11
Mar 2023

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Twelve Years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: the baton of support continues to be passed on

March 11, 2023, marks 12 years since the triple disaster which hit Japan in 2011. The total number of deaths reached 22,212, including those who died as a direct result of the disaster, those whose whereabouts are still unknown, and other “disaster-related deaths,” such as those who passed away while living in evacuation shelters. We pray for the souls of the victims and offer our heartfelt condolences to their families. March 11, 2011. We visited the city of Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture, where the winter cold was still severe, to begin disaster-related support activities. Local community members taught us a great deal about the immediate aftermath of the disaster. […]

11
Mar 2022

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11 Years Since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: Communicating and Listening

11 Years Since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami On this day we remember those whose lives were lost, and consider the journey taken by the people of the Tohoku region since the disaster. It is very difficult to find words to write on such a day. This is because we are here today upon the accumulation of the many days since the disaster, and will continue again tomorrow and beyond. We feel like we are reminded by long-term partners in the city of Ishinomaki not to just take “311” as this one particular day. The Minamihama and Kadonowaki areas of Ishinomaki, which were hit hardest numerous times by […]

19
Mar 2021

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Emergency Relief for 2021 Fukushima Prefecture Offshore Earthquake

Following the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck offshore east of the Tohoku region on February 13, 2021, Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) dispatched an emergency assistance team to the affected areas. The earthquake caused damage to more than 20,000 houses (as of Feb. 22, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency), mainly in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures. The accurate total number of houses damaged is still unknown and many people in the area are still living in damaged houses. In response to a request from the Yamamoto-cho Social Welfare Council (Miyagi Prefecture), PBV started relief activities by experienced staff on March 8 to put up tarpaulins on damaged roofs. […]

12
Mar 2021

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Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

March 11, 2021 marks ten years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) and Peace Boat offer our prayers to those who lost their lives in the disaster. We would also like to express our sympathy to the bereaved families and to all those who are still in challenging situations. Ten years ago, immediately after the earthquake, Peace Boat entered Ishinomaki and Onagawa in Miyagi Prefecture and worked with many volunteers from Japan and abroad for the coming months and years. Although we went to the affected areas to help, we were greatly encouraged and heartened by the local people who accepted us. Videographer […]

11
Mar 2020

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With each day that has passed: Nine years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

March 11, 2020. Nine years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. We express our deepest condolences to those whose lives were lost, and to the bereaved families. The whereabouts of 2,529 people remains unknown even today, and there are 47,737 people still living in evacuation. Each and every person has a life which cannot be expressed in numbers, and each of the 3,288 days which has passed cannot be expressed just by the 9th anniversary. Since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) has worked together with many volunteers, in several disaster affected areas. An elderly man standing at a loss in front […]

18
Apr 2018

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Messages from Citizens of Ishinomaki, 7 Years after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

It has been 7 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Ishinomaki, a city in Miyagi Prefecture, one of the affected areas, has changed a lot in the time since the disaster. Rather than happening suddenly, the changes have gradually accumulated during the 2555 days of these 7 years, making the city become as it is today. Here, we interviewe three citizens of Ishinomaki, who have both witnessed and devoted themselves to these changes. We greatly appreciate their cooperation. Meanwhile, we hope this interview can help readers understand more about Ishinomaki, and think about what individuals can do for the city today.   Ms Abe Kiyoko Owner, Restaurant […]