Kesennuma Recovering
Images of Kesennuma on March 11 after the earthquake and the subsequent tsunami are hard to forget. Large fishing boats piled on the docks at odd angles, dark waves surging over high seawalls, and upturned trucks tumbling along in front of water crashing over the seawalls. Wave after wave pushed through the entrance of the shops, restaurants, and houses on the shore.
Those of us who lived far away saw those images because fortunate residents of the port city who were able to reach high ground in time made videos of the disaster available to television broadcasters. Even people far away from Tohoku who had never heard of Kesennuma could not help feeling overwhelmed.
During a recent visit to the city, it was hard to see the definite recovery efforts without remembering those earlier images. On a number of buildings along the port, markers indicated just how high the tsunami reached (See the photo below). Looking up at the lines on tall buildings, I could not help imagining how much was destroyed and how many people must have been swept away.
And yet Kesennuma is recovering, somehow. Areas that were completely demolished have been cleared and new community facilities have been built. Fleets of ships that specialize in squid and Pacific saury (sanma) line the docks in the off-season. A magnificent new bridge frames the cliffs that separate the port from the Pacific. Community action groups have created their own radio station, an innovation incubator facility to create new jobs, and a spacious open-floor exercise area. Somehow, Kesennuma is doing its best to create a new normal. We can only give them our best wishes that they continue to succeed. And buy something from Kesennuma.
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