Reconstruction of Tsunami-affected Urban Districts and Business Recovery following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Implementing Land Readjustment Projects and Temporary Facilities for Private Business, and a Case Study of the Area around Ofunato Station

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between business activities, land readjustment projects, and temporary facilities for private business built by governments in tsunami-affected urban districts. Most of the land readjustment projects in the tsunami-affected area took a long time. However, many businesses were located in the execution area before the disaster, suggesting that temporary building restrictions affected the business recovery process. The administrative agency later recognized the role that the temporary facilities had in supporting the business continuity during the long construction period. In the area around Ofunato Station, a large amount of businesses reopened in the areas scheduled for urban redevelopment projects before building restrictions were implemented. We have explained the options for resuming business and the recovery processes of temporary facility tenant enterprises.