Tohoku University
Reconstruction Action Vol.3

Leading the restoration of Tohoku and the regeneration of Japan

CONTENTS
1
Message from the President
2
What happened on March 11, 2011?
3
Eight Projects and Reconstruc�on Ac�on 100⁺
4‐5International Research Projects on Disaster Science
6‐7
Project for the Reconstruction of Community Health Care
8‐9
Project for Environmental Energy
10‐11 ICT Reconstruction Project
12‐13 Tohoku Marine Science Project
14‐15 Radioactive Decontamination Project
16‐17 Regional Industries Restoration Support Project18
Industry‐University Collaboration Development Project for Reconstruction
19‐20 Reconstruction Action 100⁺

Message from the President
The Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred on March
11, 2011, caused high‐intensity ground shaking, a massive
tsunami and a serious nuclear power plant accident,
resulting in a disaster of a scale unprecedented in the historyof Japan.
Tohoku University is well aware that its mission as one of theuniversities in the center of the disaster area is to fullycommit itself to recovery from the disaster. It is our aim tocreate new wisdom so as in order to strongly support therebirth of the region. Efforts will be focused on establishingnew industries through cooperation with businesses andgovernment agencies to increase employment and revitalize
the Tohoku region. The university hopes that these efforts
will also serve as a driving force or an engine to stimulate thestagnant Japanese economy.

The “Tohoku University Reconstruction Action” presented
in this brochure is the prototype of the engine that we
propose. To start this engine, cooperation between
universities, businesses and local governments not only inthe affected areas but throughout Japan and also abroad isessential. We believe that we can create a sustainable,energetic, affluent society through combining the resultsof research and education to date, cutting‐edge
technologies, and the know‐how to apply these results andtechnologies in practical settings, in such a way so as toprovide maximum benefit to society.

Susumu SATOMI

President ,Tohoku University

To overcome this difficult situation, efforts by a single
university alone would be insufficient. It is essential tobuild a cooperative system involving the whole of Japanand additional global resources. Your support in these
efforts would be highly appreciated.

The panoramic view of Sendai City,Jun 2011

1

What happened on March 11, 2011?
Multi‐hazards ‐ Mega Earthquake, Mega Tsunami and Nuclear Power Plant Accident
On March 11, 2011, at 14:46, an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 occurred andthe intense shaking lasted about three minutes. The epicentral area was
located off the coast from Iwate to Ibaraki. About 30 to 60 minutes after theearthquake, a massive tsunami hit a wide area along the coast of the Pacific
Ocean extending from Aomori to Chiba Prefectures. With the wave run‐upheight exceeding 40 meters in some places, the tsunami caused devastating
damage to coastal areas. In Fukushima, a nuclear power plant was destroyedby the earthquake and tsunami, cutting off the external power source andresulting in the failure of the cooling system. This eventually led to themeltdown of a number of reactors.

Flooded area

SendaiEpicenter

The earthquake and tsunami caused 15,883 deaths, with 2,671 people still
listed as missing, and 398,649 buildings were completely or partiallydestroyed. (Source: “Koho Shiryo (Publicity Bulletin)” dated on Jun 10, 2013
issued by Emergency Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters, National
Police Agency of Japan). The total number of evacuees, including those who
had to evacuate or relocated due to the nuclear power plant accident thatwas triggered by the earthquake and tsunami disaster, reached about
470,000 people on the third day after the disaster. Even now, about 298,000
people still have to evacuate. (Source: Data dated on Jun 6, 2013 provided by
the Reconstruction Headquarters in response to the Great East Japan
Earthquake of the Reconstruction Agency).

Outside 80km radius©Geospatial Information Authority of Japan

 Magnitude (Richter Scale) : M 9.0
 Maximum Seismic Intensity: 7
 Total flooded area: 561 km2Fukushima Daiichi NPP©Geospatial Information Authority of Japan

Over two years passed by since the disaster; the center of Sendai City, where
Tohoku University is located, seems to regain its composure.
However, when looking at the whole of the Tohoku region, the full‐scale
restoration is still ongoing, and people have pointed to the delay in therecovery process. The restoration of society infrastructures, including
disposing of debris, removing salt from farmlands devastated by seawater,
constructing/reconstructing of breakwaters, and improving of roads, isprogressing well. However, the affected people have little or no real sense of
the restoration in regard of their lives. Works toward recovery andreconstruction from the disaster were really yet to start.

©Miyagi Prefecture
Coast area of Miyagi Prefecture,
aftermath of the disaster

May, 2013

The disaster‐affected areas have taken steps slowly toward recovery.

2

Eight Projects and Reconstruction Action 100⁺
Institute for Disaster Reconstruction and Regeneration Research
As a university located in the center of the disaster‐affected area, Tohoku University ‘s mission is to fully commit itself to recovery from the disaster.
As seeking to play a leading role in reconstructing Tohoku and in regenerating Japan, we hope to act as an engine and a driving force that will revitalize
Tohoku region and stimulate Japan.
To accomplish the aim, Tohoku University established the Institute for Disaster Reconstruction and Regeneration Research ‐IDRRR‐ in April 2011, theaftermath of the disaster. In cooperation with the government and ministerial agencies, local governments and citizens, and institutions and companies inJapan and abroad, we have promoted and supported “Eight Projects,” and “Reconstruction Action 100⁺.”
What Tohoku University aims for is “ Restoration and Innovation.” While contributing to the rebuilding of the affected people’s lives, we will work on
advanced research and human resources development that will lead to the creation of a new future for Tohoku and Japan. We are conducting a broad rangeof activities contributing to the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake by bringing together the wisdom of a comprehensive university.

Organization Chart
Director / President

Eight Projects
1. International Research Projects on Disaster Science

Steering committee
Managing committee

2. Project for the Reconstruction of Community Health Care
3. Project for Environmental Energy
4. ICT Reconstruction Project
5. Tohoku Marine Science Project

Planning and Promotion Office
Chief / Executive Vice President for
Earthquake Disaster Reconstruction








Planning / Promotion
LiaisonPublic relations
Progress management
Organizing a symposium
Overall coordination

IRIDeS was invited to the World Ministerial
Conference on Disaster Reduction in Tohoku.
IRIDeS presents study results on disaster scienceto the world.

6. Radioactive Decontamination Project
7. Regional Industries Restoration Support Project
8. Industry‐University Collaboration Development Projectfor Reconstruction

Reconstruction Action 100⁺More than 100 various voluntary projects

3

Tohoku University hosted the 8th APRU
(Association of Pacific Rim Universities) Research
Symposium on Multi‐hazards around the Pacific
Rim in Sep 2012.

International Research Projects on Disaster Science （１）The International Research Institute of Disaster Science ‐ IRIDeS ‐its aim is to become a global interdisciplinary center for the study of Disaster Science.
Background

Seven research divisions of IRIDeS

In the Tohoku region, earthquakes centered in the waters off Miyagi
Prefecture occur in periodic intervals. Tohoku University has conductedstudies on disaster prevention to be prepared for these earthquakes. The
Great East Japan Earthquake, however, is a low‐frequency mega disasterconsisting of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant accident. It
revealed the weaknesses and limitations of conventional scientific andtechnological systems.
In the wake of the disaster, it is significant that improving innovation
disaster preparedness and risk management and newly prepare for megadisasters.

Regional and
Urban
Reconstruction
Research Division

Disaster Science
Division

Human and Social
Response
Research Division
Disaster Medical
Science Division

MissionThe International Research Institute of Disaster Science ‐IRIDeS‐, aglobal research center for Disaster Science, will subsume the lessons
from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami disaster and the findingsof the world‐leading research into our societies.
IRIDeS will create and cultivate a new academic discipline of practicaldisaster mitigation that aims to reduce or avoid the potential losses fromnatural hazards, to assure prompt assistance to victims, to achieve rapid
and effective recovery, and to establish disaster‐resilient social systems.

Hazard and Risk
Evaluation
Research Division

EndowedResearch Division

Disaster Information
Management andPublic Collaboration
Division

MethodIRIDeS collaborates with national and international research institutes,organizations, and local governments stricken by the disaster. In sevenresearch divisions, IRIDeS works on various studies to creating a cross‐discipline of practical disaster mitigation.

International ResearchInstitute of Disaster Science

4

IRIDeS logo is designed by inverting the Japanese character ofdisaster （災）, based on the idea of Japanese saying “Turning amisfortune into a blessing.” It represents our mission oflearning the lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake
and pursuing effective disaster management to build
sustainable and resilient societies. The name of the institute isabbreviated as IRIDeS and pronounced ee‐ree‐dis based on
irides, the plural of iris, which symbolizes “Hope and Nobility.”International Research Projects on Disaster Science （２）In preparation for the United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction—The role of IRIDeS
It was decided that the United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction will be held in Sendai
City in March 2015. Sendai City and IRIDeS have made great efforts to attract the conference to the city.
In May 2013, members of IRIDeS and Ms. Okuyama, the Mayor of Sendai, participated in the fourth
Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction held in Geneva, Switzerland. About 3,500
people representing governments, international organizations, non‐governmental organizations andothers from more than 170 countries took part in the meeting and discussed wide‐ranging topics about
disaster reduction and mitigation.
At the meeting, IRIDes made a statement to express gratitude for the disaster assistance from all over
the world, the necessity of Disaster Science, and the role of IRIDeS at the UN World Conference, 2015.
IRIDeS will make further progress in Disaster Science studies, and contribute to the international society
by sharing the experiences and lessons of the disaster with the world. We will continue to efforts for therisk reduction of future disasters.

IRIDeS presented industry‐academia‐government
collaboration in disaster reduction and mitigation at
the display booth of the Global Platform, May 2013.

APRU‐IRIDeS Multi‐Hazards Program starts
Founded in 1997, APRU ( Association of Pacific Rim Universities) is an international alliance of 45 leading
research universities based in 16 Pacific Rim countries. APRU plays an important role by fostering
cooperation among the member universities to promote the betterment of society along the Pacific Rim.
Tohoku University hosted the 8th APRU Research Symposium on Multi‐hazards around the Pacific Rim,
welcoming nearly 100 faculty members and students from 12 countries, in September 2012.
To mark the second anniversary of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, APRU and Tohoku
University launched the APRU‐IRIDeS Multi‐Hazards Program in April 2013, and IRIDes has acted as the
hub of the program. The program focuses on strategies to deal with low‐frequency high impact disasters
and on the role of universities in disaster management. IRIDeS hosted and organized the inaugural Multi‐
Hazards Summer School in July 2013.

APRU‐IRIDeS Multi‐Hazards Summer School , July 2013.
IRIDeS welcomed 31 APRU members from 9 countries.

International Research Institute for Disaster Science,
Tohoku University
Email: contact@irides.tohoku.ac.jp
http://irides.tohoku.ac.jp/eng/
5

Project for the Reconstruction of Community Health Care （１）Rebuilding community medicine and establishing a modern biobank
Background

When the Great East Japan Earthquake hit the Tohoku region, many medical facilities in coastal areas were lost due to the tsunami. While many affected people
were left untreated, the number of medical staffs who lost their jobs increased. In addition, valuable medical documents and patients’ records were also lost.
Before the disaster, the coastal areas in the Tohoku region had had the problem of a shortage in the number of medical staffs and facilities. Tohoku University
School of Medicine and Hospital have fulfilled the central role in dispatching doctors to the Tohoku area, in particular, Miyagi Prefecture, and continued to support
to the community medical system to meet the local demand.
In this project, our efforts will be focused on contributing to the improvement of the training system for healthcare professionals with Tohoku University Hospital
as its core. We also aim to contribute to the recovery community medicine networks to provide affected people with medical services, the establishment of anadvanced medical system, including the use of a database of medical information, and the setting up of industries in the Tohoku region.

Mission of the training center

At the Comprehensive Training Center for Community Medicine, medical professionals fromdisaster‐affected areas will learn about cutting‐edge medical care. It aims to contribute to therebuilding of community medicine and the training of professionals, capable of taking aleading role in community and disaster medicine in disaster‐affected areas upon completionof their training.

◆Highly specialized
medical professionals
who have updated their
Medical
Tohoku University
Training skills
Training students
Comprehensive Training Center◆Specialists infor Community Medicine
community medicine

MethodThe Comprehensive Training Center for Community Medicine accepts medical staffs affectedby the Great East Japan Earthquake, and offers them opportunities for continuous training at
Clinical Skills Lab, a training center equipped with sophisticated simulators,; and has
developed a circulation system under which medical professionals, who have improved theirknowledge and skills through training, are offered an opportunity to work in community
medicine settings.
Further, to cultivate a new generation of medical professionals to engage in community anddisaster medicine, the center invites medical experts in the field to impart their knowledge
and skills to students .

In Community Medicine,Accepting of
medical staffs
from thedisaster area

◆Exchange ofprofessionals/Employment
in the area where training
has been provided◆Prevention of the outflow
of human resources◆Improvement of the levelof medical services

Deployment oftrained medical
professionals

Hospital in thedisaster area

Clinical Skills Lab has been used by atotal of 8,900 users last year.

The center runs workshops at district
hospitals to support the community medicine.

6

Comprehensive Training Center for Community Medicine,
Tohoku University
Email: ctc@med.tohoku.ac.jp
http://www.ctc.med.tohoku.ac.jp/ (in Japanese)Project for the Reconstruction of Community Health Care （２）Mission of ToMMo

Medical support fordisaster areas

Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization ‐ToMMo‐ will develop a biobank
combining medical and genome information during the process of
rebuilding the community medical system, and supporting health andwelfare in the disaster areas. Based on the findings of the analysis of thebiobank, ToMMo will create new medical services, and aims for therealization of the new generation of medical systems born in the Tohoku
region.

• System of dispatching doctors to thedisaster areas on a rotation basis ‐theToMMo Clinical Fellowship‐• A clinical information network

Creation of a biobank
Based on• Long‐term health studies• Genomic analyses• Establishment of an expansive biobank

MethodThe Tohoku Medical Megabank Project consists of three main programs:
medical support for disaster areas; creation of a biobank combining medical
and genome information; and special educational program designed for avariety of highly specialized professionals and experts such as researchers ofbioinformatics and genetic counselors. Through these programs, ToMMo
actively promotes the establishment of an advanced medical system withthe aim to provide personalized medical treatment and prevention in the
future.

Special educational programfor personalized medicine
Focusing on developing• Bioinformatician• Genetic counselor, etc

Establishing an advanced medical system
Personalized medical treatment / prevention

ToMMo Community Support Centers

ToMMo conducts cohort studies of 150,000 people(As of Sep, 2013)

It is concerned that residents in the disaster areas affected may suffer from
PTSD, infectious diseases, and other ailments in the future. This is because
an increase in the number of such illnesses has been reported in othertsunami stricken areas.
This project will continuously study the health condition of residents in thedisaster areas and contribute to the early detection and treatment ofdiseases.
The ten‐year study will be conducted in the two Prefectures of in both
Miyagi and Iwate, in cooperation with Iwate Medical University Tohoku
Medical Megabank Organization. This project organizes a community
residents’ cohort study of around 80,000 people in the prefectures.
In July 2013, a three‐generation cohort study, that will include around70,000 participants of three generations – expectant mother, the child to beborn, its brothers and sisters, its father and grandparents – has begun.
ToMMo has established six community support centers throughout Miyagi
prefecture as a hub for these activities.

Kesennuma
City

MiyagiPrefecture

Ishinomaki
City

Tagajo City
Sendai City
Iwanuma City
Shiroishi City

Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University
Email: megabank‐shomu@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp
http://www.megabank.tohoku.ac.jp/english/
7

Project for Environmental Energy （１）Promoting of advanced disaster‐resistant communities with next‐generation energy sources
BackgroundThe energy supply systems in the Tohoku region, and indeed in the whole of Japan, were significantly damaged due to accidents at nuclear power plants,
disruption of operation at thermal power plants, and other problems caused by the tsunami. This has focused attention on energy security in the event ofdisasters, particularly from the perspectives of planning reconstruction and promoting industry. Several local governments in the disaster affected area
have included an eco‐town plan using clean energy sources in their reconstruction plans. In the future, it will be essential to develop new clean energies andestablish an energy management system to ensure a steady power supply.

MissionThis project will work in research and development on clean energy technology inorder to fulfill its aim which is to help promote the recovery of the Tohoku region
and the solution of Japan’s energy problems. Based on the efforts of R&D, thisproject will make concrete contributions to make next‐generation energies andenergy management systems pervade society and lead the recovery of Tohoku
region.

MethodTohoku University plays a central role as the core institution of the consortium on
Next‐generation Energies for Tohoku Recovery ‐NET‐ which includes universities
and local governments stricken by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The
consortium members tackle the following three tasks.

Research Tasks
1. Research and development on wave power and other ocean renewableenergies applicable to the Sanriku coast
2. Research and development on using algae biofuels
3. With a focus on renewable energy, research and development on
integrated community energy control systems enabling human and vehicle
mobility

Ishinomaki Senshu University
The University of Tokyo
Iwate University
Akita Prefectural University

Tohoku University

8

Project for Environmental Energy （２）NET Demonstration Sites

Demonstration site of wave power
generation system
Kuji City

Iwate Prefecture

Wave energy is abundant along the coast of Iwate
Prefecture. The entrance of Kuji Bay is wide, withinvading waves from many directions.

Demonstration site of tidal power
generation system

Demonstration site of algae biofuel
R&D

Production system of Algae Oil

Demonstration site of EMS control
geothermal energy system

Demonstration site of control biomassenergy system

Before the disaster, Ishinomaki City has advancedenergies such as solar and algae biofuel.

Ishinomaki City
Shiogama City

Demonstration test of algae biofuel starts
The demonstration test to research and develop on algae biofuel
started in April 2013.
Located on a coast of Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, a wastewater
treatment plant was devastated by the disaster in 2011.
While contributing to the restoration of the plant, we will find ameans for producing algae oil from wastewater. Research shows that
substances present in wastewater can be used to produce algae
biomass. This project is the first trial of its kind in the world. In orderto achieve this research task, a joint‐research Laboratory between
Tohoku University, University of Tsukuba, and Sendai City wasestablished at the plant. We are working on together with the aimof establishing technologies for producing new energy and putting
its into practical use in ten years.

This area is one of the main hot‐spring areas in
Tohoku, and it also boasts abundant biomass.

Osaki City

Task 2The currents between the islands in Matsushima
Bay are very strong.

Sendai City
Miyagi Prefecture

A water treatment plant treats about 70% of
wastewater in Sendai City.

Fukushima Prefecture

Organic‐rich
wastewater

Aurantiochytrium

Algae
Oil

Treated waterLight
Photosynthesis

Botryococcus

CO2Reference: Website of M.M.Watanabe & K.Kaya Lab, Univerisity of Tsukuba

Squalene
Aurantiochytrium
Botryococcus

The algae biomass such as Botryococcus andAurantiochytrium shows promise as one of new
alternative energies.

Botryococcus is being cultivated at the lab.

9

Tohoku Recovery Next‐Generation Energy Research andDevelopment Organization
Email: net@mail.kankyo.tohoku.ac.jp
Web: http://www.kankyo.tohoku.ac.jp/net/english/

ICT Reconstruction Project （１）Toward the achievement of disaster‐resistant ICT networks
Background

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the vulnerability of our information communication technology ‐ICT‐, which could be seen in the disruption ofcommunication lines, the failure of information gathering, and the insufficiency of information, was revealed, exposing issues that need to be addressed.

MissionIn response to these issues, Tohoku University will establish a center for development and demonstration of disaster‐resistant ICT infrastructure. We will achieve
ICT which makes society safe and secure, and will become a base for research institutes and industries in the information and communication fields.

MethodTohoku University established the Research Organization of Electrical Communication ‐ROEC‐ which is a cross‐cutting organization. ROEC is working toward theachievement of disaster‐resistant ICT networks. Further, in April 2012, the world‐leading research center named Resilient ICT Research Center was established at
Tohoku University, based on the comprehensive collaboration arrangement between Tohoku University and the National Institute of Information andCommunications Technology. The center has been making steady progress in addressing the issues and endeavors to realize disaster‐resistant ICT and contributeto the revitalizing of regional economy in the disaster areas through the promotion of the Industry‐academia‐government collaboration.

Establishment of a center for development and demonstration of disaster‐resistant ICT infrastructure

Transmission capacity
handling rapid traffic
growthTransmission media and Data disaster protection,
hardware technology
Wide‐area distributed
cloud storage
Services and software technology

Adaptive and dependable
communication linkeven in disasters

ICT medical support
and agent system

Collaboration with local governments
and universities in Tohoku region

Traffic congestion
control
Never‐die network

Network layers
technology

Ultra‐low power
consumption
Materials and devices technology
devices

All Japan network Industry‐academia‐
government collaboration

Global collaboration
network

Industry‐academia and global center in ICT area

Creative reconstruction of disaster areas using ICT◆Launch and promotion of new industries in the fields of ICT and electronics◆World‐leading research & development of innovative ICT technology◆Construction of disaster‐resistant safe and secure future city using ICT◆Promotion of local industries through research & development of ICT

10ICT Reconstruction Project （２）Message Transmission without Cellular Coverage—Message relay demonstration utilizing smartphones
At the time of the disaster in March 2011, the phone lines including cellphones in thedisaster areas were tied up or restricted due to the flood of calls to confirm anyone’s
safety.
A research group at the graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University,
conducted an experiment using 27 smartphones at the campus, Tohoku University andsuccessfully relayed messages using only the wireless connection ‐WiFi‐ capability without
using a cellphone carrier network.
This new technology utilizes a smartphone someone is carrying and turns it into a router tocreate a network of WiFi‐hotspots. This is the world's first technology, in which thesmartphones utilize information such as remaining battery, accelerometer, andinformation of other surrounding smartphones information to decide the appropriate
transmission mode. This technology will enable users to exchange messages even thoughcommunication lines are cut off.
The research group has succeeded in the second experiment relaying messages over 2.5
kilo meters using 30 smartphones in downtown Sendai City.

Smartphone

Display screen image of theapplication

No
Service

The experiment in downtown Sendai City

WiFi

The range of smartphone ‐to‐ smartphone communication distanceis approx. 100 meters.

Full distance:
approx. 2.5Km
START

GOAL

11

Research Organization of Electrical Communication,
Tohoku University
Email: roec‐web@riec.tohoku.ac.jp
Web: http://www.roec.tohoku.ac.jp/en/

Tohoku Marine Science Project （１）To restore a bountiful ocean in the Tohoku region
Background

The Pacific Ocean off the Sanriku Coast, northwestern Pacific, has been renowned as one of the most fertile fishing grounds in the world. The area has also
boasted an aquaculture industry such as shellfish, seaweed cultivation. However, the great earthquake and massive tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011,
affected and significantly damaged the marine environment, which provides us with the ocean’s bounty. It was totally unknown how seriously the marine
ecosystem had been affected by the pile‐up of a large amount of debris, and the loss of seaweed beds and tidelands that serve as habitats for organisms. The
environment was also negatively affected by sand and mud deposited on reefs, and the destruction of transitional zones between land and sea due to groundsubsidence. Moreover, there has been a concern that heavy oil and radioactive substances caused marine pollution.
To achieve recovery of the fishing industry and restoration of the affected areas, it is essential to conduct in‐depth surveys to identify the extent of thedamage and to launch new industries to guarantee the future of the region.

MissionThe Tohoku Ecosystem‐Associated Marine Sciences (TEAMS)

Tohoku Ecosystem‐Associated Marine Science ‐TEAMS‐ will support
the recovery of the fishing industry in the Tohoku region heavily
damaged by the 2011 disaster, by conducting research surveys forpromoting the recovery of marine ecosystem and the regeneration of
the fertile fishing ground.

The University of Tokyo

AORI

MethodProject 2 : Elucidation of themechanism of marine
ecosystem change

The TEAMS is conducted with Tohoku University as its representative
and the University of Tokyo’s Atmosphere and Ocean ResearchInstitute (AORI) and the Japan Agency for Marine‐Earth Science andTechnology (JAMSTEC) as deputy representatives, with thecollaboration of Kitasato University, Tokyo University of Marine Scienceand Technology, Iwate University, and Tokai University. Under thecollaboration of these research institutes, the “Tohoku Marine Science
General Meeting” was established to conduct four research projects tosurvey the impacts of the disaster on the marine environment andecosystem. Of these four projects, Tohoku University has been
assigned to Project 1.

OtsuchiTohoku University
Marine Science
Restoration Support
OfficeTohoku University
Project 1 : Elucidation of theprocess of change in the fisheryenvironment

12

Tohoku Marine
Science General
Meeting

JAMSTEC

Marine/extreme
environmental biosphere
Onagawa

Project 3 : Elucidation of themechanism of change in theoffshore seabed ecosystem
Project 4: Development andimplementation of data sharing andpublishing functions in the TEAMS

Tohoku Marine Science Project （２）Elucidation of the process of change in the fishery environment
Theme1 : Surveys on the fishery environment

Theme3 : Surveys on the fisheries and tidal zone life

( Examining the impacts of the disaster and building an observing
system ）(Supplying seeds and studying a sustainable production management
system ）Before the disaster

After the disaster■Elucidation of the recovery process■Environmental research on a regular basis
using a Tohoku University research vessel■Building a real‐time observing
system for marine environment■Surveys on fishing resources

Theme4 : Surveys on the propagation and aquaculture environment(Supplying seeds and establishing a sustainable production
management system )Theme 2 : Surveys on the ecosystem conservation(Elucidation of the recovery process of costal ecosystem
destroyed by tsunami ）■Promotion of a basic research on the propagation and aquaculture and contribution of
the restoration of the marine industry■Reef ecosystem destroyed by tsunami

Theme5 : Current situation surveys on the marine environment(in cooperation with Kitasato University)■Submersible survey

Marine Science Restoration Support Office,Tohoku University
Email: agr‐marin@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp
Web: http://www.agri.tohoku.ac.jp/teams/index.html(in Japanese)13

Radioactive Decontamination Project （１）Recovery of the living environment and examining the effects of the radioactivity
BackgroundThe spread of radioactive substances caused by the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima
Daiichi nuclear power plant resulted in a far‐reaching serious radioactive
contamination stretching from Fukushima Prefecture. In addition to the effect on local
residents’ health, it has causes contamination of agricultural and marine products,that in turn had a massive impact on both consumers and producers livelihoods.
Unresolved issues such as effects on ecosystems and health problems of humanbodies caused by exposure to radioactive substances still remain.

Mission of development of technology to restore the living environment

contaminated by radioactive substances
The nuclear accident forced over 140,000 people living in Fukushima to evacuate theirhomes (Source: Fresh report on the situation of damage caused by the Great East
Japan Earthquake vol.1003 dated on August 7, 2013 issued by Disaster Headquarters,
Fukushima Prefecture). What is needed to be done so that the refugees can return totheir old lives? How to remove radioactive substances, restore the agriculture,
forestry and fisheries industry, and secure food safety? We will promote developing
technologies for the recovery of the living environment.

Research Center for Remediation
Engineering of Living Environments
Contaminated with Radioisotopes,
Tohoku University

Foreign Partner
Organizations

Give Belgian Nuclear
Research Centre University ofMichigan (USA) Shanghai Jiao Tong
University (China)

AdviceAsk

Domestic Partner
Organizations

 Fukushima
University
 Fukushima Medical
University
 University Network
for Nuclear Power
Laboratory

Local Governments

Fukushima City, Fukushima Pref.
Sendai City, Miyagi Pref.
Kurihara City, Miyagi Pref.
Marumori Town, Miyagi Pref.

MethodThe Research Center for Remediation Engineering of Living Environments
Contaminated with Radioisotopes ‐REER‐ struggles with the development of thethree technologies shown below. The REER has a branch office in Fukushima City, incooperation with Fukushima University and Fukushima Medical University to identify
technologies needed by municipalities. The results will be reflected in technology
development.
Three objectives of technology development
1)Development of new technologies to extract and concentrate radioactive cesium
contained in contaminated soil and to use collected radioactive substances effectively2)Development of cultivation methods to grow radiation‐free agricultural products3)Development of large‐aperture gamma ray detection technology for rapid
contamination detection
14

The REER has successfully developed a large‐aperture g‐ray detector whichis capable of measuring radioactivity in a whole foodstuff.

Research Center for Remediation Engineering of Living
Environments Contaminated with Radioisotopes,
Tohoku University
Web: http://reer.qse.tohoku.ac.jp/ (in Japanese)

Radioactive Decontamination Project （２）Mission of establishment of tissue archives of animals contaminated by

Zoning map of Fukushima(As of May 7, 2013)

radioactive substancesThis project aims to reveal the radiation impact on environment and animate
beings including human, through assessing the distribution of artificial
radionuclides in animals of the Restricted Area including cattle and wild animals,
and constructing a tissue bank. Then, we will contribute to improvement inpublic health and radiation safety.

Kawamata
Town

Tamura City

In response to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, a'Restricted Area‘ had been designated in the 20km radius around the nuclear
plant in April 2011. Approximately 3,400 cows, 31,500 pigs, and 63,000 chickens
had been left in the area. In May 2011, the Japanese government ordered
Fukushima Prefecture to euthanize farm animals, in order to forestall the
consumption of radio‐contaminated meat.
We have collected tissues from those farm and wild animals and the water andthe soil in the evacuation zone, and made dose assessments of depositedradionuclides in animals. Furthermore, we have worked to establish a tissue
archives of animals, in order to utilize the findings for the future research ofinternal exposure and the prevention of radiation exposure.

Fukushima
Daiichi NPP

Minamisoma
City

Namie Town
FutabaTown
Okuma Town
Tomioka

Town
KawauchiAreas to which evacuation
Villageorders are ready to be lifted
Areas in which the residents
Naraha Town
are not permitted to live
Areas where it is expected that
Hironothe residents have difficulties
Town
in returning for a long time
Restricted Area
Deliberate Evacuation Area
©Reconstruction Agency

The evacuation zoning has been under review since April 2013, and zoning for 11 municipalities
have been rearranged.

Total number of samples(As of June 16,2013)

Living Cows : 238
 Pigs : 57
 Monkeys: 22
 Boars: 5
 Horses: 3

Environment

Radioactive
substances

IitateVillage

Katsurao
Village

MethodEstablishment ofarchive /Impact assessment

Date
City

The research group found the detailed systemic
distribution of radionuclides in cattle attributed to the
Fukushima NPP accident.

Body
distribution

Department of Pathology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer,
Tohoku University
Web: http://www2.idac.tohoku.ac.jp/hisaidoubutsu (in Japanese)

Impacts on thehuman body15Regional Industries Restoration Support Project （１）To provide continuous supports to the restoration of industries and communities in the Tohoku region
Background

In order to restore the stricken areas, it is insufficient to reconstruct only buildings and infrastructures. There are lots of social problems which cannot be solved
by buildings. What must be necessary for the reconstruction of regional industries and communities are clarifying issues and finding solutions through thecontinuing research study of regional industries and communities, and developing human resources capable of making innovation happen.

MissionRegional Innovation Research Center will continuously work on the research study and development of human resources to support the restoration of industries
and communities in the Tohoku region, by conducting 1) the Regional Industry Restoration Research Project and 2) the Regional Innovation Producer School.

Method1) In the Regional Industry Restoration Research Project, researchers continuously investigate the progress of reconstruction and contemplate what kind ofindustries and communities should be desired in the new Tohoku region. Based on the research, the policy proposals and information have been publishedfrom the perspective of the disaster‐affected areas.
2) The Regional Innovation Producer School provides training programs designed for executives, successors of local companies and next‐generation ofbusiness persons in order to develop their abilities of making innovation happen. Through this school we support the creation of new value and activities
leading toward an increase of new job opportunities in the Tohoku Region through developing human resources that can contribute to the revitalization of
the regional industries.
Decrease of
employment
opportunities
and Outflow
of human
resources

Degenerationof regional
economystructural
negative
growth‐spiralInsufficiency
of innovation
by regional
enterprises(1) The new policy
proposal based on thesurvey and research on
the industrial restoration

Limitation of
traditional
industrial
policies andbusinessmodelsIncrease of
employment
opportunities
and Inflow ofhumanresources

Developmentof regional
economy(2) Training and facilitation of
medium‐sized enterprises of
the area in order to produce
innovation

16

New growth‐spiral fromdisaster

Production of
innovation

Conversion of
traditional
industrial
policies andbusinessmodelsRegional Industries Restoration Support Project （２）Development of survey and research activities forthe restoration of regional industries
The activity of the survey and research projects consisted of 12 sub
projects in the fiscal year 2012. A questionnaire survey for 30,000 local
companies in the disaster areas to assess what state these companies
are in, revealed that they had financial problem due to the disaster.
In the fiscal year 2013, 17 sub projects will be launched.

Symposium in Oct, 2012

Publication of research results in Mar, 2013
■The activity of the survey and research project plans in the fiscal year 2013

Regional Innovation Producer School
The Regional Innovation Producer School provides many opportunities
for students to develop knowledge, skills, and mind to makeinnovative business plans, and supports the whole process of theirachievements even though their course is over.
In September 2013, this school accepted 40 students and established
two satellite campuses in Iwate and Fukushima.

To develop
theInnovative
Producers

Development of
Innovations / newbusiness
To support theachievement ofbusiness plans

To help thestudents makebusiness plans‐ Industrial development‐ Job growth‐ Restoration of theregional industries

Regional Innovation Research Center, Tohoku University
Email: rirc@econ.tohoku.ac.jp
Web: http://www.econ.tohoku.ac.jp/econ/english/rirc/■The activity of the Regional Innovation Producer School , in the fiscal year 201217

Industry‐University Collaboration Development Project for Reconstruction
To achieve practical application of science and technology innovations developed in the Tohoku region
Background

Many companies in the Tohoku region have been facing financial, technological, human resource‐related and various other kinds of difficulties since the Great
East Japan Earthquake. With the aim of fostering innovation and strengthening the industrial infrastructure, which serves as the basis for the economic
revitalization of the disaster‐affected areas, it is needed making effective use of technological intellectual property owned by Tohoku University, promoting
and strengthening of cooperation between industry and the university to support the regional economy, and commercialization of products jointly developed
through the cooperation.

Mission

Under the cooperation with regional municipalities and organizations, Tohoku University will make active use of the state measures aimed at restoration. In
order to achieve the industrial rehabilitation of the disaster‐affected areas, we will support companies in the areas, and work towards the commercializationof our technological intellectual property within the framework of the industry‐academia‐government collaboration.

MethodTohoku University has joined the following four industry‐academia‐government
collaboration projects.

1) Tohoku Innovative Materials Technology Initiative for Reconstruction

Tohoku University promotes this project as a research hub in collaboration with
regional universities and businesses. The project aims to create innovativetechnological advances for practical uses in three technology fields that Tohoku
University is currently leading globally.
This project focuses on the development of innovative materials that incorporate
world class cutting‐edge technology and intends to further advance thedevelopment of Tohoku's material industry, thus contributing to thereconstruction of the Tohoku region.
（URL：http://www.tohoku‐timt.net/english/index.html）

2) Tohoku Innovation Project in the field of science and technology‐‐ Cluster Formation Project for next‐generation car industries‐‐ Cluster Formation Project for medical device industries■Tohoku Innovative Materials Technology Initiative for Reconstruction（URL: http://sendai‐cyber.icr‐eq.co.jp/en/index.html）

3) Reconstruction Promotion Program4) Establishment of the industry‐university‐government cooperative Open
Innovation Center in the material field
18

Industry‐University Cooperation Division,
Research Cooperation Department, Tohoku University
Tel: ：+81‐22‐217‐5907
Email: sangaku@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp

Reconstruction Action 100＋＋ （１）“Reconstruction Action 100⁺(Plus)” is the generic name of more than
100 various voluntary projects to support the reconstruction andrevitalization process in which Tohoku University’s faculty members
have engaged in.
Immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, we
arrived at the disaster affected areas and started support activities.
Tohoku University Hospital sent emergency medical teams to the areasand carried out medical activities, and the experts on earthquake andtsunami conducted field surveys.
Reconstruction Action 100⁺ was born from our thoughts made byasking ourselves what we should do for the recovery from the disasterand for the regeneration of Tohoku and Japan.
While taking advantage of our own knowledge and specialty, we arepromoting those wide range activities as follows.

Support activities
for affected people
Survey andunderstanding extent
of damage

Recovery andreconstruction
activities

Disasterprevention andmitigation
measures

Improvement of
infrastructure andother facilities
Industrial
reconstruction andresearch anddevelopment● Development of the training program for the religious professionals● Grass‐roots radiation monitor in Fukushima

The 3.11 tsunami cost many lives. It further resulted inserious psychological damage among people in theaffected areas, especially, family members of thevictims and survivors of the tsunami.
Since the disaster, a volunteer group consisting of
religious professionals like Buddhist monks, Christianministers, medial professionals, and religions scholars
have visited the affected areas to support the affected
people. They soon realized that psycho‐spiritual relief
work can offer comfort, soothe psychological pains
and can help to get through the loss of loved ones.
Tohoku University launched a new counseling skills
training program for religious professionals who offer
practical spiritual care based on a variety of religions
and denominations.

This project was launched by Miharu Town Hall in Fukushima
Prefecture and volunteers of Tohoku University, with the aim towatch the growth of Miharu’s children.
The town was richly endowed with nature, and peaceful.
However, the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident of March2011 made things turn around. People in the town have been
deeply concerned about radioactive contamination and rumors
since then.
The project members regularly doradiation monitoring at the playgroundsof all schools in the town. Also, they
distribute personal dosimeters to about
1,400 children in the town and check its
radiation dose.

http://www.sal.tohoku.ac.jp/p‐religion/diarypro/diary.cgi?no=91

19

Reconstruction Action 100＋ （２）● International planning studio for the reconstruction● Establishment of the digital archive of disaster remains

From January to June 2012, an international planning studio was held and
80 representatives from Princeton University, Columbia University, UCLA,
EPFL, Seika University, and Tohoku University took part in.
Each university worked on the planningof the landscape in the coast area,
Sendai City, with the aim of disaster
reduction and the mourning.
Those proposals were submitted to
SendaiCityforthefurtherreconstruction of the area.

A building pushed over sideways, a large vessel remaining strandedashore, and … Such “disaster remains” still reminds us of theviolence of the tsunami and the devastating damage. Opinions havebeen divided over whether those remains should be preserved or
removed.
Some people believe, “It is necessary to conserve the disasterremains in order to keep its memory from fading, as well as throughwords and footage about the catastrophe.”On the other hand, some people who lost relatives or friends at suchsites have demanded the structures be removed, saying, “Even a
glimpse of the building is painful because they always remind us of
the disaster.” However, leaving these wrecked structures disturb thereconstruction process, and the preservation is also very costly for
local governments.
As time passed, these disaster remains have been demolished one
after another. The Tohoku University Museum has taken pictures of
the remains by laser scanner and created 3D computer‐generated
images before the remains are dismantled. With the aim to pass thelessons from the disaster to future generations, we will establish thedigital archive of disaster remains.

Joint inspection of the target area, Mar 2012

● Agricultural Reconstruction Project
The Tohoku region boasts a beautiful natural and the agriculture, forestry
and fisheries industry. However, the 3.11 earthquake and tsunami caused a
lot of damage in the rich farmlands and fishing grounds. For the disasterrecovery of the Tohoku region, the restoration of those industries carries
great weight.
Agricultural Reconstruction Project consisting of a total of 36 activities
assists in restoration of the agriculture, forestry and fisheries industry, suchas planting rape blossoms in farmlands damaged by seawater, supporting
reconstruction of oyster farms, and saving the farm animals in theevacuation zone surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

A vessel scanned by a 3D laser scanner

The rape blossoms project has been armed with citizen volunteer.

20

3D computer‐generated image of a vessel

CREATIVITY TOHOKU UNIVERSITY

Institute for Disaster Reconstruction and Regeneration Research,
Tohoku University
2‐1‐1 Katahira, Aoba‐ku, Sendai 980‐8577 JAPANE‐mail: skk‐som@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp
http://www.idrrr.tohoku.ac.jp/ (in Japanese)Tohoku University
Reconstruction Action
Printed in October 2013

Vol. 3