Tohoku University
Reconstruction Action Vol.2
Seeking to play a leading role in “the reconstruction of Japan”

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 a major
university located at the center of the affected 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 and the intense shaking lasted about three minutes. The
epicentral area was located off the coast from Iwate to Ibaraki. About
30 to 60 minutes after the earthquake, a massive tsunami hit a wide
area along the coast of the Pacific Ocean extending from Aomori to
Chiba Prefectures. With the wave run‐up height exceeding 40 meters
in some places, the tsunami caused devastating damage to coastal
areas. In Fukushima, a nuclear power plant was destroyed by theearthquake 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.
The earthquake and tsunami caused 15,870 deaths, with 2,814 people
still listed as missing, and 394,356 buildings were completely or
partially destroyed. (Source: “Koho Shiryo (Publicity Bulletin)” dated
Sep 10, 2012 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 tothe nuclear power plant accident that was triggered by theearthquake and tsunami disaster, reached about 470,000 people on
the third day after the disaster. One and a half years have alreadygone by; even now about 330,000 people still have to evacuate.
(Source: Data dated on September 12, 2012 provided by the
Reconstruction Headquarters in response to the Great East Japan
Earthquake of the Reconstruction Agency).
In the midst of this unprecedented disaster, people in the affectedareas acted in a moral, orderly manner, which received high praisefrom around the world. On the other hand, however, the fragility of
the infrastructure for risk management and security maintenance wasrevealed. The urban functions of the affected areas were paralyzed by
the disaster to a far greater extent than expected. Although one and ahalf years have passed since the disaster, there still remain many
issues, works toward recovery and reconstruction from the disasterwere really yet to start.

Flooded area

Sendai

Outside 80km radius
Epicenter©Geospatial Information Authority of Japan

 Magnitude (Richter Scale) : M 9.0
 Maximum Seismic Intensity: 7
 Total flooded area: 561 km2

In Fukushima Prefecture, a nuclear power plant
was hit by the tsunami, magnifying the disaster.
(Source provided by the Fukushima Prefecture
Police Department)

Fukushima No.1
NPP
©Geospatial Information Authority of JapanThe disaster‐affected areas have taken steps slowly
toward recovery, Sep 15, 2012.

2

What can the university do? – Efforts by Tohoku University
Under these circumstances, Tohoku University, despite damage to research facilities and laboratories, has made rapid progress along theroad to recovery and has initiated the “Brand New Tohoku University” project.
How can the university best serve, with its academic resources, efforts to recover from the disaster, and prevent or mitigate futuredisasters? As probably the only university in the world that has experienced a disaster of this scale, what can Tohoku University do? Weshould contribute to the rebirth of Japan by creating new values and also by addressing issues of post‐disaster reconstruction, which arecommon to all mankind. These are the concepts behind our efforts in post‐disaster reconstruction.

Major Efforts by Tohoku University toward Recovery
and Reconstruction from the Disaster

The Tohoku University Regional Reconstruction Project “HARU,” a volunteer groupmainly consisting of students, is also engaged in the conservation of cultural properties.

Tohoku University Hospital focused all its efforts on receiving patients immediately
after the disaster in cooperation with affected municipalities.

3

Institute for Disaster Reconstruction and Regeneration Research
As an university located at the center of the disaster‐affected area ,Tohoku University will continue to play a leading role in reconstructing Tohoku and in revitalizing Japan.
To accomplish the aim, Tohoku University established in April 2011 the Institute for Disaster Reconstruction and Regeneration Research,which was positioned as an organization to be engaged in research, education and societal contribution strategically and systematically andcommunicate results of its activities to the public and apply them in practical settings. It is our aim to make one‐stop services available toimplement reconstruction visions and plans in cooperation with the government and ministerial agencies, local governments and citizens,and related institutions and companies in Japan and abroad. We have launched “Eight Projects,” and promoted and supported“Reconstruction Action 100⁺” through flexible operation and participation by the entire university in line with the three missions.

Missions
Mission1 Contributing to post‐disaster reconstruction and regional regeneration
Mission2 Creating a multidisciplinary center of excellence for post‐disaster reconstruction
Mission3 Establishing a cross‐disciplinary research organization to conduct problem‐solving projects

Schemes that can respond flexibly tovarious needs (possibilities)

Institute for Disaster
Reconstruction andRegeneration ResearchCenter for gathering the collective wisdom of
foreign and Japanese institutions

Cooperation with national and local governments（contribution to reconstruction vision / plans
through One‐stop Services)

Government
Ministerial agencies
Local Governments
Citizens
Related Institutions / Companies
In Japan and abroad4＋Eight Projects/Reconstruction Action 100

Eight Projects
Project1 International Research Projects on Disaster Science

P.6‐7

Project2 Project for the Reconstruction of Community Health Care P.8‐9
Project3 Project for Environmental Energy

P.10‐11

Project4 ICT Reconstruction Project

P.12

Project5 Tohoku Marine Science Project

P.13

Project6 Radioactive Decontamination Project

P.14

Project7 Regional Industries Restoration Support Project

P.15

Industry‐University Collaboration Development
Project for Reconstruction

P.16

Project8

Reconstruction Action 100⁺
● Relief activities for affected people● Survey and understanding extent of damage● Recovery and reconstruction activities● Disaster prevention and mitigation measures● Improvement of infrastructure and other facilities● Industrial reconstruction and research and development

P. 18‐195

International Research Projects on Disaster Science （１）The International Research Institute of Disaster Science ‐ IRIDeS ‐its aim is to become a world center for the study of disasters and disaster mitigation.
Creation of “the action‐oriented Disaster Science”
Disaster mitigation management aims to reduce or avoid the potential losses from natural hazards, to assure prompt assistance tovictims, to achieve rapid and effective recovery, and to build disaster‐resilient and sustainable societies, by five stages of thedisaster management cycle; Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Reconstruction. The action‐oriented research of
the IRIDeS is a pursue of each point in the cycle and integrating and universalizing the scientific discoveries to be dedicated to theworld.
The IRIDeS creates a new academia of disaster mitigation that subsumes the lessons from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake andtsunami disaster and the findings of the world‐leading research into our societies with the aim of establishing the social systems
responding promptly, sensibly and effectively to natural disasters, withstanding the adversities with resiliency, passing andexploiting the lessons to the forthcoming disaster management cycles.

Logo meaning
The IRIDeS logo means the deformalized image of the Japanese character of disaster （災） turned upside down, based on the ideaof Japanese saying “Turn your misfortune to good account.” It represents our mission of learning the lessons from the Great East
Japan Earthquake and pursuing effective disaster management to build sustainable and resilient societies. The name of theinstitute is abbreviated as IRIDeS and pronounced ee‐ree‐dis based on irides, the plural of iris, which symbolizes “hope andintegrity.”

IRIDeS Logo

Execution of the joint research agreement between
German Aerospace Center and the IRIDes in Jul, 2012.

The IRIDes Opening Ceremony in May, 2012. Guests fromdomestic and international partner organizations were invited.

6International Research Projects on Disaster Science （２）Research Divisions

Research Fields

Creation of the action‐oriented Disaster Science

1)Hazard and Risk
Evaluation Research
Division・Earthquake Engineering
・Technology for Optimum Mitigation
・Disaster Potential Study・Technology for Global Disaster Risk
・Science and technology for low‐frequency Risk Evaluation
・Tsunami Engineering
・Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics for Disaster Management

2)Human and Social
Response Research
Division

・Disaster‐related Cognitive Science
・Japanese Disaster Culture
・Preservation of Historical Materials ・Comparative Mitigation Society
・Disaster Legislation
・Affected Area Supportology
・Social Systems for Disaster Mitigation3)Regional and Urban
Reconstruction
Research Division

・Technology for Urban Resuscitation
・Regional Safety Engineering・International Strategy for Disaster Mitigation
・Radiation Decontamination Science
・Disaster Robotics4)Disaster Science
Division・Marine Geodesy Research・Space Environment Disaster Research・Volcanic Hazard Research・Natural Disaster Research・Atmospheric and Oceanic Disaster Research・Seismic Hazard Research・Geologic Hazard Research5)Disaster Medical
Science Division

・International Cooperation for Disaster Medicine
・Radiation Disaster Medicine
・Disaster‐related Public Health・Disaster Obstetrics and Gynecology
・Disaster Medical Informatics
・Disaster‐related Infectious Disease
・Disaster Psychiatry6)Disaster Information
Management and Public
Collaboration Division

・Digital Disaster Archive・Disaster Reconstruction Design & Management
・International and Regional Cooperation OfficePartner Organizations●Overseas
Harvard University (USA)The University of California, Los Angeles (USA)The University of Hawaii (USA)
George Washington University (USA)
United States Geological Survey (USA)
Tsinghua University (China)
The Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)
National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan)
The University of London (UK)German Aerospace Center (Germany)
The University of New South Wales (Australia)
Istanbul Technical University (Turkey)
The University of Florence (Italy)
Delft University of Technology (Netherlands)
Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand)Institute Technology Bandung (Indonesia)
The Russian Academy of Science (Russia)●JapanKobe University
Fukushima University
Iwate University
Yamagata University
Ibaraki University
Tohoku Gakuin University
Tohoku University of Art & Design
Earthquake Research Institute, The Universityof Tokyo
Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto
University
Research Institute for Natural Hazard andDisaster Recovery, Niigata University
Disaster Mitigation Research Center, Nagoya
University
Japanese Association for Disaster Medicine
Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation
Institution
The Japanese Society of Psychiatry and
Neurology
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Japan Agency for Marine‐Earth Science andTechnology

7Project for the Reconstruction of Community Health Care （１）Two major missions: development of healthcare professionals providing local health care services andestablishment of a Biobank
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 healthcare professionals who lost their jobs increased. In addition, valuable medical
information, including patients’ medical records, was also lost. Our efforts will be focused on contributing to improve the system of
educating healthcare professionals with Tohoku University Hospital as its core. We also aim to contribute to reconstructing local healthcare
networks to provide affected people with healthcare services, establishing an advanced medical system, including use of a database of
medical information, and creating industries in the Tohoku region.

（1）The Comprehensive Training Center for Community Medicine
The Comprehensive Training Center for Community Medicine
1) employs healthcare providers, who were affected by the Great East
Japan Earthquake by offering positions related to advanced medicine at the
Tohoku University Hospital and runs a training center equipped with cutting‐edge simulators to offer them opportunities for continuous training; and has
developed a self‐contained system under which healthcare professionals
who have improved their knowledge and skills through training are offeredan opportunity to work in local health care settings.

Tohoku University◆Graduate School of Medicine◆University Hospital◆Graduate School of Dentistry◆Institute of Development, Aging & Cancer

Comprehensive Training Center forCommunity Medicine

2) invites healthcare professionals who are engaged in disaster medicine in
the disaster‐affected area to provide students with lectures on practicaldisaster medicine covering an extensive range of fields to develop
professionals who will be engaged in community/disaster medicine.

Education◆Highly specialized healthcare
professionals who have updated
their skills◆Pooling of specialists incommunity medicine◆Abundant knowledge andexperience of disaster‐affected
areas

In Community Medicine,◆Exchange ofprofessionals/Employment in thearea where training has been
provided◆Prevention of the outflow ofhuman resources◆Improvement of the level ofhealthcare services

Medicalstudents
Education

Deployment oftrained healthcare
professionals

Accepting of medical
staffs from thedisaster‐affectedarea

Hospital in thedisaster‐ affected area8

Project for the Reconstruction of Community Health Care （２）（2）Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization
Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization promotes the Tohoku Medical Megabank project that consists of reconstruction of community medical
institutions, establishment of information infrastructure for collaboration in community health care, and Biobank Project.
In the Biobank Project, a long‐term health survey on residents in the disaster‐affected area is conducted. Data obtained from the cohort studies will be
used, in cooperation with leading research institutions in Japan, to form a global research center for genomic medical care, genomic preventive medicine,
drug development, and translational research.

Regional medical institutes / clinics
supporting disaster areas

1. Information infrastructure forcollaboration in community health care
Clinical Information Network

Tohoku Region

Established and operated througha cooperative agreement among
disaster‐affected prefectures
Local
University
hospitals○Establishment of information infrastructure forcollaboration in community health care

Tohoku University Hospital, etc.

Signed a cooperation agreement between Miyagi Prefecture
and Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization in Sep, 2012.

Local
University
hospitals
Medical information of residents will be
used, after obtaining their informed
consent to use of their clinical data andother personal information, to constructlocal resident’s cohort and for otherpurposes.

Nationwide

Tohoku University , etc.
○Three‐generation cohort, Local residents’ cohort○Analysis of biological samples, tailored medicine

Partner
Universities

To be conducted under the leadership ofTohoku University

Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization Logo

2. Biobank

ToMMO(pronounced toe‐mow) means “friends” and “together” in Japanese

Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization will continue towork closely with regional communities.

RIKEN

National
Center“Three‐generation cohort + Local residents’ cohort”
Compilation of analytical information in a database
Drug development research/Individualized medicine

9Project for Environmental Energy （１）Building of advanced disaster‐resistant communities and transformation into next‐generation energy sources,
as part of the reconstruction of the Tohoku region
The 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 this context, Tohoku University believes that it is necessary developing a new clean energy and establishing an energy management system to ensure asteady power supply. We have been working in research and development on clean energy technology in order to fulfill our aim which is to help promote
the reconstruction of the Tohoku region and the solution of Japan’s energy problems.
Tohoku University plays a central role as the core institution of a consortium 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
renewable energies 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 andvehicle mobility

Research Representative

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

Sendai Mayor

The consortium members gathered at the kickoff symposium in Sep, 2012.
The mayors from the five cities shared their thoughts and hopes for thisproject.

Tohoku University

10

Project for Environmental Energy （２）Building integrated community energy management systems enabling human and vehicle mobility
with a focus on renewable energy (conceptual drawing)
Ishinomaki City (coastal) : Application to Disaster‐Stricken Locality

Algae biofuel power plant
Aiming to supply electricity to official vehicles
and city hall

Smart houses(collective relocation)
Community bus station

50 kW solar power plant
Supplying electricity tocommunity buses and bus
stations

Official vehicles (EV/PHV)

50 kW solar power plant
Supplying electricity to community
buses and bus stations

Smart bus station

Community buses (EV)Using renewable energy for community buses operating
between the downtown area and the residential area on ahill where citizens were collectively relocated11

ICT Reconstruction Project
Resolving issues and concerns associated with ICT infrastructure that have been revealed
following the Great East Japan Earthquake
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.
In response to these issues, Tohoku University established in October 2011 the Research Organization of Electrical Communication (ROEC) which is a cross‐cuttingorganization. In January 2012, the comprehensive collaboration arrangement between Tohoku University and the National Institute of Information andCommunications Technology (NICT) was entered, and the world‐leading research center named Resilient ICT Research Center was established in April 2012. These
organizations have been making steady progress in addressing the issues with aims to develop disaster‐resistant information communication infrastructure and toform the center to demonstrate research results.

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

Adaptive and dependable
communication linkeven in disasters

Transmission capacity
handling rapid traffic
growthTransmission
media andhardwaretechnology

Data disaster protection,
Wide‐area distributed
cloud storage
Services and software technology

ICT medical support
and agent system

Collaboration with local governments
and universities in Tohoku region

Creative reconstruction of disaster areas using ICT◆Construction of disaster‐resistant safe and secure future city using ICT◆Promotion of local industries through research & development of ICT

Ultra‐low power
consumption
devices

Traffic congestion
control
Never‐die network

Network layers
technology

Materials and devices technology

All Japan network Industry‐academia‐
government collaboration

Global collaboration
network

Industry‐academia and global center in ICT area
◆Launch and promotion of new industries in the fields of ICT andelectronics◆World‐leading research & development of innovative ICT technology

12Tohoku Marine Science Project
Launch of the Tohoku Ecosystem‐Associated Marine Sciences(TEAMS)The great earthquake and massive tsunami that occurred on March 11 affected and significantly damaged the marine environment, which provides us with theocean’s bounty. At present it is totally unknown how seriously the marine ecosystem and environment have been affected by the pile‐up of a large amount ofdebris, loss of seaweed beds and tidelands, which serve as habitats for organisms, sand and mud deposited on reefs, destruction of transitional zones between
land and sea due to ground subsidence, and spread of heavy oil and radioactive substances.
To achieve recovery of the fishing industry and reconstruction of the affected areas, it is essential to conduct surveys to identify the damage and to launch newindustries.
The TEAMS is conducted with Tohoku University as its representative and the University of Tokyo’s Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI) and theJapan Agency for Marine‐Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) as deputy representatives, with the collaboration of Kitasato University, Tokyo University ofMarine Science and Technology, Iwate University, and Tokai University. Under the collaboration of these research institutes, the “Tohoku Marine Science Research
Conference” was established to conduct four research projects to survey the impacts of the disaster on the marine environment and ecosystem. Of these four
projects, Tohoku University has been assigned to Project1.

The Tohoku Ecosystem‐Associated Marine Sciences (TEAMS)
Tohoku MS Committee(assessment/advice)

The University of Tokyo

AORI
Project 2 : Elucidation of
the mechanism of marine
ecosystem change

External advisers,
Research
institutions,
local governments,
etc.

Project1 : Elucidation of the process of change
in the fishery environment1) Surveys on the fishery environment ( Examining the impacts of thedisaster and building an observing system ）OtsuchiTohoku Marine
Science Research
Conference

TohokuUniversity
Tohoku University
Marine Science
Restoration Support
OfficeProject1 : Elucidation of
the process of change
in the fisheryenvironment

Onagawa

JAMSTEC
Marine/extreme
environmental biosphere

Project3 : Elucidation of the mechanism ofchange in the offshore seabed ecosystem
Project4: Development andimplementation of data sharing andpublishing functions in the TEAMS■Environmental research on a regular basis
using a Tohoku University research vessel■Building a real‐time observing system
for marine environment2) Surveys on the fishery environment (Elucidation of the recovery
process of costal ecosystem destroyed by tsunami ）3) Surveys on the propagation and aquaculture environment (Supplying
seeds and studying a sustainable production management system）
4）Current situation surveys on the marine environment (in cooperation
with Kitasato University)13Radioactive Decontamination Project
Recovery of the living environment from contamination by radioactive substances
The spread of radioactive substances caused by the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima No.1 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 ofhuman bodies caused by exposure to radioactive substances still remain.
What we basically need to remove radioactive substances, restore living conditions, and dispel unfounded rumors are to elucidate the mechanism of radioactive
contamination and develop a decontamination technology, to investigate the impact of radioactive substances on living creatures and/or human bodies, and toprovide the public with accurate and useful findings and data based on science.

(1) Development of technology to restore the living environment
contaminated by radioactive substances(2) Establishment of animal archives contaminated by radioactive
substances

The Research Center for Remediation Engineering of Living Environments
Contaminated with Radioisotopes was established to initiate in fiscal year 2012
the three technologies shown below. Detailed methods for these technologies
will be determined in the latter half of the project period. A branch office wasestablished in Fukushima City, too, in cooperation with Fukushima University andFukushima Medical University to identify technologies needed by municipalities.
The results will be reflected in technology development.

There are concerns about the influence of the spread of radioactive substanceson ecosystems. The objective of the project is to set up an organ bank with dataon radionuclides and radioactivity deposited in the internal organs of farm andwild animals together with the water and the soil in the evacuation areasurrounding the power plant. Organs are collected from disposed animals thatwere exposed to radiation due to the nuclear power plant accidents. Based on
the results, researchers will assess how much radioactivity has been deposited
via environmental media and in which organs of the body, with the aim ofproviding basic information for further research on biological influence.

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
products
3) Development of large‐aperture gamma ray detection technology for rapid
contamination detection

LivingSociety

HealthAgriculture,
forestry andfishing■Decontamination of the playground of a primary school in Miyagi Prefecture

Water / Air

Global environment

14

Regional Industries Restoration Support Project
To provide continuous supports to the restoration of industries and communities in the Tohoku region
In order not only to restore the stricken areas to pre‐disaster situation, but also to enable these to flourish more than before, 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 the continuing research study of regional industries and communities, and developing humanresources capable of making innovation happen.
Our project consists of two parts: the first is the Regional Industry Restoration Research Project, in which researchers continuously investigate the progress ofreconstruction and contemplate what kind of industries and communities should be desired in the new Tohoku region. Based on the research, the policy proposals andinformation will be published from the perspective of the disaster‐affected areas. The second is the Regional Innovative Producer School. It provides training programs
designed for executives, successors of local companies and next‐generation of business persons in order to develop their abilities of making innovation happen. Throughthis school we support the creation of new value and activities leading toward an increase of new job opportunities in the Tohoku Region through developing humanresources that can contribute to the revitalization of the regional industries. The school started experimentally with 12 students in fiscal 2012, and we are planning toaccept 30 students from the fiscal 2013.

Systematically coordinated collaboration among organizations
supporting projects engaged in the reconstruction of regional industries■Publications of research results in March, 2012

(Regional universities, regional economic organizations, government agencies,
municipalities, etc.)

Regional Industries
Restoration Research Project
Making long‐period of surveys and research withthe help of researchers of other regional
universities and research institutions, we
propose policies to restore regional industries
and strategies on regionally specific topics.

Regional Innovative Producer School
We provide the courses for business persons todevelop and refine their new ideas, which makethem feasible business projects under the
support of experienced instructors. Furthermore,
we also teach how to manage novel businesscreation both practically and theoretically.

SupportBusiness projects

Project
makingInnovation
project

Innovation
project

Innovation
project

Innovation
project

Innovation
project

Innovation
project

Innovation
project

Innovation
project■The initiation ceremony of the Regional
Innovative Producer School in May, 201215

Industry‐University Collaboration Development Project for Reconstruction
To achieve practical application of science and technology innovations developed in the Tohoku region
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, our efforts in this project are focused on contributing to the revitalization of the regional economy through effective use of technological intellectual
property ("IP") owned by Tohoku University, promotion and strengthening of cooperation between industry and the university to support the regional economy, andcommercialization of products jointly developed through cooperation between companies and university researchers.
To achieve the above objectives, Tohoku University will further strengthen the cooperative relationships with industrial organizations (Tohoku Economic Federation,
Miyagi Industrial Association, etc.) and municipalities in Miyagi Prefecture and make full use of the reconstruction policies of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and other government agencies so that the university can devote more effort to producing
technological IP and promoting the transfer of its technology to companies in the disaster‐affected areas. It is our final goal to commercialize our innovative technologicalIP in companies in the disaster‐affected areas in such a way as to contribute to the revitalization of these areas.

Example of reconstruction
efforts (JST)Supporting a model ofregional development
implemented under theleadership of the region
using science andtechnology as an engine
for the reconstruction of
the disaster areas

Reconstruction
Promotion Programs

Achievement of practical application ofscience and technology innovations
developed in the Tohoku region

Supporting innovative concepts forthe reconstruction of the region to
help create innovative technologythat can play a leading role inachieving the rebirth of Japan

Step‐by‐step achievement of what
Tohoku University can do

Industry‐university
cooperative support
using matching planners(Promotion of matching)Development oftechnological IP ofuniversities and otherinstitutions in responseto the needs of thedisaster areas (A‐STEP)
Resolution oftechnological issues in
Tohoku Industrial circles(Industry‐academia
collaboration)
Contribution to building a model ofregional development by
supporting the commercializationof innovative technology

One of the specific efforts by Tohoku University is a project whereintellectual resources are used effectively to support theclustering of automobile‐related industries and the advanced
electronic machine industry to create globally competitive
industrial areas. One of the most noteworthy projects is the“Tohoku University Technological Seeds & Needs Matching
Project,” where, since September 2011, “Matching Conferences”
for “food and agricultural fields,” “IT field” and “manufacturingand medical engineering fields” and “Mono‐zukuri (productmanufacturing) Individual Counseling Meetings” in cooperation
with financial institutions, support organizations, and large
manufacturers of automobiles and advanced electronic machinery
have been organized.

Specific examples of major Tohoku University
business projects‐‐ Tohoku University Technological Seeds & Needs Matching
Project‐‐ Establishment of the industry‐university‐government
cooperative Open Innovation Center in the material field (METI)‐‐ Tohoku‐Originated Material Technology Project (MEXT)‐‐ Reconstruction Promotion Program (JST)‐‐ Cluster Formation Project for next‐generation car industries‐‐ Cluster Formation Project for medical device industries
16

Contact Information
1. International Research Projects on Disaster Science

5. Tohoku Marine Science Project

 IRIDeS ‐ International Research Institute for Disaster Science Marine Science Restoration Support Office, Tohoku University

Tel: +81‐22‐795‐4893
Email: contact@irides.tohoku.ac.jp
Web: http://irides.tohoku.ac.jp/eng/

Tel: ：+81‐22‐717‐8827
Email: agr‐marin@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp
Web: http://www.agri.tohoku.ac.jp/teams/index.html(in Japanese)

2. Project for the Reconstruction of Community Health Care

6. Radioactive Decontamination Project

 Comprehensive Training Center for Community Medicine
Tel: +81‐22‐717‐8010
Email: ctc@med.tohoku.ac.jp
Web: http://www.ctc.med.tohoku.ac.jp/ (in Japanese) Research Center for Remediation Engineering of Living
Environments Contaminated with Radioisotopes
Tel: +81‐22‐795‐7943

 Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization
Tel: +81‐22‐717‐8078
Email: megabank‐shomu@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp
Web: http://www.megabank.tohoku.ac.jp/english/

 Establishment of animal archives contaminated by radioactive
substances (Fukumoto Laboratory, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer)
Tel: +81‐22‐717‐8507
Web: http://www2.idac.tohoku.ac.jp/hisaidoubutsu/(in Japanese)

3. Project for Environmental Energy

7. Regional Industries Restoration Support Project Tohoku Recovery Next‐Generation Energy Research andDevelopment Organization

 Regional Innovation Research Center

Tel: ：+81‐22‐795‐7408
Email: net@mail.kankyo.tohoku.ac.jp
Web: http://www.kankyo.tohoku.ac.jp/net/english/

4. ICT Reconstruction Project ROEC ‐ Research Organization of Electrical Communication,
Tohoku University
Tel: ：+81‐22‐217‐5566
Email: roec‐web@riec.tohoku.ac.jp
Web: http://www.roec.tohoku.ac.jp/en/

Tel: ：+81‐22‐217‐6265
Email: rirc@econ.tohoku.ac.jp
Web: http://www.econ.tohoku.ac.jp/econ/english/rirc/

8. Industry‐University Collaboration Development Project for
Reconstruction
 Industry‐University Cooperation Division, Research Cooperation
Department, Tohoku University
Tel: ：+81‐22‐217‐5907
Email: sangaku@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp

17

＋ ＋
Reconstruction Action 100
Tohoku University faculty members have engaged in “Reconstruction Action 100⁺”, which consists of more than 100 various
voluntary projects to support the reconstruction and revitalization process since the Great East Japan Earthquake. While taking
advantage of our own knowledge and specialty, we are promoting those activities based on six categories as follows.

Relief activities for
affected people
 Support for disaster‐affectedchildren Mental care for disaster‐affected
people Donation of school supplies
and more…

Survey andunderstanding extent ofdamage Identification of victims’ bodies
 Monitoring of radiation andradioactivity
 Assessment of the biologicalenvironment impacts of thetsunami and radiation leakage
and more…

Recovery andreconstruction activities
 Removal of toxic substances fromtsunami sediment Relief and recovery by architects
 Technological support in relation
to the Fukushima Nuclear Power
Plant
and more…

Disaster prevention andmitigation measures

Improvement of
infrastructure and otherfacilities

Industrial reconstruction
and research anddevelopment

 Study on the mechanism of theGreat East Japan Earthquake andapplication of study results inpractical settings
 Development of disasterprevention technology
and more…

 Re‐evaluation of disaster laws andregulations
 Survey of the needs for oral carein disaster‐affected residents andestablishment of a system toprovide oral care services
and more…

 Development of alternative
energy sources Development and deployment ofdisaster‐resistant medical
instruments
and more…

* The activities listed above include projects that have already been completed.

18

Reconstruction Action 100 ＋● Center for Community Health● Rescue activities for disaster‐affectedmuseums● Agricultural Reconstruction Project
Rape Blossoms ProjectJul, 2011

The Center for Community Health provides
support to the local communities in Miyagi
Prefecture that were affected by the Great
East Japan Earthquake.

● Green Restoration Project in the Sea
and Rice Fields

Precious specimens and archaeologicaldocuments were rescued from disaster‐affected museums in Miyagi Prefecture.

The seeds of salt‐tolerant
rape blossoms were sowedin the farmland.

● Development of rescue robot
technology
Sep, 2011

The rape blossoms were in
full bloom. They were soldat grocery stores, and thedisaster‐affected farmers
got income.
This project also provides
the study on the recovery
process of farmlands.
May, 2012© Tsubasa IWABUCHI

Biological monitoring studies of tsunami‐hit
tidelands and rice fields have been promoted
to restore the costal areas.

Vast areas of farmland
were devastated byseawater. Soils were too
saline to sustain crops.
Citizen volunteers helped
to get rid of the tsunami
sediments covering the
farmland.

Rescue robots and related technologies for victim
search and information gathering in piles of rubble
are developed. A rescue robot named “Quince”
that Tohoku University co‐developed with Chiba
Institute of Technology was used for theinvestigation in the heavily damaged buildings of
Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant.

Agricultural Reconstruction Project consisting of morethan 30 activities assists in restoration of the
agriculture, forestry and fisheries industry, such as
planting rape blossoms in farmlands damaged byseawater, supporting reconstruction of oyster farms,
and saving the farm animals in the evacuation zone
surrounding the Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant.

19

Overview of Tohoku University■Organization (as of May 1, 2012)■University Consortia (as of May 1, 2012)■Number of Students (as of May 1, 2012)

Faculties /Schools

10

Graduate Schools

16

Professional Graduate Schools

3

Research Institutes

6■Number of Faculty and Staff

Members (as of May 1, 2012)

SchoolEnrollment

International
Students

Undergraduate Students

10,970138

Graduate Students

7,033

1,064

Students at Affiliated Schools

420Research Students/ Others

403

229

18,448

1,431

Total

Board of Directors

10

Faculty Members

2,992■Agreements on Academic Exchange (as of May 1, 2012)

Administrative/TechnicalStaff/ Others

3,016

University Level Agreements

31 countries/regions

172 institutions

Development Level Agreements

43 countries/regions

335 institutions

Total

6,018

Association of Pacific Rim
Universities(APRU)The Association of
East Asian Research Universities(AEARU)Top Industrial Managers
for Europe(T.I.M.E)

105‐year‐history

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 January 2013

Vol. 2