Photo/Illutration Takayuki Nakadaira poses at the Kamaishi city government office in Iwate Prefecture. (Masakazu Higashino)

KAMAISHI, Iwate Prefecture--"Prince Container" is glued to his cellphone, deftly fielding calls from shipping company executives and cargo owners, lobbying them to use the port here to handle their goods.

The man, otherwise known as Takayuki Nakadaira, earned the nickname from the town's mayor, Takenori Noda, in honor of his achievements in bringing business back to Kamaishi Port after it was devastated by the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami.

But Nakadaira, 47, born and raised here, isn't talking up the port as a private salesman. He works for the local city government.

That doesn't prevent him from being every bit as ambitious to win business partners for the port, which he imagines one day could rival Singapore for shipping.

“Thank you for your help the other day," he tells the person on the other end of his call. "What's the matter today?” he asks, empathetically.

“Singapore, which now serves as the global distribution center, was initially a small fishing village,” Nakadaira says. “Kamaishi can do the same.”

The Great East Japan Earthquake resulted in Kamaishi Port losing its contracts to handle shipments of 20,000 new cars that passed in and out of the port per year. 

But Nakadaira was undiscouraged and succeeded in introducing a new regular cargo transportation route by going all out to tap his connections, calling 300 freight owners to urge them to use Kamaishi Port at the time.

“Loyalty and being compassionate have deep significance in the industry,” Nakadaira said. “Many companies come forward if we sincerely explain our circumstances.”

His efforts resulted in raising the port’s cargo shipments 80-fold from before the disaster by establishing a regular course directly connected to overseas, introducing a power source for huge cranes and freezing containers donated from another port operator.

Despite the novel coronavirus pandemic, the number of shippers climbed last year. A road network linking the port with inland areas has lately been made available, providing additional momentum.

Nakadaira has been building connections with individuals working in Kamaishi Port for nearly 20 years through aggressive meetings and interactions with them. Taking advantage of the ties, he links businesses with each other to promote the port’s use.

“The city government is a neutral organization,” he said. “For that very reason, our information can inspire confidence.”

Since becoming a municipal official in Kamaishi, he has also discussed ways with his superiors to "revitalize the town that was falling into decline due to a slump in the ironmaking industry, (a main pillar for the local economy).” 

After he was temporarily dispatched to the transport ministry at the municipality's recommendation, he was involved in port-related work that got him thinking that the way to help Kamaishi was to boost its maritime shipping.

Since returning to the city government, Nakadaira has spent most of his time at what is now known as the municipality’s international port and harbor industry division.

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