Current Issues and Possibilities of Dark Tourism in the Consciousness of Visitors to Ishinomaki City after the Great East Japan Earthquake

Abstract

This study focuses on Ishinomaki city, a post-disaster area that experienced a six-year rebuilding process after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). The purpose is 1) to clarify the current situation of dark tourism (DT) in Ishinomaki and 2) to address the issues and possibilities of DT through a survey of visitors’ attitudes and behavior. As a result, the area functions as a DT destination, with the GEJE experience being regarded as worth handing down to future generations and sharing with the world. Being present in places in the disaster area encouraged visitors to change their attitudes and the disaster remains and storytellers were considered useful. However, storytellers gained a low degree of recognition. More elaboration disaster storytelling methods are required, in accordance with the assumed post-disaster social changes.