一般財団法人　連帯　東北・西南　RENTAI　TOHOKU-SEINAN

Activity: Cutting ropes to be used for floating rafts of seaweed and oyster farms

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(Mr. T, Age 30, Tokyo)

Gathering information on television or the Internet may be one thing, but I realized how important it is to talk directly with local people and experience the reality of affected areas. Even now, destroyed houses and public buildings are left abandoned, and tons of rubbish and huge containers are washed up on the beach. There are cracks in the ground at the port due to liquefaction. Apparently the removal of the rubble had just started one day before our arrival. Actions by the local government could have been a little faster.
When I asked local fishermen if they had any particular worries, they said "No, not specially. But we would need successors."
They are doing their usual work as they have always done. Fishermen on Katsura Island have already taken a path to self-supporting recovery.

Some people I met were anxious about the disposable of the rubble and said they were willing to take any advice or suggestion.

(Mr. M, Age 25, Tokyo)

Activity

I helped fishermen tying ropes for fishing etc. with their technical advice.

The current state of Katsura Island

When I arrived at the island, though four months had passed since the earthquake, it was surprising that paved roads were still left cracked, the subsidence area were flooded at high tide, and destroyed houses were abandoned as they were. The earthquake seemed to highlight their longstanding problems such as the successor problem in the fishing industry and the depopulation of the island.

Mid- to long-term support for recovery required

When I asked locals if they had changed their prospect about the restoration since immediately after the earthquake, they told me that at first, they expected things would get back to normal before summer, but now, they admitted the recovery would take years. For the reconstruction support, I strongly believe that it is most important to continue support activities to assist the people in affected areas to become self-reliant. We should talk with local people to specify what is most needed and provide advice and actual help for their self-supporting recovery.

Here we would like to present the views of someone at the site.

（Mr. K ・Age:30 ・ Male   Resident of Katsurajima, Miyazaki prefecture   Occupation:Fishing (Oyster cultivation)

<Recent situation of island residents' lives>
People who had been living in emergency shelters have begun occupying temporary housing since July. In terms of restoration work, we have been cooperating with the Self Defense Force to maintain roads, clear grass for the construction of temporary housing, and removing debris from beaches. At the beaches though, however much clearing is done, rubble continues to be washed ashore.

<Message to people from all areas>
Volunteers, the Self Defense Force, temporary housing construction workers, various people have visited us and our daily lives are improving.

Without this support we would not be where we are now, and we are very thankful for all your goodwill. We will strive for recovery and hope that we will be able to repay you with our delicious seafood products. In addition, if you have the chance to visit our island, I think the natural environment will liberate you from the stress of your daily lives and do wonders for you.

（Mr. F・Age:32 ・ Male   Tokyo resident)

We helped with the transportation and production of bamboo materials for the rafts used in oyster cultivation. Due to land subsidence, the port becomes inundated with water twice a day. Although the smiles and laughter of the people of Katsurajima trying to raise their own spirits didn't die out, within this positive atmosphere there were voices of concern that more people are needed to help make the rafts necessary for seaweed and oyster cultivation.

Details of activity：Helping the fishermen who cultivate seaweed (shearing ropes used for rafts)
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（Mr. S ・Age:41・Male Tokyo resident)

Our activities on the island involved mainly physical work (under the guidance of fishermen) such transporting bamboo which are used to make the rafts necessary for oyster and seaweed cultivation, as well as helping with the manufacture process for ropes also used in raft making. 
The rafts have been wrecked twice in the past year with the Chile earthquake, and now the Tohoku Earthquake of 11 March. Although the plan was to produce 800 rafts by the autumn, currently there are 400, which is only half the required amount, and people are working without a break.

Soon a Shinto ceremony to purify the site will be held, and debris-removal work will also begin in earnest.

We need to continue to directly help those who experienced extensive damage, and I hope that this can help strengthen the ties between the people of Tohoku.