Visit Report on Earthquake and Tsunami Crisis Zone in Iwate Prefecture
March 11,2011, quite big earthquake attacked all east coast Japan with magnitude 9, followedby tremendous tsunami, and Fukushima nuclear plant incident. On July 22 and 24, about 80
persons visited north shore and south shore lines by two buses, which was planned by OEAJ withJCRE main supporting organization. Iwate prefecture fully supported this observation. The
following is a report with several pictures.
２．１North shoreline in Iwate Prefecture
On July 22, we started Morioka Station by bus at 13:00, and arrived at Kuji city at 15:30. Where,
we heard explanation of damage status. In Kuji city with population 36,875, it was death 4,unconfirmed 2, housing destroy 65, whose number was quite little compared with other zones,
while 500 people worked close to shoreline inaddition to the resident close to shoreline.
The reason why was (1) routine drill
performed big effect resulting quick escaping
from the risky place, and (2) to have enabled
tsunami arrival to be late by means of double
installed wave protection walls though thesewere hard damaged and destroyed a lot. Also,
geography was merit such as three rivers
into the city. The height of tsunami was 8.6m.
All fishery boats were gone away.
Then, we moved to Moda-mura and arrived at 16:00 there. Several town officers waited us.
With 4,632 population, damage were death 38, unconfirmed 17, destroyed houses 309. The town
took a big damage by more than 12m height tsunami over walls for wave protection. Wall wasdestroyed over 100m. The mound of railway was completely missing together with rails. Broken
pine tree seems crying toward blue sky. We arrived at Morioka station at 20:00.

２．２Southern side of shoreline in Iwate prefecture
On July 24, today is Sunday. We started Morioka station at 08:30, and moved to Kamaishi city.
In the rest place of the way, we found out 10kW Magnum wind turbine, which is very uniquedesign.

At 11:30, we arrived at Kamaishi, and took
explanation from municipal officers. The
damage was death 869, unconfirmed 361,
house destroy 3,723, and still 1,354 persons
are living in school gyms and equivalent. We
looked at a lot of debris and collided unmoved
tankers in the wharf. According to themunicipal officer, 10 towns adjacent toKamaishi city had diminished by tsunami,bringingaway
bothpeople,
houses,everything. Explained was the damage
caused by 10% earthquake and 90% tsunami.
The ground level sank 60-100cm.
At 12:30, we moved toward Rikuzen Takada
city. We saw the five stage mansion which wasdamaged completely up to the four stage andslightly only fifth stage kept the shape as itwas. As the bus goes to the south, we looked atsame scenery alongside the shoreline road, alot of debris mountains, broken houses, broken
bridge, infinite wide and wild plains.
At 14:15, we arrived at Rikuzen Takada city,
and we could ride out from bas. It was amiserable scenery. The center of city had
completely diminished by the tsunami.
The 70,000 pine trees planted morethan during 100 years also completelygone except only one tree. By means ofground sinking, sea water is still there
like lake. Instant death 1,524,
unconfirmed where gone 579, injured
personnel impossible counting, stillevacuated life in gym etc 1,917 in 50
places. A bunch of broken vehicle was
piled and collected in the wild plain.
We sincerely thought we must
do something on behalf ofdamaged persons suffered bynatural tremendous disaster.
With such a sincere impression,
we arrived at Morioka station at
17:00.