New Life Peeking Through, Tohoku Coast

In September 2011, I visited the disaster hit towns along the cost of northeastern Japan.  While the sense of destruction and loss was still prevalent, I was able to discover small signs of people and nature starting to reclaim their land and space.

I survived the Great East Japan Earthquake  while at home in Tokyo on a job interview, and then returned to MIT to finish my graduate degree in City Planning.   It turned out to be a year of disasters for me.

Shizugawa sea wall

志津川中学からの景色 | View of downtown Shizugawa from Shizugawa Jr High

Signs of the effort to make the temporary housing feel more like home. Near Shizugawa Middle School.

Objects

New structures are emerging, most likely with temporary structure permits. This one is near the Bayside Arena.

Basketball star of Utatsu Middle School

Utatsu Ohashi (Route 45)

Fish are seen inside Fumi-san’s house due to severe inundation

気仙沼 | Kessennuma, Miyagi Prefecture

Mini tomato at Rikuzentakata station

大槌 | Otsuchi

大槌 | Otsuchi

Photos by Shoko Takemoto. The full set of photos is available here.