Present Situation and Problems of Reconstruction

Abstract

The areas hit by the huge tsunami following the Great East Japan Earthquake are now in the process of reconstruction, in a year after the disaster. The most important thing these areas face now is the relocation of the stricken communities to safer and higher ground in order to prevent future tsunami from washing away buildings and other facilities. Therefore, intensive talks among local municipalities and residents are taking place in each community to reach an agreement on new locations for reconstructing the communities. According to new guidelines set by the government last July, moving communities to higher ground must occur along with the construction of sea-walls and evacuation facilities to save the lives of the people in each community. Therefore, prefectural governments in tsunami-affected areas designed the construction of a large and strong sea-wall network. However, since business activities are closely related to port and fishing facilities in some of the central communities, the governments are also discussing alternative ways to realize the same disaster reduction effect as a network of huge and high sea-walls. The restoration of industries and job opportunities is indispensable for recovery of the stricken areas, particularly because the population has been decreasing in these areas since the disaster. The true reconstruction of the area will be achieved through the combination of physical and social recovery.