New Hotel in Onagawa

An interesting news story about opening a new hotel in Onagawa, click link below to view a short video at the NHK World web site

NHK news video 

How a Sake Brewery coped after the earthquake in the Fukushima region

An interesting "good news " article of how a famous Sake Brewery fared during and after the March 11th Earthquake and what measures they took to ensure their products were not contaminated.
It is pleasing to read that recently their sales have risen since the quake.
Read the story here

The Brewery is the Daishichi Sake Brewery in Nihonmatsu town and the same web site has a nice article explaining it's history and the artisan brewing process.

Daishichi Sake Brewery article.

The Brewery also has a good web site in English and Japanese

Company web site ( in English )

If I can track down any suppliers of their products in the U.K. I'll update the post later ,
I like a drop of sake.

Sanriku Oyster Reconstruction Project

I saw a documentary on NHK world T.V. about Oyster farmers trying to restart their business after the Tsunami wiped it out. It led me to investigate a bit more.
Sanriku Oyster project link

also a related "good" news story here
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120211a6.html

Interesting Documentary Film maker

I hope these films get a release with English sub titles some time .

The film maker is Ayako Imamura , and I read about her in this news article
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120219x1.html

There is a web site about her most recent film here in English and Japanese
http://www.coffee-to-enpitsu.com/documentary_film/index.html

and a website here for her film production company ( in Japanese )
http://studioaya.com/

plus a blog here ( also in Japanese)
http://blog.livedoor.jp/rouinc/

According to the article Ayako's current project is a film about deaf residents in Tohoku in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami.

100 Santas Came!

We have made a donation from the funds raised by selling the Sakura CD to the 100 Santas Christmas project . They will send 100 Santas to the North East coast of Japan and hand out Christmas candy to children and old people living on their own who survived the tsunami.
People outside of Japan can contribute by purchasing extra sweets for the project from an Amazon gift list .
Check the links for more details and the story that inspired the project .

100 Santas English language page

100 Santas Amazon wish list page

News roundup including Onagawa related stories

A few news stories at these links reporting on continued difficulties faced by the areas hit by the tsunami and earthquake.

Land prices in Onagawa since the Tsunami

Another thought provoking set of photos from the Guardian

Temporary housing opened in Onagawa

Tsunami related art by a student in Onagawa used for postcard titled "Ikiru"

Interesting story about trying to promote tourism since the Tsunami

Some thought provoking photographs .

Hi
please check out the link below for some amazing "before and after " photos showing the extent of the cleanup in Kesennuma after six months . A lot has been achieved but it also illustrates how much work remains to rebuild the communities .


News article and photos here.

this article was shared on Facebook by the excellent site

https://www.facebook.com/kesennuma

thank you