of the Showa Era (1926-1989), following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami and the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.

The number of victims in Ishikawa Prefecture is expected to rise. Eighteen people who died after the immediate damage caused by the quake are expected to be confirmed as disaster-related deaths.

And at least 133 bereaved families have requested reviews for disaster-related deaths.

The number of injured people in the quake was 1,207, and three people remain unaccounted for.

The number of houses destroyed was 8,053, while 16,746 were seriously damaged.

Of the 20,900 or so applications for demolition work at public expense, only 4 percent had been completed. In some disaster-stricken areas, the scene remains largely unchanged from immediately after the quake.

A total of 4,943 temporary housing units had been completed in nine municipalities, or about 70 percent of the number needed, and 3,951 households had moved in.

Local governments in three prefectures of the Hokuriku region are also renting private housing to quake victims.

About 3, 800 households are currently living in these temporary homes, mainly in Kanazawa and other southern areas of Ishikawa Prefecture, as well as in Niigata Prefecture.

Municipal governments have held meetings to exchange opinions with residents to develop reconstruction plans, and preparations for the work have begun.

However, between January and May, 4,193 people had moved out of six cities and towns, such as hard-hit Wajima and Suzu. The figure accounted 3 percent of the population of 120,000 as of New Year’s Day.

The quake damage was not limited to Ishikawa Prefecture.

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the internal affairs ministry, 50 people were injured, 106 houses were destroyed and 3,766 houses were severely damaged in Niigata Prefecture as of June 25.

In Toyama Prefecture, 51 people were injured, 249 houses were destroyed and 772 were severely damaged.

Kiriko Lantern Festival Kicks Off in Noto, Ishikawa Pref.; Parade Helps Boost Enthusiasm for Post-Earthquake Reconstruction

The two-day traditional Abare Festival kicked off Saturday in the town of Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture, which was severely damaged by this year’s Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

About 30 giant kiriko lantern floats paraded through the Ushitsu district, which still bears the scars of the Jan. 1 disaster. In the evening, the six-meter-tall floats gathered in a square near the town’s harbor, where torches were raised up to light their lanterns. The participants’ heroic chants echoed in the air, boosting enthusiasm for rebuilding the quake-hit area.

With many residents having evacuated the district, four of its 36 community associations gave up on taking part in the traditional festival due to a lack of float carriers. Some other municipalities in the prefecture had to cancel or scale back their kiriko processions scheduled for this summer.

NTT West Hokuriku explains the status of communication restoration after the Noto Peninsula earthquake

On June 25, NTT West Hokuriku explained the status of communication restoration and reconstruction after the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

To restore communications, the company responded with a team of up to about 950 people per day, including NTT West Japan Group, NTT Group, and communications construction companies. At the beginning of the disaster, up to about 8,000 fixed-line telephone lines and up to about 1,500 FLET’S Hikari lines were affected. Currently, these effects have been almost resolved, but in some areas of Wajima City, about 180 fixed-line telephone lines and about 50 FLET’S Hikari lines are still affected.

Immediately after the disaster, the communications building was not supplied with power, and the building experienced a power outage. To deal with the power outage, batteries were supplied, but there was a risk of the power running out due to the long-term outage, so mobile power supply vehicles were gathered from each prefecture in western Japan to respond. At the time, road conditions were poor, and it took three times longer than usual to travel from Kanazawa City to the site.

Currently, all of the telecommunications buildings have been restored, except for one building in an area that is difficult to access.

Many of the optical cables connecting the telecommunications buildings were cut due to landslides and road collapses, which had a major impact on telecommunications services. In response to these issues, cables that could be restored along the same route were repaired or partially replaced. Other than that, cables were restored along new detour routes. For example, cables were restored along a detour route near Nakaya Tunnel in Wajima City.

The on-site work had to be carried out amid aftershocks and falling snow, which made for very tough conditions. As mentioned above, the bad roads meant that travel times were three times longer than usual. Initially, it took about six hours one way to get to the site from Kanazawa City, and another six hours one way back to Kanazawa City. As a result, on-site work could only be done for about three hours. Therefore, efforts were made to free up as much work time as possible by setting up a frontline base in vacant space in the on-site telecommunications building and borrowing the gymnasium of Noto High School.

Using their frontline bases, they grasped the full extent of the damage and responded to reports of malfunctions from residents.

During the Noto Peninsula earthquake, ICT/digital technology was used in various ways, such as helping victims rebuild their lives, preventing disaster-related deaths, and contributing to reducing the workload of local government employees.

The Disaster Victims’ Life Reconstruction Support System introduced by NTT West Japan in Ishikawa Prefecture digitizes procedures related to the issuance of disaster certificates, which are necessary for the payment of donations and condolence money, claims for loans and insurance, and moving into temporary housing. During the Noto Peninsula earthquake, various procedures were carried out in a single go, shortening the process from several months to about one month. In mountainous and coastal areas of Suzu City, where access is difficult, drones and 360-degree cameras were used to survey damaged houses.

In addition, Keiju General Hospital in Nanao City has been integrating business applications using iPhones since last year. NTT West Japan built the system and has significantly improved the way work is done. As a result, medical services continued uninterrupted even after the Noto Peninsula earthquake, and the system was praised as the “Noto Miracle.” Zero-trust’s robust security infrastructure enabled remote access for medical institutions, and doctors in Kanazawa at the time of the disaster were able to continue providing medical services by remotely accessing electronic medical records on their iPhones.

NTT West Hokuriku Branch Manager Kayoko Kosugi reflected, “The Noto Peninsula earthquake was unique in that it was extremely difficult to access and had a large impact from snowfall. We worked hard to create a safe environment where we could prioritize recovery”.

She added, “I believe that the Noto Peninsula’s reconstruction will become a model for other regions in the use of ICT and digital technology. We will do everything in our power to fulfill our mission as a telecommunications company”.

Candlelight vigil in Wajima uses memorial flame from Kobe quake

Around 400 paper lanterns flickered to life in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, marking six months since the Noto Peninsula earthquake upended the region.

“At this memorial, it is my hope we can express our sincerest condolences to the victims, and we survivors can reaffirm what it means to live for tomorrow,” said Yusuke Yamashita, 38, head of a local revitalization committee that organized the July 1 vigil.

Some lanterns bore messages to the deceased, illuminating a backdrop of still-occupied temporary housing units.

The flame used to light the lanterns is also historically significant. It was shared from the ever-burning “1.17 light of hope,” a tribute to the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.

The Kobe-based nonprofit that brought and maintains the flame is dedicated to passing down stories from the disaster.

Ishikawa Prefecture’s death toll has reached 281, and 25,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in the New Year’s Day quake.

About 5,000, or 70 percent, of the temporary housing units needed are completed.

Local authorities continue to face various issues, such as delays in demolishing buildings and restoring the water supply.

‘Mini-Kasumigaseki’ Task Force in Full Operation for Quake Reconstruction in Noto; Task Force Inspired by Success of ‘K9’ for Kumamoto Quake Recovery Efforts

A government task force in charge of reconstruction efforts following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake has been in full operation to speed up reconstruction in disaster-hit areas by responding quickly to issues such as the demolition of houses at public expense.

Monday marks one week since the launch of the Noto Creative Reconstruction Task Force, which consists of about 150 people and is headed by a vice minister-level official. The task force is stationed in the disaster-struck areas as a “mini-Kasumigaseki.” Kasumigaseki is Tokyo’s bureaucratic nerve center.

“The aim [of the task force] is to bring together officials from the national, prefectural, and municipal governments to share information on the progress of each project and work to resolve issues,” said Yoshifumi Matsumura, minister of state for disaster management, at a press conference on Friday.

The task force was established based on the experience of the “K9,” a group of nine senior officials at the director-general and deputy director-general levels from various government ministries who responded to the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes by going to the disaster-hit areas. At that time, the nine officials and senior officials of the Kumamoto prefectural government held almost daily meetings known as “K9” at the Kumamoto prefectural government’s disaster response headquarters. K9 was named after the initial of Kumamoto.

The series of meetings led to swift decision-making and cross-ministry support. A Cabinet Office report praised this system as something that “can be a model for future disaster response.”

The establishment of the task force is said to have been the brainchild of Takashi Shimada, an executive secretary to the prime minister who led the K9 as deputy vice minister at the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, and others, with the aim of demonstrating the Prime Minister’s Office’s leadership in the recovery effort. The task force consists of a total of about 150 officials dispatched from the Cabinet Office and six ministries, including the Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism Ministry and Environment Ministry, as well as the local offices of these government agencies and officials from six municipalities in the Noto and Ishikawa prefectural governments.

Kazuhisa Nagahashi, director general for recovery and reconstruction support at the Cabinet Secretariat, was appointed as the chairperson. The staff members are based in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, and other locations and are staying in hotels and other facilities while working in the quake-hit areas.

The government’s on-site extraordinary disaster management headquarters has been involved in reconstruction efforts following the Jan. 1 Noto Peninsula Earthquake with a maximum of 300 personnel, but restoration and recovery efforts have been slow due to the disruption of road networks and other problems. In addition to publicly funded demolition of houses, restoration of water supply and liquefaction countermeasures, there are also other issues that need to be addressed such as measures to support tourism after reconstruction is completed.

“We will resolve reconstruction issues while listening to the requests from cities and towns [in the disaster-hit areas],” Nagahashi told The Yomiuri Shimbun.

Crowdfunding boosts post-quake rebuilding efforts in Noto

In the wake of the Noto Peninsula earthquake, funds raised via crowdfunding — the soliciting of contributions from individuals online — are helping earthquake victims take their first steps toward rebuilding.

Among them is Takazawa Candle in the city of Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture. The earthquake caused the roof of its storefront to collapse.

It was a dire situation for the store, which has a 130-year history and is registered as a national tangible cultural property. Hisashi Takazawa, its fifth-generation owner, decided to restore the building via crowdfunding, through which he raised approximately ¥12 million ($74,750).

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Wajima Morning Market Returns Home After 6 Months; to Be Held Daily for Time Being

The Wajima Morning Market, whose grounds in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, suffered a massive fire in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, returned Wednesday to the city for the first time since the Jan. 1 quake.

Visitors flocked to the commercial facility where the market was being held, and where sellers’ cries echoed throughout the venue.

When the fire hit the market’s old venue along the city’s Asaichi-dori avenue, many members of the market’s cooperative had to evacuate outside the city. Some members formed the so-called Wajima Asaichi Caravan, traveling nationwide to hold the market at 14 locations since March. From June, about half the members returned to Wajima, preparing to hold the market in the city.

On Wednesday, the market was held at Wai Plaza Wajima, about one kilometer south of Asaichi-dori. Sixteen stalls capped with the market’s signature orange were arranged in a U-shape. While there were about 100 vendors before the earthquake, only about 40 were at the day’s market. Customers began streaming in at 9 a.m. to chat with the sellers for the first time in six months.

An 80-year-old vendor said she has been visiting temporary housing every Saturday for door-to-door sales.

“The morning market really has got to be held in Wajima,” she said. “I can’t wait to return to Asaichi-dori, where I was selling rain or shine.”

According to the cooperative, the market is being held every day for the time being.

Japan's historic Kuroshima district works to rebuild after Noto quake

Japan's Noto Peninsula was a vital economic hub centuries ago. Residents of the Kuroshima district are now drawing upon its rich history and legacy of resilience as they try to rebuild from the massive earthquake that struck on New Year's Day.

Six months after the disaster, NEWSROOM TOKYO anchor Yoshioka Takuma visited Wajima City's Kuroshima in central Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture.

Kuroshima is a nationally designated historic township located on the northwest side of the peninsula, which juts out into the Sea of Japan. It flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it was home to many owners of merchant ships, known as "kitamae-bune," and the sailors who worked on them.

Japan's land transportation was not yet developed, so its economy depended on vessels that could transport large amounts of goods.

The kitamae-bune traveled between the commercial city of Osaka and northern Hokkaido through the Inland Seto Sea and the Sea of Japan, bringing a variety of goods including food, clothes, and other daily necessities. During the round trip, they traded the goods at ports along the way. It was a lucrative business, despite the constant risk of shipwreck.

Present-day Kuroshima residents have faced numerous hardships. The quake raised the seabed about four meters so the coast now lies about 200 meters further offshore. This put the local fishing port out of action.

Takashima Naganori used to frequently go out fishing but has now lost his access to the ocean. The longtime Kuroshima resident's home was among the 40 percent of the district's buildings damaged by the quake. He now lives in a temporary shelter.

Three quarters of Kuroshima residents, including Takashima, are over 65 years old and face the daunting task of restoring their lives and their community.

"I need to rebuild my house, but I can't because of the cost," Takashima says.

Kuroshima's official status as an "Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings" has its roots in another disaster recovery effort after a major quake struck the area in 2007.

The district's residents sought the designation back then as they worked to preserve the historical townscape. Several wealthy kitamae-bune shipowners had been based in Kuroshima, including the Kadomi family, which owned seven ships and a storehouse full of treasures including furniture, artwork and kimono.

The former Kadomi residence was damaged in the 2007 quake, and then reconstructed and reopened to the public. But this year's even stronger earthquake completely destroyed it.

Despite the severe damage inflicted by the latest quake, Kuroshima retains many of its unique structures, as well as natives who can tell the story of each building.

Kurosawa Takuo admired Kuroshima's townscape so much that he moved to the district from Tokyo five years ago. He believes residents like himself have an "obligation" to preserve its assets for future generations.

"I want to create rental villas, art facilities and a place for artisans to showcase their skills," he says.

Kurosawa renovated an old wooden home and runs it as a guest house, which survived the quake intact. He added new elements such as art work and a "listening room" inside its earthen-walled storehouse, where guests can relax and listen to music on a high-quality audio set.

His strategy to revive Kuroshima is to focus on the goal he set even before the latest disaster: appealing to visitors not just from other parts of Japan, but from overseas as well.

"If we can retain the charms of the area while adding something new, then we have real potential to attract people from elsewhere," he says.

Kurosawa has been attending district meetings to discuss rebuilding. Longtime residents like Takashima say they appreciate his ideas and his enthusiasm.

"With the help of people like Kurosawa who have moved here, we can find a way forward together," Takashima says. "Even if things don't return exactly to the way they were before, I hope they can at least be close to it."

The kitamae-bune sailors overcame dangers at sea to seek opportunities far beyond the bounds of their community. A similar spirit is driving Kuroshima's modern-day residents as they work to rebuild and attract visitors from across the world.

Japan's 'Ama' divers return to waters hit by New Year's quake

Female free divers are gathering seafood again in central Japan after the New Year's Day earthquake had forced them to halt.

On Friday, 130 so-called Ama who work without scuba equipment set off for coastal harvesting areas off Wajima City. Dredging work has made it possible for dive boats to use the city's port, which had been disabled from rises in the sea floor caused by the earthquake.

The Ama divers were able to gather baskets full of a type of seaweed called mozuku. Their cooperative said seaweed is easier to manage than harvested shellfish, which require water tanks and refrigerators that were damaged by the quake.

The group said it would consider resuming hauls of abalone and other shellfish, while monitoring the conditions in the sea.

An Ama named Kadoki Natsuki said the underwater landscape has changed, and that mozuku seaweed was scarce. But she said she was pleased that she could finally dive again.

Cat Still Waiting for Owner Who Was Killed in Noto Earthquake; Daughter Tries to Win Cat’s Trust

Six months after the major earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula, one calico cat still won’t leave its damaged home. Named Mei, she lived in the house with her owner, who was killed in the quake, for about 10 years.

The owner’s eldest daughter, Hideko Takabayashi, a 66-year-old part-time worker from Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, drives to the house every day to feed the cat. She keeps hoping that the cat will open up to her.

“Come here and eat the food,” Takabayashi called out to Mei in mid June after arriving at her mother’s house, about 20 minutes away by car from her own home. There was a quiet meow, and then the cat appeared from the gap in a gutter. When Takabayashi offered food on a paper plate, Mei dug into it.

Takabayashi visited her mother, Kazue Ueno, then 86, on New Year’s Day. “Come back tomorrow with your husband,” her mother told her. Then after Takabayashi left, the earthquake struck. Her mother’s house was declared “totally destroyed,” though it has just barely managed to stay standing. Kazue was killed by a nearby building that collapsed on her while she was evacuating.

Kazue loved cats and dogs. After her husband died, an acquaintance gave her Mei, and she took good care of the cat. “Even if I don’t eat, I have to make sure Mei gets enough to eat,” she would say. Mei would stick close to Kazue wherever she went, whether she was going to the fields or out to do some weeding. At night, the cat would curl up to Kazue and sleep with her.

After the earthquake, Takabayashi found it difficult to visit her mother’s home. And when she passed where her mother was killed, it wrung her heart. But about a month and a half after the disaster, an acquaintance said: “I’ve seen Mei.” Worried about whether the cat was eating properly, she made up her mind and went to look for her.

Mei was extremely shy at first and kept hidden. It was the end of March that Takabayashi finally managed to see the cat. After she called out to Mei several times, the cat appeared from the rubble. She seemed hungry and ate all the food Takabayashi had brought. Though Mei soon slipped away, Takabayashi was happy to see her. “My mother must have left the cat for me,” Takabayashi thought to herself.

Mei would eat the food Takabayashi brought, but as soon as she was done, she would leave right away. Takabayashi said it seems as if the cat is waiting for her mother, not her. She feels like the cat is asking her, “Where is the grandma who has been taking care of me?” But Mei has begun to ask for seconds and sometimes lies down on her back. When Takabayashi tries to touch Mei, she stiffens and hisses or runs away, but Takabayashi hopes to bring Mei back home with her one day.

On July 1, Kazue’s birthday, Takabayashi offered flowers in front of her mother’s photo. Then she sat down and spoke to her mother. “Mei won’t take a liking to me. Please tell her to trust me, Mom,” she said.

Church Responds to Japan Earthquake With Donations and Service

Six months after an earthquake devastated Japan’s Noto Peninsula on January 1, 2024, many damaged shrines and temples are being repaired.

To assist in historical preservation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated funds to help with demolition and repair costs of sacred religious shrines and temples.

Assistance for Demolition and Repair Costs of Collapsed Buildings

Because there are safety concerns about secondary disasters at dangerous sites, like tilting buildings, demolition and repair work is outsourced to specialized contractors rather than volunteers. The Church aids with the demolition and repair costs of such buildings.

By the end of June 2024, two shrines received financial support: Mishima Kintohira Shrine (Mishima Town) and Nishinomiya Shrine (Tomioka Town).

Four Buddhist temples are also supported: Nichiren Buddhist Temple, the Kuonzan Chojuji Temple (Kojima Town), Jodo Shinshu Otani Shoganji Temple (Noto Island), and Jodo Shinshu Honganji Sect Phoenix Mountain Kokenji Temple (Noto Island).

The Sect Phoenix Mountain Kokenji Temple will be the next sacred building to receive assistance.

Financial support has been provided to repair the roof of the main hall of the Kokenji Temple and reconstruction on the Shoganji Temple.

The Mishima Kintohira Shrine was on the verge of collapse because of the earthquake. Known for its huge tengu surfaces on the left and right sides of the main shrine, it was a source of faith and vitality for many residents.

Although the severely damaged shrine required demolition, many historically valuable documents and materials that are local treasures for Nanao City and the Mishima Town Council were rescued. The residents of Mishima wanted to rebuild, but the cost of demolition was an obstacle. The Church aided financially to assist with demolition costs.

Debris Removal Work Support by Helping Hands

On June 15, a large-scale Helping Hands activity was held at Jodo Sosainenji Temple (Kojima Town) for the Kanazawa and Kanagawa stakes (a group of congregations) to clear rubble.

The historical significance of the Sainenji Temple is embedded in the hearts of the people in Japan. The temple is one of the 29 that Maeda Toshiie, the first lord of the Kaga Domain. It is one of the 16 temples that remain today. (The Chojuji Temple is another.)

The roof of the temple collapsed because of the earthquake. Since the interior is exposed to the elements, there were concerns that mold would grow and worsen the situation when the rainy season began. Since it was difficult for on-site work vehicles to enter, many volunteers were needed to remove the vast amounts of waste by hand.

During the service project held on June 15, 2024, more than nine truckloads of rubble were removed. The work was meticulously carried out to salvage and preserve roof tiles and other historical artifacts for future generations. The Church donated a truck to assist clean-up efforts.

At Sainenji, the Kanazawa Stake’s Helping Hands volunteers participated in the debris disposal held on June 29. Helping Hands joined with the volunteer group Sweat Together and volunteer groups of Jodo Buddhists who came from Tokyo and joined the relief efforts.

“It seems that this group is taking care of the poor, and they were talking about each other’s charitable activities while working on their charitable activities,” said Mitsuru Takase, who participated in the event.

Various interfaith and community volunteers worked together in a friendly, respectful atmosphere. 　　

Many shrines and temples, including Sainenji, are still in a tremendous and difficult situation, and urgent emergency response and support are required. It will take time for professional contractors to complete reconstruction with the help of volunteers and financial aid of organizations like the Church of Jesus Christ.

Church helps rebuild damages from Japan earthquake

Tokyo Teenager Posts Photos of Noto before Quake | Nippon.com
Tokyo Teenager Posts Photos of Noto before Quake

Tokyo high school student Aoi, 17, posts on social media photographs of the Noto Peninsula she took before it was hit by the 7.6-magnitude earthquake Jan. 1.

"I want people to know also about the beautiful Noto before the disaster," says the third-year student, who took the photos while studying there on a short-term program.

Her photos capture the rich nature of the central Japan peninsula in the four seasons and the sea colored by the sunset.

"Noto is like a hometown for me. I want to remain involved" with Noto, Aoi said.

When she was a first-year student in Tokyo, many school events were scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeling stuck in her monotonous days of study, she craved to try something new.