# Column Efforts towards Creating the “New Tohoku”

Even before the earthquake disaster, the Tohoku region faced significant amounts of the challenges of which many other regions currently face, like population decline, aging population, and de-industrialization. For this reason, instead of merely restoring the region to the level before the earthquake, we are working on using the reconstruction opportunities of disaster recovery to overcome some of these challenges to create a national and global model of “New Tohoku.”

First, we are implementing the “New Tohoku” cutting edge model creation project, based on advice from a wide range of leaders (such as companies, universities, and NPOs), to accelerate the pioneering efforts. For example, in terms of town development, in FY2013 Rikuzentakata City, Iwate adopted the concept of “Sharing life with family and friends, appreciating enjoyments close to home,” and began to work on designing residential districts that reflected the opinions and ideas of actual residents. This included having workshops for residents to endeavour to design meeting facilities that are easy to gather at, and makes people want to meet there.

Also, in the construction of disaster public housing being advanced in each area, there are many that have incorporated "creativity" for solving future regional challenges, and "particularity" in design to highlight the advantages and characteristics of the region and towns. For example, at the housing complex constructed in Otsuchi Town, Iwate, in addition to installing verandas in each residential unit, they have also placed a meeting facility and a square at the entrance to the housing complex as a place for community building for the whole region, using creativity to create opportunities for pedestrians and residents to have daily interaction.

In these ways, the areas affected by disaster are using both 'hard' and 'soft' approaches to start initiatives that aim for community development, and active, comfortable lifestyles. These initiatives are not limited to disaster affected areas. Our hope is to extend these efforts to other regions nationwide that are facing the same challenges.

Disaster Public Housing, Ogakuchi District,

Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture

Source) Reconstruction Agency

(Reference) "New Tohoku" Case Studies of Well-Designed Residences

http://www.reconstruction.go.jp/portal/juutaku_koukyou/20131206171957.html

## Section 4 Securing Local Public Transportation and Promoting Tourism

## (1) Securing Local Public Transportation

In regards to the local public transportation, which suffered damages from the Great East Japan Earthquake, we are taking exceptional measures such as mitigating the auxiliary requirements for The Program for Ensuring, Maintenance and Improvement of Local Public Transportation Systems to support the securing and maintaining of local public transportation systems such as buses and share taxis in disaster affected areas. Specifically, these measures support the securing and maintaining of inter-regional mainline bus transportation networks, as well as community bus transportation for daily commutes between evacuation shelters, temporary housing, remaining settlements, and newly built housing, hospitals, shops and public agencies. From FY 2012, the maximum limit for financial aid to community bus transportation was increased for conditions that meet specific requirements.