Recovery Support Tours

Trips entitled “Recovery Support Tour” from big travel companies are set to visit Ofunato, one after the other, as of this month. The first tour is scheduled until the 3^rd, and goes to the Sakari Station on the Sanriku Railroad. It wins popularity, not only for the donko-soup sightseers are treated to aboard a stationary train, but also for the souvenirs sold in the station’s waiting room.

This time’s tour was put together by Club Tourism in Tokyo, with the cooperation of Mosaba Rohas Club. The tour is entitled “Hang in there, Tohoku! Recovery Support Tour”, and after departing metropolitan areas, the tour headed to Ofunato from Iwaizumi, and down to Sanriku for 2 nights, 3 days.

According to the city of Ofunato, the tour consisted of 33 tourists from Chiba, and 24 from Yokohama. On the last day of the tour, the party of tourists stopped by Sakari Station and gathered aboard a stationary train where they were treated to donko-soup. The dish is very familiar to Kesen, and Vice-Chairman Mitsue Kumagai of Mosaba Rohas Club explains the fishing method and the unique swollen shape they are given after extracting the guts from the mouth of the fish. Many favorable reviews followed.

Kumagai also explains how after the heavy damages received by each of the coastal areas, fishermen were left without the fishing boats essential to their work. While expressing thanks for the all the support received up until now, and the “delight that tourists have come back so soon”, an exchange was cultivated.

Many tourists also make their way to and enjoy shopping at Santetsu Sakari Station’s Fureai Waiting Room, set up by NPO Yume Net Ofunato. There is much interest in the various items produced not only by local merchants but also by residents from the temporary housing units.

The Mosaba Rohas Club plans to treat groups to donko-soup every second day until the middle of this month. Kumagai also says that they are aiming to re-build the “Marugoto Taiken-kan” that was is Okirai during May. “I hope that we can develop an experience with the help of the fishermen who are back on their feet”.

The 3 Kesen Tourism-related groups that make up the Sanriku Kesen Tourism Council opened a “Tourism Fair” at Ginza’s Iwate Ginga Plaza in Tokyo, in January. They not only made direct sales to those who came to the fair, but also went around to the travel agencies in the metropolitan areas, and while proposing their “Recovery Tours to the Kesen Area” that includes routes that visit now world heritage Hiraizumi, promoted their group tours.

They say that interest and inquiries into their group tours to the area have increased. Even in Ofunato, subsidies towards the tours have begun and they are planning the attraction of tourists from a wide range of viewpoints.

（Tokai Shinpo　3/4/2012）

2 tonne truck of supplies arrive - Supplies reach the Filipino community of Ofunato and Rikuzen Takata

The Morioka-Manila Scholarship Association, who provides support for the education of children in Manila, has also been providing support for Filipino women and families living in Rikuzen Takata and Ofunato, where there was much damage from the tsunami.

These women, who decided to leave their home towns to come and live in Iwate, are kind and strong. 

On the 4th, 13 Filipino women from Morioka and the Morioka-Manila Scholarship Association, visited the Village Center in Takkon-cho, Ofunato, with clothing and other supplies. There, they met other Filipino women and families living in Ofunato and Rikuzen Takata, and Filipinos from Catholic churches involved in support activities. In the assembly room, they handed out a 2 tonne truck’s worth of supplies provided by Morioka’s Victim Support Team, SAVE IWATE,　which included clothing, blankets, diapers, and milk, etc.
The room was filled with Tagalog, English and Japanese, and within less than an hour, all the supplies had been handed out.

From Rikuzen Takata, Emily Suzuki (35), mother of 3 young girls, gathers diapers from the supplies while a member from the Morioka-Manila Scholarship Association watches her children. She shows a relieved expression as she says, “thanks, that helps a lot”.

A luncheon was held after the exchange, and after a few words of prayer from Father Gary Gestoveo, everybody enjoyed some home-style cooking.


A Strong Community

Marifé Sugawara (47), a leader of the Filipinos, lost her Yonesakicho home in the tsunami. Thankfully, her husband and two young sons were safe. For a while, her husband had to return to his old house, but three months ago, he returned and the four of them are now living in temporary housing.
The factory of the electronic component company he was working at was destroyed in the disaster, and he now works at the grilled chicken processing plant of the same company. It takes him more than 30mins by car from the temporary housing to the factory.
“And it costs a lot in gasoline. I wish I could work close to home”. Whilst he is grateful for the support, he reveals his concerns, saying, “it will be tough if we have to rebuild our home”.
According to Marifé, there are about 70 Filipinos in Ofunato and Rikuzen Takata. Of those, 15 from Rikuzen Takata and 4 from Ofunato lost their homes in the tsunami. Even for those who didn’t lose their homes, some have lost their jobs which has made living tough. Before the disaster, there were many Filipinos working at food or electronic parts factories, as well as working late nights at restaurants. Many of them have families with Japanese men and are raising children. The trial still continues, but the tsunami has passed and the Filipino community has become close knit and stronger. Marifé says that “the feeling of responsibility to protect my friends and family is what keeps me going”.
Loved like an older sister from all around her, Elva Sugawara (50) from Ofunato, who also says, “Seeing everyone’s smiling faces gives me the strength to try hard”. In January, her eldest daughter, Keiko, celebrated her coming of age. Elva, herself, challenged the Home Helper level 2 examination and passed. She says, “I want to study more and one day have a nursing job”.


Coverage from a Major Television Station

On this day, a Filipino major television station, GMA, is filming a documentary about the Filipinos. The producer says, “this area has suffered more damage than you could imagine, but you can feel the strength of the Filipino community to overcome these tough times. I hope that the message of hope will be conveyed through this documentary”.

The Morioka-Manila Scholarship Association helped with the job of confirming the whereabouts of Filipinos during the disaster, which then lead to them starting support activities. This is the sixth time they have helped with distributing supplies.
Secretary General, Yoshiko Ito (61), spoke about the Filipinos. “These women divided the supplies evenly, and they treat each other like neighbors. Just seeing that makes me feel good”.
Director, Toshiaki Takahashi (60), felt their power, saying, “it was actually them who gave us power”.


（Tokai Shinpo　2/11/2012）

Malnutrition in Temporary Housing - Possibly the Effect of Changing Living Environments

The city of Ofunato has summarized the results of their investigation into the eating habits and conditions of disaster victims living in temporary housing. The results clearly show a trend of deficiency in most nutrients, in particular calcium and vitamins. A trend in over consumption of salt was also apparent, and the change in living environments for victims of the disaster is suspected to be one of the causes. Effort is now going towards the guidance of nutrient-balanced diets.

After the disaster, apart from the 1700 temporary homes built in Ofunato, there are also more than 600 households living in apartments under a rent assistance scheme considered to be temporary housing. Amidst a big change in lifestyle from the disaster, an surey was carried out to grasp information for the support of promoting independence, securing desirable eating habits, and improving nutrition and eating habits.
The investigation received the cooperation of health centers in Ofunato and Oshu, and nutritionist associations of Oshu and Iwate. The investigation was carried out between August and November of last year.
The investigation surveyed a total of 600 participants, including 550 living in each of the city’s temporary housing facilities and 50 living under rent assistance. Nutritionists visited the homes of the investigation participants and asked them about their health condition, eating habits and their meals.
The nutritional condition was determined by examining the intake values of the valid answers taken from 575 participants.
The values were compared with the “2010 Japanese Dietary Reference Intakes” from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and categorized as either “deficient”, “normal” or “over consumption”.
After analysis, the results showed a trend of deficiency across the nutrients. A deficiency in minerals such as calcium and also in vitamins accounted for more than 80%. In contrast to the deficiency of vitamins and minerals, the consumption of salt was considered to be in excess, making an obvious dietary imbalance.
Each of the nutrients examined in this investigation were compared with the results of the Prefectural Lifestyle Survey conducted in 2009. From this it was understood that energy, protein, calcium and vitamin A were at the 80% mark.
In regards to what they were eating, many of the surveyed households were having several bread and rice ball based meals a day with no side dishes such as vegetables. 16.2% of victims said that they didn’t know what to do when they do the shopping because while part of them wants many varied ingredients, they are far from the shops.
Recently, there has been an increase in new stores opening in the area and mobile shops that visit the temporary housing facilities, but the city’s health care center fears that if this condition of poor nutrition continues it will lead to a state of deteriorated health. They say, “on the whole, the condition is not good, and it cannot be denied that the disaster has had some kind of effect”.
The city’s health care center plans to hold cooking lessons, from the 14th, for those living in temporary housing, starting with those in Massaki-cho. Due to the smaller preparation space in kitchens of temporary housing, the lessons will show ways to effectively cook balanced meals in small spaces.

[table] Ofunato City’s Temporary Housing Survey

Nutritional Condition (%)

Deficient Normal Over Consumption Energy 51.5 29.2 19.3 Protein 31 23 46.1 Fat 30.1 24 45.9

Deficient Normal Calcium 88.9 11.1 Vitamin A 87.3 12.7 Vitamin B1 87.8 12.2 Vitamin B2 81.6 18.4 Vitamin C 88 12

Over Consumption Normal Salt 67.1 32.9

（Tokai Shinpo　February 6, 2012）

More than 70% of the disaster victims aged 60 and over

Today (11th December) marks 9 months since the great eastern earthquake
that brought unprecendented damage.
In Ofunato and Rikuzen Takata the number of deceased and missing is over
2000. In Ofunato-shi, 76% of the disaster victims are elderly, aged 60
years and above, and particularly, it was discovered that there are a
large number of those in their 80s. In order of those with the most
elderly victims is Ofunato-cho, Sanriku-cho and Okirai. Amongst the
victims were not just those who were late to evacuate, but also a large
number of elderly who thought that they would be safe and chose not to
evacuate.

The number of deceased in Ofunato-shi lies at 339 (as of 10th Decemeber),
and there still remains 94 missing.
The Web News Online Network used the prefectoral police's public
register of identified victims to determine the total number of victims
according to age bracket, sex and town of residence.

In the age bracket division, the largest group was those in their 80s at
111 people (33%), followed by those in their 70s (76 people, 22%), and
lastly, those in their 60s (46 people, 13%). Altogether, those older
than 60 years of age represent 76% of all the victims. Of those younger
than 20 years of age, 8 people were lost in the disaster.
According to sex, there were 187 females and 152 males deceased.
The numbers of victims (including those still missing) by area of
residence is as follows: Ofunato-cho 145 people (42%), Sanriku-cho
Okirai 96 people (28%), Massaki-cho 61 people (18%), Akasaki-cho  60
people (18%), Sanriku-cho Ryouri 26 people (8%), Sakari-cho 17 people
(5%), Ikawa-cho 9 people, Takkon-cho 6 people and Sanriku-cho Yoshihama
1 person.
Of these, there were more than 50 bedridden and wheelchair-confined
elderly in a special aged nursing home who were swallowed by the tsunami
whilst trying to evacuate. There were also a large number of people in
Ofunato-cho who were lost in the tsunami after being stuck in traffic,
evacuating in their cars.

A man (aged 71) from Ofunato-cho Nonoda spoke about the large number of
elderly victims, saying, "many elderly thought that they would be OK and
didn't evacuate, after their past experience with the Chilean tsunami
which didn't flood their homes".
Then there were those victims who, despite reaching safe ground, went
back to retrieve Buddhist memorial tablets and valuables.
It is being pointed out that since the earthquake occured during the
hours that most people were at work, many elderly were left at home with
no means to evacuate. There were also a number of cases where even young
people fell victim to the tsunami whilst helping those in their
neighbourhood or going to meet family.

This disaster has left many lessons to be learnt. On one hand there is
the thorough need for each person to take care of themselves, yet this
disaster also brings into relief the need to rethink how we can help
those who cannot evacuate by themselves and how we can lead the elderly
to shelter.

(TABLE)
Number of Victims in Ofunato-shi by Age (no. people)
Male, Female, Total (%)
Aged 0-9, 2, 1, 3 (1%)
Aged 10-19, 3, 2, 5 (2%)
Aged 20-29, 2, 3, 5 (2%)
Aged 30-39, 10, 5, 15 (4%)
Aged 40-49, 9, 8, 17 (5%)
Aged 50-59, 23, 10, 33 (10%)
Aged 60-69, 23, 23, 46 (13%)
Aged 70-79, 34, 42, 76 (22%)
Aged 80-89, 39, 72, 111 (33%)
Aged 90+, 7, 21, 28 (8%)
Total, 152, 187, 339 (100%)


 （Tokai Shinpo　12/12/2011）

Construction of temporary shops finally begins in Ofunato and Rikuzen Takata

According to the Organisation for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation Japan (SME Supoort, Japan), work on temporary shops and factory maintenance for businesses that recieved damage in the earthquake started in Ofunato and Rikuzen Takata this week. Since the information session in April, many businesses have shown interest in the free assistance and are looking forward to construction. It is expected that construction in each area will be formalized soon, but even 5 and a half months since the earthquake many businesses have not been able to setup a business base, and many are demanding the speed up of maintenance.

The free loan system is a part of the support measures for the east Japan earthquake from SME Support, Japan. Factories on a construction area of 650m2, and two-story shops and offices on a construction area of
350m2 can be built on municipal holdings, or on land that the municipality can offer.

The shops, offices and factories can be used for up to a year, but after that, their management will be entrusted to the municipality. In Ofunato,  since April, the Ofunato Commerce and Industry has been putting together requests and coordinating sites and shops. From there, the city of Ofunato put forward an application to SME Support, Japan.

Misaki-cho was the first place for construction to begin, starting on the 23rd. Set up in Kobosoura, along the prefectural road, is a building with an overall floor space of 430m2. The building is a two-story building with a lightweight steel frame. It contains 12 blocks and is being used for shops and offices. Small shops that operated in the town before the disaster will move into the building.

At first, construction was scheduled to begin at the beginning of this month. But the city of Ofunato and those related to the construction work explain that they "needed time to adjust plans of the internal structure". They said it would take about two months, and that it was expected to be completed around late October. In Ofunato the application for 17 areas, including Misaki, and 158 businesses has been completed.
Construction in Ryori and Ofunato-cho is expected to begin soon, but SME Support has put a condition on the construction asking that debris and building foundations be removed from 7 areas, and that the waterworks in one area be repaired before construction begins.

The number of applications has reached more than 240 businesses, and the city of Ofunato continues site selection. Ofunato's Commerce and Tourism Department says they "particularly hope to speed up the works in Akasaki and Ryori, where the shops are few".

For businesses reopening, the burden of a 'double loan', new capital investment on top of existing loans, is seen as a problem. According to SME Support, whilst the free support is economically a great help to businesses, in areas other than Misaki, completion seems far away and people are showing their impatience.

The delay for starting construction has become topic of conversation even amongst the city's Disaster Recovery Planning Committee, where one member says that "everybody is impatient. We want them to speed things up, as soon as possible". Even those businesses who were interested in the free support have given up, and there are also cases of some starting work on their facilities themselves.

In Rikuzen Takata, at the beginning of May, an information session about the temporary facilities for businesses was held. As of the 24th of this month, applications from  businesses has risen to 77 places and 190 businesses, and of those, a portion have gone on to construction confirmation application.

In Rikuzen Takata, where they received catastrophic damage from the tsunami, most of the flat ground that would be used for construction was submerged under water. Construction of temporary housing is given priority on official land, so businesses are looking and applying for possible construction sites.

According to SME Support, facility construction of 3 places started on the 22nd. Yonesaki-cho in Matusmine, Takekoma-cho in Tokaichiba and Takuta-cho in Nishiwano.

Seven shops will move into the temporary facility being built in Yonesaki-cho.They will include a food manufacturing business (catering), cram school, barber's shop, sports store, Chinese restaurant, coin laundry and convenience store.
The facility will consist of 2 lightweight steel-framed single story buildings, and 1 two story building, making a total of three, and a total floor space of 1041m2.
Completion is expected in the middle of October.

Four shops (100yen Shop, a farmer's produce shop, an insurance agency and ramen restaurant) will move into the establishment at Takekoma-cho.
The building will be a 2 story lightweight steel-framed building with a total floor space of 428m2, scheduled to finish in the middle of October.

The facility in Takata-cho will house two shops - a cram school and a painting school.
It is also a  2 story lighweight steel-framed building, with a floor space of 213m2.
It is scheduled to be finished somewhere between the end of September and the beginning of October.

Counselor Yoshiyuki Odashima from the Compliance and Coordination Office in the same building says "it has taken some time to start construction, but things are slowly picking up. Construction work will increase between September and October. I hope that the facilities can be finished as soon as possible."


（Tokai Shinpo　7/21/2011）

Ground Self-Defense Force form good relations with the citizens and build foundations for recovery. Now, more than 4 months since the disaster, they finish their duties.

The Ground Self-Defense Force have finished their duties, supporting the townspeople of Rikuzen Takata and Ofunato for recovery after the earthquake in east Japan.

 Working throughout the four and a bit months since the disaster, they provided support to the devastated areas, supplying water, food and bathing facilities, continuing with their search for lost victims, and restoring the road of "hope".  They strengthened relations with the victims of the earthquake, whilst building a foundation for recovery.

 A ceremony was held in Rikuzen Takata for the withdrawing troops, whose help was deeply appreciated. In Ofunato, also, feelings of gratitude were expressed in a ceremony for the troops.

 The ceremony held in Rikuzen Takata was held in front of the Takata town hall's temporary government office building. The townspeople conveyed their appreciation and gratitude towards the troops' 130 days of assistance following the disaster, and saw them off.

 In the same town, a total of 55,532 troops from 18 infantry units, including the JGSDF 5th Infantry Regiment (Regimental Commander, Teruo Nishiobino), have been working 'Operation Takatamatsubara Hope', since March 12th, clearing rubble and debris, providing life support and performing rescue operations in the area.

 In their rescue operations, they saved 37 people and found 488 missing persons. Relief came in 2931 trucks, 573 times, and a total of 170,000 people made use of the support bathing facilities.

 Approximately 300 townspeople and 33 representatives from the 5th Infantry Regiment and 9th Logistic Support Regiment participated in the ceremony.

 Mayor Futoshi Toba said that he wanted to "thank everyone with all (his) heart for the assistance they have given to the victims. (He) hopes that everyone can work together to show those who will one day come to Rikuzen Takata how much of a wonderful town it has become".

 Takata Shelter's chief, Yukichi Yokota, gave his words of gratitude, saying that he "sensed reliability and strength in everyone from the force, and can now see hope. (He) would like to thank the troops from the bottom of his heart for helping to support the lives of the townspeople.

 Regimental Commander, Nishiobino, also commented, saying, "to everyone affected by the earthquake, everyone has tried hard to give their hearts to the hope for tomorrow. I pray for an early recovery, and that everyone's smiling faces will return". He presented the city with a memento and the money collected by the troops. The city then also presented a memento.

25 Takata Preschool children rushed in and Shuhei Otomo and (Ayaka/Reika)  Ito handed a bouquet of flowers, and Sayaka Murakami, a thank you card, to a representative of the infantry. After the ceremony the townspeople saw the troops off as they left Rikuzen Takata behind.


（Tokai Shinpo　7/21/2011）

Coast struck by a black sea. More than 200 dead in Kesen.

On the 11th, at around 2:46pm, a huge 8.8 magnitude earthquake, the largest observed in Japan's history, struck the Pacific coast of North Eastern Japan, and sent a severe earthquake that registered just over 6 on the Japanese seismic scale to Funato. The Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning to prefectures on the Pacific coast including Iwate. A giant tsunami resulting from the earthquake flooded into the Sanriku coast 30min later, and Rikuzen Takata and Ofunato received an annihilating blow. As of 6pm on the 12th, more than 200 were confirmed dead. In Rikuzen Takata, a number of people's whereabouts is also unknown. Power, water and telephone services to the Kesen area do not appear to be returning any time soon, aftershocks are continuing intermittently, and the residents' weariness and uneasiness has reached its peak.
According to the Meteorology Agency, the earthquake's epicenter originated 120km east-southeast of the Oshika Peninsula in Miyagi prefecture. The M8.8 used to indicate the scale of the earthquake is the biggest Japan has experienced since the Meiji period, when earthquake observation began.
The Meteorological Agency officially announced a large-scale tsunami warning to the Pacific coast that day, at 2:50pm, after the huge earthquake hit. This is the second time Iwate has been issued such a warning since the Chile earthquake and tsunami in February of last year.
From the earthquake's effect, a large tsunami attacked the Kesen coast. Even the breakwater in the entrance to the bay at Ofunato collapsed from the force of the tsunami.　The wave flooded in and out numerous times, and fishing ports and buildings were washed away in a muddy stream.
A 10m wave raged the bay, narrowing the typography. In Rikuzen Takata, almost all of the areas along the coast were submerged under water and are now completely destroyed. Many of the townspeople who were late to evacuate were swept up in the tsunami.
Tremors continued frequently, and the number of buildings that washed away and the human loss is enormous. Today, as of 2pm, the 174 people in Ofunato and the 28 people in Rikuzen Takata, together make a total of
202
confirmed dead. The number of missing continues to rise around Rikuzen Takata, where most of the houses have been filled with dirt and sand.
Those who made it to higher ground could only stare, dumbfounded, upon the nightmarish sight that was unfolding before their eyes. Even the helicopter crew on the top of a building rooftop could only watch. On the 12th, the Japanese Self-Defense Force set out and hurried the restoration of the roads. The rescue team from the neighboring prefecture, the Sumita fire brigade and others came to give their support.
After the earthquake it became difficult to get phone connection, and there are still many people trying to confirm the safety of family and friends. The large-scale tsunami warning was changed to just a tsunami warning at 8:20pm that day, but the many townspeople who had made their way to the evacuation shelters spent an uneasy second day.
According to the city of Ofunato, as of 4:30pm on the 12th, the city's death toll is at 174 people.
Those whose identity has been confirmed include Maruko Konno (from Takkon-cho), Ko Honda (Ofunato-cho), Haruyo Honda (Ofunato-cho) and Sachiko Sugawara (Matsusaki-cho).
Amongst those confirmed dead at Ofunato Hospital, and taken to Takkon- cho’s Anyouji Temple are Genzo Sato (Ofunato-cho), Toyoko Sasaki ( Sanriku-cho Ryouri), Morio Suzuki (Sanriku-cho Okirai), Takae Niinuma (
Ofunato-cho) and Morihei Ueki (hometown unknown).
The death toll at Matsusaki is 9, Ofunato 7, Akasaki 36, Takonoura 5, Sakari 4, Takkon 1, Okirai 100, Ryouri 2, Yoshihama 3, and 7 whose hometown is unknown.
The missing include 1 from Matsusaki, 10 from Ofunato, 10 from Akasaki,
5 from Takonura, 100 from Okirai, 19 from Ryouri and 3 from Yoshihama.
2556 houses within the city have been at least half destroyed, and there is the possibility that this number will rise. The number of houses partially damaged or flooded is unknown.
The safety of one child in Ofunato, and 7 in Akasaki is unknown. The safety of 33 students throughout Ofunato still cannot be confirmed.
Young students from all the city’s elementary and junior high schools will wait at home until the 14th.
The Social Welfare Foundation are confirming the safety of all those that make use of their Special Nursing Home for the Aged and Group Home 'Himawari', the Kesen Day Service Center, Akasaki Day Service Center, Multifunctional Small Group Home 'Hei', Group Home and Multifunctional Small Group Home 'Nochi no Iri'.
A total of 6768 people are taking refuge at the 52 evacuation shelters in the city, including tourist sheltering at the Sanjukari Community Center in Matsusaki, and passengers from a tour bus sheltering at Goishi Community Center.
At these facilities, rice balls and water are being distributed, but they are still unable to provide cooked meals. During the day, at the fire fighting facility  they are providing cooked meals, and in Takkon and Inokawa Elementary Schools boiled rice is being made available, and they are trying hard to give handouts several times a day.
At the town hall, baby formula and disposable diapers are being distributed to those who require them on the 13th. If there are donations from businesses and groups, they are trying to hand them out during the breaksfast, lunch and dinner time slots. Cooperatives in the town hall will also be operating during the daytime on the same day.
On the 12th, close to 600 troops from the Self-Defense Force and police officers sent from other prefectures took on the job of working towards recovery. They removed debris including wood and roofing from the road near Shounin Bridge in Ofunato on route 45. However, due to the continuing tsunami observation, work on lower ground is being taken cautiously, and is scheduled to continue beyond the 13th.They will give priority to work on route 45, then start work on roads in the main regions of Akasaki and Matsusaki, where access from Ofunato is difficult.
Together with work on the roads, they will be working hard to rescue and search for those still missing. On the coast, as well as fishing boats moored around the fishing port, and fish farming facilities, the Sanriku Fishery Center was destroyed. According to the city, the damage to the agricultural, forest and fishery industry is in excess of 12.4 billion yen. Also, they held a discussion with the prefecture about the setting up of temporary housing.
Then there is the city of Rikuzen Takata, where the 3-story city hall was flooded. One night since the tsunami, after 7am on the 12th, a headquarters for disaster measures was launched at the city's Kyushoku Center, and took on the job of collecting information from those taking shelter.
According to the city, as of 2:45pm on that same day, the safety of approximately 220 people remains unknown. The enshrining of the remains of those who were lost in the disaster has begun across all regions.
Among the schools that were able to confirm the safety of all their students is Takekoma Elementary School. Progress is slow with all the other schools and the city is asking the townspeople for any information.
There are 5889 people taking shelter at the 47 shelters across schools, community centers and welfare facilities. When o-bento lunch boxes are distributed at the shelters, names and addresses are asked of each recipient, which leads to the confirmation of the safety of separated family and friends. At each facility there is a lack of supplies including baby formula, disposable diapers and sanitary products, and those taking shelter are staying under harsh conditions.
The Self-Defense Force and the Tokyo fire fighting department have arrived in the city.
Mayor, Futoshi Toba, says, "We can only do what we can. We ask the Self- Defense Force for their help with lifesaving, while we devote all our power to securing the care, food, and heating for those in the shelters.
"The Ofunato Hirota Rikuzen Takata Road will be closed, and the Hirota Peninsula's state of isolation will continue. The Kesen Ohashi Bridge over Kesen River and the Aneha Bridge both collapsed and it is now difficult to get to Takata from Kesen.
   
（Tokai Shinpo　3/13/2011）

Newspaper Article, March 12th

On March 11th, at 2:46pm, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit off the shore of Sanriku. The earthquake registered a seismic intensity of over 6 in Ofunato, and the Meteorological Agency announced a tsunami warning for Iwate and areas along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. At 3:15pm, a 3.2m high tsunami was observed in Ofunato. It was followed by more tsunami, and the coastal region was swallowed up in a muddy stream. Aftershocks from the quake continued frequently, many buildings collapsed and were washed away, and the human loss was also great. At 10:30pm, 31 people in Ofunato and  5 people in Rikuzen Takata were confirmed dead, and the whereabouts of many others still remains unknown. Gas, power and other services have been disrupted, and many other areas have been heavily affected. Many are concerned about greater destruction yet to come.

(※The earthquake's magnitude was later changed to 9.0)
（Tokai Shinpo,　March 12, 2011)