Revisiting the 2011 tsunami: people, place, stories

Kesen Carpentry Sakan Traditional Museum / 3.11 Light of hope

Kesen Carpentry is a group of carpenters who are said to have originated in Otomo Town, Rikuzentakata City. Although they are house carpenters, they also have the skills to build shrines and temples, as well as fittings and sculptures. Their technical capabilities are highly evaluated nationwide.

In order to pass on their excellent techniques to posterity, this “Minka” of the early Meiji era was reproduced using Kesen cedar and the architectural technique of Kesen carpentry and Sakan.

CAMOCY

As the place name Imaizumi (containing the character for "spring/well") suggests, the brewing industry has been flourishing since the Edo period in this area where groundwater was welling up.

Fermenting Koji to make sake and soy sauce is called "camosu(brew)".It is also used to describe how "a bright mood can overflow". So, we named named this facility "CAMOCY" to combine the terms for brewing and a bright mood.

The core of our business is the operation of fermentation facilities.In this facility, we showcase a variety of delicious and fun things that rely on fermentation, such as "fermented set meal, fermented deli, bread, chocolate, or craft beer".

Takatamatsubara National Memorial

This facility was opened to mourn and requiescat the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, pass on the memories and lessons of the earthquake to posterity, and convey a strong will for reconstruction both domestically and internationally. The symbolic "Reconstruction Prayer Park" and a national memorial and prayer facility has been established at the center of the park in collaboration with local public organizations.

The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Memorial Museum "Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum"

Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum aims to share the wisdom of our predecessors, and the facts and lessons of the 2011 Tsunami and the Great East Japan Earthquake with people all over the world. Together, we want to realize a society that is resilient to natural hazards. We want to show the way to recovery and share our gratitude for the support that we have received.

Kesen Junior High School

The tsunami reached the roof of Kesen Junior High School, close to the Kesen River, just minutes after the tsunami crossed the embankment. Since there were not victims at the school, the building now serves as a heritage site that conveys the importance of disaster education.

A place overlooking the sea

From the end point of the "axis of prayer"you can widely see Hirota Bay where the tsunami struck, Takata Matsubara, which is slowly recovering a scenic spot , the city area and the mountains of our hometown.

BREWER'S TABLE

"KESENNUMA BREWER'S TABLE" has been completed in collaboration with the long-established sake brewery "Otokoyama" and the restaurant "nine one". In this program, you will enjoy the collaboration between the long-established sake brewery "Kakuboshi" and the new Japanese restaurant "Meigetsu" that opened last year.

Kesennuma Brewers Table also offers a sake brewery tour where you can hear the thoughts and commitments of the makers ’a local sake “pairing dinner” which combines food prepared from fresh ingredients from Kesennuma and local sake)". While gazing at the calm Kesennuma Bay, you can taste the special gems made with seasonal ingredients from Kesennuma and the sake carefully selected by the brewers to perfectly match each dish, and experience the history and culture of this area through delicious food.

Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake Kesennuma City Memorial Museum.

The great tsunami and large-scale fires caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011 caused an unbelievable tragedy in Kesennuma City, with 1,152 dead and 214 missing.

"Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake Kesennuma City Memorial Museum” conveys the memories and lessons of the earthquake, It is a a "visible proof" that we need to stay alert and be better prepared for natural hazards. We want to contribute to Kesennuma City's "Zero Tsunami Deaths Town Development".

Kesennuma Umino-ichi

Kesennuma Umi no Ichi, which is adjacent to the fish market in Kesennuma, is a tourist facility where you can find seafood from the Sanriku area. It was closed for a long time due to the impact of the earthquake, but fully reopened in 2014. On the 1st floor, there are shops and restaurants where you can find fish and shellfish landed at Kesennuma Port and a variety of processed marine products. On the 2nd floor, there is a tourist service center and Japan’s one and only shark museum. At the tourist service center, you can get important information on the highlights of the city, eating out, or accommodation. The Shark Museum exhibits actual models of sharks and explains the mysterious ecology of these fascinating animals in an easy-to-understand manner. It is full of surprises and charms unique to Kesennuma, which boasts the best shark landing in Japan.

Kesennuma Reconstruction Memorial Park

The park is located in "Jinyama", which is the closest mountain to the center of Kesennuma. You can see the Shishiori / Naiwan area, which was devastated by the tsunami and fire, and feel how reconstruction progressed. In the park, you can find a nameplate of the victims who died in the disaster and the "Prayer Sail", which was created as a symbol for the prayers for recovery. Its design was based on the thoughts of people from all over the world who have supported us. This place can be visited by anyone at any time to mourn and offer respect.