In the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which devastated vast areas of northeastern Japan, tsunami-affected communities faced difficult decisions in rebuilding.

Recovery efforts included large-scale land elevation and the mass relocation of homes to higher ground.

However, 14 years later, many settlements continue to struggle with population decline, with vacant lots scattered throughout once-vibrant neighborhoods.

How can communities sustain themselves after such catastrophic disasters? The challenge is immense, but many survivors stress the vital role of open and ongoing discussions among residents.

Across Japan, various initiatives are under way to share these experiences with other disaster-stricken regions, fostering collective learning and strengthening long-term recovery efforts.

Since 2011, professor Osamu Tsukihashi’s research lab at Kobe University has been leading a project called “The Town of Memories Workshop,” which has now expanded to more than 60 locations.

Upon request, the team reconstructs disaster-affected districts using aerial photographs and topographical maps, crafting detailed diorama models from Styrofoam.

Students play a key role in assembling these models, meticulously placing each building to recreate the landscape. The initiative aims to provide a meaningful space where disaster survivors can gather, reflect and share their experiences.

Earlier this month, a workshop was held at the community center in Ogi, a coastal district of Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture, which was struck by the magnitude-7.6 Noto Peninsula earthquake on Jan. 1, 2024.

Students from Kanazawa University, Waseda University and the National Institute of Technology Ishikawa College collaborated with Tsukihashi’s lab on the project.

Together, approximately 40 students constructed a detailed 5-meter-square model. As visiting residents added color to the model, they reflected on their past and shared memories of their community.

Later this month, residents from Otsuchi, a town in Iwate Prefecture—another area devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake—will participate in a “circle talk” at the Ogi community center.

Gathered around the model, they will exchange experiences and discuss their journeys through recovery.

Nao Sakaguchi, an associate professor at Iwate University, helped connect these two communities, drawing on their historical ties through the fishing industry. She explains that the initiative is designed to give Ogi residents a space to reflect on their future while allowing Otsuchi residents to look back on their 14-year recovery journey.

Guided by the mottos “Don’t rush” and “Share experiences together,” the exchange program, launched last summer, seeks to foster lasting support and solidarity between the two communities.

Both the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Noto Peninsula earthquake devastated regions already struggling with depopulation.

Revitalizing these communities and strengthening disaster response efforts require a coordinated approach, where stakeholders work together to build sustainable support systems for residents.

How can local communities better prepare before disaster strikes?

ETIC., a Tokyo-based nonprofit organization originally focused on supporting startups, expanded its mission after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami to assist disaster-affected regions. Through ongoing trial and error, the organization has been refining its approach to community resilience.

A key focus of ETIC.’s efforts is strengthening intermediary support organizations that play a vital role in disaster preparedness.

These organizations help coordinate response efforts by bridging the gap between the public and private sectors, as well as between businesses and NPOs. Today, ETIC.’s network spans 130 regions across Japan.

The organization has also been instrumental in establishing a disaster preparedness fund.

Following the Noto Peninsula earthquake and the heavy rain disaster in September of the same year, ETIC. provided both manpower and financial support to an intermediary support organization in Nanao, a city in Ishikawa Prefecture, helping to strengthen local recovery efforts.

The key question now is whether the national government and local authorities can effectively collaborate with and support these private-sector initiatives.

The Reconstruction Agency, established after the Great East Japan Earthquake, has taken a proactive approach by fostering public-private partnerships—connecting corporate talent with disaster-affected municipalities, organizations and business owners.

Moving forward, it is crucial for the agency to share its insights and lessons learned, ensuring these initiatives continue to evolve and strengthen long-term recovery efforts.

--The Asahi Shimbun, March 14