This is a {preliminary} list of groups, individuals, and institutions active in the disaster hit area of Tohoku in northern Japan, or of projects elsewhere in Japan that can serve as good practice examples for reconstruction.
In its current state, it represents an unsystematic, broad collection of various projects of differing scopes and scales. In the long-run, however, we aim to provide a systematic database and map of who is doing what, where, how, and with which success in the fields of alternative energy, community building, multi-generation housing, transportation, architecture, master plans, agriculture, economic development, and art & design.
The information presented here is crowd sourced, the correctness and coherence of the data can therefore not be guaranteed.
If you like to participate you can edit and add initiatives to the list here:
Tohoku Initiatives (Public GoogleSpreadsheet)
Provision of necessary information to citizens including a map with information on moving to higher ground. Also facilitates an integrative reconstruction process by providing maps necessary for reconstruction permits. Many maps are available in PDF format for printing. (日本語 only)
Based in: various Tohoku communities
Active in: Tohoku
Preserving the memories of the lost towns, recording present conditions, and facilitating the construction of a new future by building an inclusive archive; all local governments in the disaster affected regions are taking part in this project. (日本語 only)
Based in: various Tohoku communities
Active in: Tohoku
Revitalisation of Japanese agriculture, forestry and fisheries through job training and capacity building. Establishing of a urban - rural linkage in order to bring young urban people back to work in rural Japan.
Based in: Tokyo, Kyoto
Active in: Japan
Help local rural communities by providing technology and other training, as well as employment incubation. Our vision is to reuse existing assets, retain local rural populations and traditional Japanese culture & stimulate new solutions to solve global problems. (日本語 only)
Based in:
Active in:
Tohoku project of international disaster relief NGO that helps to winter-proof and to customise temporary housing units in Kesennuma and Ishinomaki as well as to build community facilities and organise community events. (日本語 only)
Based in: Hakodate, Sri Lanka
Active in: Kesennuma, Ishinomaki
Joint platform of architecture schools in Japan, engaging in vision and masterplan making for reconstruction.
Based in: various universities across Japan
Active in: Oshika Peninsula
Projects in Tohoku that have been completed under Architecture for Humanity, San Francisco.
Based in: Tokyo, Ishinomaki, San Francisco
Active in: Tohoku
Tohoku recovery projects, developed by Architecture for Humanity, Tokyo Chapter. Producer of Tohoku Planning Forum (www.tpf2.net)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
The Association for the Revitalization of Ishinomaki is a volunteer group based in Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. We are currently involved with community restoration projects as well as providing aid to temporary housing in Ishinomaki.
Based in: Ishinomaki
Active in: Ishinomaki
Providing financial support for the artists and artist organizations in the affected areas
Based in: Sendai
Active in: Tohoku
Architect specialised in disaster response building intervention, temporary housing.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Raising social awareness regarding the various issues that have emerged from 3.11; generating evidence-based information and guidance about the Japan disaster and its aftermath and about comparable natural disasters; and encouraging continuing assistance to the affected regions as appropriate and in collaboration and coordination with other organizations
Based in: New York
Active in: Tohoku
Online project that shares reconstruction related projects by artists and designers. (日本語 only)
Based in: Online/?
Active in: Tohoku
The initiative aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible as much of the digital record of the disasters as possible, to enable scholarly research and analysis of the events and their effect.
Based in: Harvard
Active in: Tohoku
Interactive map with numerous data layers on 3.11 Disaster. (日本語 only)
Based in: Harvard
Active in: Tohoku
The NPO ETIC will train and match 200 young aspiring entrepreneurs (Fellows) with 100 social business leaders that are heading reconstruction efforts to rebuild Tohoku through economic empowerment in 3 years (from Jun 2011 to Mar 2014). The lack of young aspiring individuals is the bottleneck to promote recovery projects effectively and efficiently, and the demand for this service is larger than originally anticipated.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
summer school, workcamps, symposium, sustainable rebuilding of Sanriku, renewable energy, passiv house, breakwater, seawalls, we want to build up confidence and assurance with NGOs in Sanriku, make plans together for a sustainable and egological urban management
Based in: Deutschland, Bielefeld, Miyako, Tochigi
Active in: Sanriku (Miyako, Kamaishi)
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Visual communication design department at Musashino Art University aims to use creative power for reviving Tohoku and society as a whole
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
The project “DoCoDeMo Eco Car” (The Everywhere Car) helps people to get their lives back on track by providing mobility free of charge with shared-use cars placed at the temporary housing complexes. Donate a car for car-sharing!
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
German Disaster Relief Resuce and Search & Rescue is a volunteer group that helped with rescue and relief in Rikkuzentakata, Kamaishi, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures from March to September 2011. In November 2011 we were again at the J-Village, and are committed to the decontamination area.
Based in: Berlin, Germany
Active in: Tohoku
Project that seeks to create indoor playgrounds in vacant buildings for children in Fukushima prefecture who can no longer play outside safely. Initiated by architect ASANO Kota
Based in: Nihonmatsu
Active in: Fukushima
(救援)を目的とし継続的に活動を行います。 このプログでは何を予定し何を行ってきたかを出来るだけ正確にお伝えできればと思っています。 また、協力者を常時募集いたします。」
Based in: Shizuoka
Active in: Tohoku
This Tohoku town is one of the leading pioneers of renewable energy generation in Japan and one of the few municipalities that achieved energy self-sufficiency. (日本語 only)
Based in: Kuzumaki, Iwate
Active in: Kuzumaki, Iwate
Provide homes utilizing shipping containers to quake affected areas. A project by the architect Yasutaka YOSHIMURA
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Foreign Volunteers Japan is created to gather willing volunteers, who wish to take an active role in the Tohoku relief efforts. This is an open discussion forum for sharing and discussing information regarding volunteer activities, aid delivery, and humanitarian relief issues concerning the post-tsunami recovery of the Tohoku region.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Virtual department store for direct marketing of traditional crafts products and food from Ishinomaki and Minamisoma. Economic Revitalisation, capacity building, matching of initiatives and supporters. (日本語 only)
Based in: Ishinomaki / Minamisoma / Tokyo
Active in: Ishinomaki / Minamisoma
Initiative of students of Tohoku University of Arts and Design to "restore happiness" for the survivors of the 3.11 disaster. (日本語 only)
Based in: Yamagata
Active in: Tohoku
Because of complicated decision-making process, government could not provide supports promptly to the devastated area. PFEJ uses its website and twitter to spread/gather the information, it makes prompt support easily and much faster. However, as a matter of fact, most of the elderly in that area cannot use computer, so we also have telephone operators and local volunteers to contact the survivors directly to get their voices, what they really need.
Based in: various cities all over Japan
Active in: Tohoku
Supporting student voluneer activities in Tohoku, Youth organisation of Nippon Foundation. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
We find inspiring stories about people who are helping to restore Japan. Then, with a camera crew, we go to the actual location to film what exactly these people are doing to help. Each story has multiple videos documenting their progress each step of the way, showing how it was in the beginning, what they did, how people reacted, and how this process made them feel.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Mobile art project by Ichiro ENDO, which is touring the entire disaster area and involves the tsunami survivors in the depiction of their dreams/ visions
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Based in Ishinomaki, the local grass root organisation “Guru Guru Cheer Squad” aims at improving the quality of daily life in the affected areas through community shops and a community bus, which connects residents of temporary housing estates to the public life of the city
Based in: Ishinomaki
Active in: Ishinomaki
Mapping project that created a time line visualisation of the reconstruction process after the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. Features projects in the categories Art, Design, Architecture, Events
Based in: Kobe
Active in: Kobe
A comprehensive collection of maps and 3.11 related visualisations.
Based in: Harvard, Sendai
Active in: Tohoku
Starting from cleaning up rubble, leveling ground and establishing the BaseCamp, eventually projects of "thinking" and "acting" with us together like the agriculture reconstruction and new town-building, there are various activities you can join.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Sendai
Creating a community resilience café where elders in Tsunami affected area are able to find their “ibasho” (the place where one feels at home as who you are) and re-develop their own resilience within community with people of all ages. Ibasho has been working with OperationUSA to cordinate and deliver strategic planning, architectural and programmatic planning, training, and construction collaborating with city of Ofunato.
Based in: Washington DC
Active in: World, Ofunato
ikifu.org is andonation platform with the aim to simplify the way people can change the world. i-kifu aims support Non Profit Organizations (NPOs), individuals and corporations to connect in a mutually beneficial environment by helping them to take full advantage of the power of internet and mobile technologies.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: World, Tohoku
IDRO-Japan aims to provide aid and assistance for immediate post-disaster relief and also assist in long-term support through relief trips and the construction of housing and community centers in the Tohoku region.
Based in: Kyoto
Active in: Tohoku
Non-profit volunteer organization specializing in disaster relief and grass-root support and rehabilitation of disaster affected individuals and small businesses.
Based in: Ishinomaki
Active in: Ishinomaki
Coordinator at NPO "Its Not Just Mud".
Based in: Ishinomaki
Active in: Ishinomaki
Umbrella organisation that coordinates and promotes creative grass-root recovery initiatives in Ishinomaki. (日本語 only)
Based in: Ishinomaki
Active in: Ishinomaki
Space Speculation urban design studio, Faculty of Architecture, Université Libre de Bruxelles, collaboration with Tohoku University, Workshop and community building proposals for Ishinomaki
Based in: Bruxelles, Belgium
Active in: Ishinomaki
Public space and community center seeking to revive the community by creating things and reviving crafts. (日本語 only)
Based in: Ishinomaki
Active in: Ishinomaki
Entries of an idea competition for the year 2020 in Tohoku, held in December 2011. Themes were 'Local involvement in Recovery', 'Industry and Employment', 'Social Infrastructure' and others.
Based in: Kobe
Active in: Tohoku
NPO "Iwate Ginga-Net" serves as a bridge between university students and residents in the disaster-stricken areas. It invites student volunteers who are able to work together with disaster survivors.
Based in:
Active in: Tohoku
Mobile library is going around Rikuzentakada city, Ofunato City Sanriku-cho, Otsuchi-cho, and the Yamada –cho in Iwate Prefecture. The project is carried out by the Shanti Volunteer Association (http://sva.or.jp/global/)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Iwate
Jakko no Mori is building a programme to be able to plant a minimum of 19,200 trees in Ishinomaki and other parts of Tohoku. The goal is to help the people of Tohoku to rebuild their communities and ecosystems, and in the process, establish new partnerships and learnings to allow better response to future natural disasters.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Ishinomaki
Japan Art Donation will use your relief donations for the revival of cultural institutions, the dispatching of artists, the conducting of workshops for the children who suffered, the opening of theatre plays, dances, and performances in the striken areas.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Japan's national public broadcaster NHK shares the historic events of the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster, and connects survivors in the affected region with the rest of the world.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Japan
Sharing of desaster and reconstruction related news.
Based in: Online
Active in: Tohoku
Sharing of desaster and reconstruction related news (日本語 only)
Based in: Online
Active in: Tohoku
Wooden, temporary structures for reconstruction projects in Tohoku, passive house as important new building standard to increase energy efficiency of housing. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Coordination of disaster reconstruction activities across Tohoku with office in all three affected prefectures. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Predecessor of Japan Reconstruction Agency that was commissioned with the making of a comprehensive recovery policy in the aftermath of 3.11. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Japan Civil Network for Disaster Relief in East Japan is a broad coalition of Japanese nonprofit nongovernmental organizations providing disaster relief. JCN aims to serve and support affected individuals and communities, while also helping them to rebuild their lives and secure their futures. The site features an excellent interactive map locates the various relief initiatives. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Osamu Goto, professor of the School of Architecture at Kogakuin University, and his team have been working on a project to build permanent wooden houses for survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The housing makes reference to the collective housing model. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Ishinomaki, Shirahama
Studying and sharing ways of how temporary housing can be made more hospitable and adapted to indivudial needs. (日本語 only)
Based in: Niigata
Active in: Tohoku
Multi-language collaborative resource that helps teachers, students, and scholars locate and share educational resources about the historical contexts of scientific and technical issues related to the triple earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters in Japan.
Based in: Morioka, Harvard, Tokyo
Active in: Minami-sanriku-cho
Various research, planning and Information Provision projects.
Based in: Tokyo, SFC
Active in: Kesennuma
Sharing the stories of Kesennuma on Facebook – memories of how it used to be, visions of how it will be again, stories of heroism, hope, hard work, and yes, even humor.
Based in: Kesennuma
Active in: Kesennuma
Temporary shopping street in Kesennuma that opened on December 24 2011 and offers 51 shops a new livelyhood. (日本語 only)
Based in: Kesennuma
Active in: Kesennuma
Support with cars, office equipment, economic redevelopment with various branches across Tohoku
Based in: Sendai
Active in: Tohoku
The star architects Kengo Kuma, Toyo Ito, Kazuyo Seijima, Riken Yamamoto and Hiroshi Naito founded this group in order to engage in Tohoku reconstruction.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Kamaishi
The Kizuna Foundation ("Kizuna" or the "Foundation") is the successor organization to All Hands Volunteers, Inc's humanitarian aid project in Ofunato and Rikuzentakata. The Foundation aims to match funds with local needs arising from the events of March 11, 2011. The key areas of focus are: rehabilitation of existing infrastructure (school and recreational areas), restoration of existing economies (fisheries and agriculture), and introduction of new industries (high margin, low overhead). Kizuna will also maintain a state of readiness for disaster response and preparedness as secondary areas of focus Our motto is: Connecting People to a Better Future.
Based in: Tokyo/Iwate
Active in: Tohoku
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) organization aiding Matsushima rebuilding efforts through financial donations. Supporting Miyagi and Iwate through hand-made blanket donations, letters, and heart-to-heart connections. 私の心からあなたの心に。
Based in: North Carolina, USA
Active in: Miyagi/Iwate
Mercy Corps is working entirely through its partnerships with Japanese NGOs in Tohoku, focusing on economic recovery. Current program includes a partnership with PlaNet Finance Japan and the Kesennuma Shinkin Bank that is supporting sustainable small business recovery in tsunami-impacted communities. As of July, 2012, over 180 business employing over 800 people have been started or supported.
Based in: Portland, Oregon and Edinburgh, Scotland
Active in: Ofunato, Rikuzentakata, Kesennuma, Minamisanriku
Project of the Tokyo-based ETIC NPO that seeks to support reconstruction and life in Tohoku. Recruiting manpower and donations for various projects in the fields of community revitalisation, education, capacity building, economic revitalisation, etc. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Tohoku University recently launched a digital archiving project on the Eastern Japan Great Earthquake Disaster. Collaborating with the government, industry, and academia, the project aims to build a comprehensive archive on disasters in the region, with a broad spectrum of memory, records, case studies. It aims to record the recovery and rebuilding process of the disaster and to disseminate information a near real time basis. As of this writing, detail of the project is unknown since this archiving project has been recently released. (日本語 only)
Based in: Sendai
Active in: Tohoku
This Initiative, established by the MIT-Japan Program at the Center for International Studies, will provide a mechanism for faculty and student exchange between MIT and universities in the Tohoku region for the study and implementation of disaster-resilient planning.
Based in: Tokyo, Cambridge
Active in: Tohoku
Interactive map showing all temporary housing estates in Miyagi Prefecture. (日本語 only)
Based in:
Active in: Miyagi
Using mobile trailers as temporary housing solutions that can be later moved to different locations and transformed into permanent housing structures. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
We want more trees to be a base where people can share happiness through a process of active forestation. Maintenance and conservation of forest and forestation activity in Japan and overseas. Provision of a carbon offset service, associated with forests. Planning, manufacturing, and distribution of thinning wood products.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Japan, World
Aim of the NPO is to build a slow village, in tune with nature, history of the community, new technology and local traditions (日本語 only)
Based in: Kitakami, Ishinomaki
Active in: Ishinomaki
The aim of this organization is to build a network of people, able to work for disaster relief now and in the future.
Based in: Kyoto, Osaka
Active in: Ishinomaki, Kansai, Tohoku
O.G.A. FOR AID set in place various projects to support the economic, social and community rebuilding and healing. Our current operations include from the south in Kitakami, Ishinomaki, the four areas of Minamisanriku: Iriya, Utastu, Shizugawa, Togura and north to the area of Oya, in Kessenuma city.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Minami-sanriku-cho
Architect INAMOTO Tadashi proposes the Gassho House to be used first as temporary housing, and eventually as permanent residence. The mass-produced, pre-fabricated temporary houses inevitably become industrial waste because most of the materials are non-reusable. Instead, the structural parts of the Gassho House are entirely made of wood without a single nail. As such, it is not only recycleable, but also easy to repair, augment, disassemble and relocate, if necessary.
Based in: Takayama
Active in: Tohoku
Running various projects mainly in Ishinomaki taking in a number of volunteers. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
OpenSimSim offers everyone the opportunity to be a part of the design and building process of urban and architectural projects - from needs or wishes to implementation and revision. It is a community driven platform which offers the possibility to share ideas, concepts, experience and knowledge, and to inspire people throughout the design process.Inspired by the wish to help people in Japan after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, we started an initiative called “OpenJapan”. We would like to offer the opportunity to donate other valuable resources than money: time, knowledge and experience.
Based in: Berlin
Active in: Tohoku
Peace Boat is a Japan-based NGO that has been working to support Ishinomaki city and its environs since March 2011. Our work centers on the training and deployment of volunteers. Current projects include: mud and debris clearance, supporting the reopening of factories and fisheries, and providing support and care to residents of temporary houses. We are also offering a volunteer leadership training programme which will give participants the skills to lead teams of volunteers in emergency relief operations.
Based in: Takadanobaba, Tokyo
Active in: Ishinomaki, Tohoku
We collect, clean, break and sort broken dishes and incorporate them into mosaics for the cities in Tohoku. Any citizen willing to help rebuild their community is urged to participate.
Based in: Tsuchiura, Ibaraki
Active in: Ibaraki.
Sendai, Ishinomaki.
"Photohoku" is a project to rebuild and restart family photo albums of those affected by the Tohoku Tsunami distaster.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Distributing goods, sending volunteers, providing meals and selling charity goods
Based in: Matsudo, Chiba
Active in: Tohoku
Organisation of numerous events before and after an art festival in Fukushima in August 2011, and carrying out projects in and out of Fukushima under the name Fukushima! on a continuous and long-term basis.
Based in: Fukushima
Active in: Fukushima
Collaborative project by Sendai Mediathek, Tohoku University's Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tokyo University of the Arts' Graduate School of Film and New Media and various corporate donors. The project records interviews with citizens and experts and records the reconstruction process. (日本語 only)
Based in: Sendai
Active in: Tohoku
Disaster recovery researcher, offering an excellent collection of Tohoku recovery related information and blog entries from first fieldwork and volunteer activity.
Based in: Kyoto, Kobe
Active in: Tohoku
Volunteer Organization working in Wakabayashi, Sendai. Coordinating volunteer activities mainly to support the farmers in coastal area in Wakabayashi.
Based in: Wakabayashi, Sendai
Active in: Wakabayashi, Sendai
With the help of Prof. KOIZUMI Hideki from the University of Tokyo, Naruse-Inokuma Architects, GOTO Chikako and various other individuals, students and corporate sponsors, the community structure Riku Cafe has opened in January 2012. (日本語 only)
Based in: Rikuzentakada, Tokyo
Active in: Rikuzentakada
Residents in a disaster-stricken Koizumi district of Kesennuma submitted their own relocation plan to the local municipal government, a move that could become a model for other hard-hit areas. Residents in the city's Koizumi district completed the plan based on many discussions and study sessions. The process was aided by Prof. Suguru MORI from Hokkaido University. (日本語 only)
Based in: Kesennuma
Active in: Kesennuma
This project seeks to plant sakura trees that demarcate the reach of the tsunami, to show future generations the extent of the damage. Starting with the development of the home page, SAVE TAKATA seeks to support the project by publishing information about it. (日本語 only)
Based in: Rikuzentakada
Active in: Rikuzentakada
The Sanriku Project is a multi-disciplinary team of Harvard-affiliated researchers, designers, and medical professionals. Our mission is to help facilitate the recovery and rebuilding process along the Sanriku coast through empowering local residents and building community resilience.
Based in: Cambridge
Active in: Sanriku
Distributing food and safe drinking water directly to the residents of Minamisoma city.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Minamisoma
Coordinating corporate, group and individual volunteer efforts toward Rikuzentakata’s revival, enacting plans to solicit and procure sponsors, enacting various charity events to fund and support the city’s revival, coordinating and communicating with foreign charities and support organizations, supporting the local community.
Based in: Rikuzentakada
Active in: Rikuzentakada
The government of Japan met many of the population’s needs but quickly became thinly stretched - Save the Children stepped in to fill the gaps, addressing the specific needs of children. Save the Children has provided direct support to children and their families through provision of important services as well as basic materials, and has also met needs indirectly, working with community groups on the ground who are closest to affected communities.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Special issue of the architectural journal Shinkenchiku, featuring a large number of completed architectural interventions across Tohoku. Featured projects include: (1) ARK OF BANBOO= HIROKAZU TOKI+TAKAHASHIKOGYO (2) HOME-FOR-ALL BY KUMAMOTO ARTPOLIS TOHOKU SUPPORT GROUP=TOYO ITO, HIDEAKI KATSURA, KAORU SUEHIRO, MASASHI SOGABE (3) SHIZUGAWA BANYA PROJECT=MIYAGI UNIVERSITY TAKEUCHI LAB. (4) KAMAISHI-BOX=KAZUHIKO NAMBA+SEI HAGANUMA+ YOSHITOMO URABE (5) CYCLEⅡ-ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT AT SHIZUGAWA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL=KENYA ISHIHARA (6) FACE OF HOURAIKAN=KATSUHIRO MIYAMOTO (7) GASSHOU=KOJI KAKIUCHI (8) EKO BIRCH SHELTER=YOSHINOBU MIZUTANI (9) EMERGENCY HOUSE ""DONGURI HOUSE""=HIROFUMI SUGIMOTO (10) A SMALL WOODY BRICK HOUSE (ASSEMBLY HALL)=MASAO YAHAGI (11) EX-CONTAINER PROJECT=YASUTAKA YOSHIMURA (12) UTATSU COMMUNITY PAVILION=HARVARD UNIVERSITY GSD+ KEIO UNIVERSITY+ MIYAGI UNIVERSITY (13) BABADO-RU 5-CHOME=MIT Japan 3/11 Initiative Project Team (14) CONTAINER TEMPORARY HOUSING IN ONAGAWA=SHIGERU BAN+TSP TAIYO (15) LOHAS DESIGN OF A TEMPORARY ASSEMBLY HALL=YOSHITOMO URABE+SEI HAGANUMA (16) TEMPORARY HOUSING IN TONO=TOSHIO OTSUKI+LINDENBAUM (17) TONO PERMANENT HOUSING FOR EVACUEES IN ISHINOMAKI=OSAMU GOTO+YUI ARCHITECTS (18) TEMPORARY EMERGENCY HOUSING, MINAMISANRIKU TOWN=SHOICHI HARYU (19) MEETING SPACE AT THE TEMPORARY HOUSING IN MINAMI SOUMA, FUKUSHIMA=TARO IGARASHI+SEI HAGANUMA (20) MOBILE SMILE=YASUHIRO YAMASHITA
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Japan
Project of the Tokyo-based ETIC NPO that seeks recruit short term human resources for registered Tohoku reconstruction projects in the fields of community design, industrial revival, healthcare, education. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
ShopTohoku.com is a social project by Tokyo-based startup marketing company, Matcha Latte Media. At Matcha Latte Media, we help select Japanese small and medium businesses market and sell their wonderful products to the rest of the world thru online stores. While we may be helping a few businesses in the regions hit by the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake & Tsunami, there are many others out there who do not fit our partner profile. Filling a need to introduce amazing companies from this region to potential customers around the world, we have launched ShopTohoku.com as a directory and hope to raise funds to go North to teach companies about selling to customers in other countries.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in:
Temporary housing in Rikuzentakada, Sumita-cho, made of locally grown wood, making it more comfortable than steel or pre-fab temp housing. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo, Sumita
Active in: Rikuzentakada
The project reaches out directly to kids and their communities in Tohoku and helps them re-build their lives.
Based in: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Active in:
Tohoku
Delivering information that is as reliable as possible. Offering advice and opportunities for people who want to help. Excellent Map that locates local and national recovery and support initiatives.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Multi-language collaborative resource that helps teachers, students, and scholars locate and share educational resources about the historical contexts of scientific and technical issues related to the triple earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters in Japan.
Based in: Global
Active in: Globe
Loosely affiliated group of people living in (or close to) Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. Our members go up to Tohoku (in particular, Ishinomaki) regularly to participate in various volunteer activities. We work closely with Association for the Reconstruction of Ishinomaki and It's Not Just Mud.
Based in: Tsukuba
Active in: Ishinomaki
What happened in Tohoku isn’t just a local concern. The steps we take toward the future here will have a great influence on the rest of Japan and even the world.
Based in: Sendai
Active in: Tohoku
Improving the quality of life in temporary housing through application of green curtains.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Utilising the tsunami debris in order to create a landscaped, green seawall as a protection against future disasters.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Development of various community-friendly, innovative temporary housing solutions that seek to break up the isolation of elderly, and disabled citizens.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tono, Kamaishi, Rikuzentakada
Organized by the students and alumni of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and translated into 26 languages, the web-site shows what is going on Tohoku(東北), the affected area in Japan by the earthquake of March, focusing on 10 local groups. Through photographs, we will convey the will of the people toward reconstruction of their severely damaged cites to the world. To appeal for the public consciousness and continued support, lest the disaster be forgotten, is our main purpose.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Restarting agriculture in Tohoku by planting cotton in idle rice paddies affected by sea water inundation, providing stable employment by creating products and new enterprises using Tohoku cotton together with apparel related corporations, contributing to disaster reconstruction by sustaining economic activities where farmers, spinning companies, apparel brands, stores and 'YOU' can collaborate together. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Organisation that seeks to create structures and educate people in order to develop community building strategies for countering depopulation of Tohoku and strengthening local economies. Seeks to facilitate a broad exchange of ideas between local governments, private business and academic institutions.
Based in: unclear
Active in: Tohoku
Interactive map showing the locations of many relief organisations working in Tohoku. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
In collaboration with UNESCO and UNU the project seeks to organise a reconstruction exposition for 2021. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Concept by architect SAKO Keiichiro, envisioning elevated towns for areas that are endangered by tsunamis. Communities would be situated on top of a platform, whose base is formed by infrastructure, parking, factories and workshops. (日本語 only)
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Concept
The center develops high technologies to evaluate disaster risk, such as earthquakes, tsunami and floods in regional areas, control earthquake damages of building group, raise a high accuracy tsunami warning and analyze tsunami system.
Based in: Sendai
Active in: Tohoku
University Social Responsibility project of Tokai University, involving a hardware community centre component and a lifecare soft component. (日本語 only)
Based in: Hiratsuka
Active in: Minami-sanriku-cho
Tōno City Disaster Relief Network is a volunteer group that was established by citizens of Tōno city with the aim of supporting victims of coastline districts in Iwate prefecture.
Based in: Tono, Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Facilitating collaboration among Japanese and international designers, architects and planners contributing to the long-term revitalisation of Japan's tsunami-affected Tohoku region. The project embraces the viewpoints of activists, citizen groups and professionals, active in Tohoku communities, throughout Japan and around the world, to foster the exchange of ideas, best practice experiences and the provision of practical support. In recognition that other communities around the world have faced similar reconstruction issues, the TPF² project aims to leverage international experience and enable mutual learning.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
Initiative of the Tohoku University of Arts and Design to "create a new society" and a "new Tohoku" through arts and design. (日本語 only)
Based in: Yamagata
Active in: Tohoku
UNCRD has organized a workshop, consisting of site visits and discussion meetings with local municipalities and communities. Two issues of particular interests for this workshop are: i) promotion of green business; and ii) involvement of all stakeholders in reconstruction efforts, including NPOs and NGOs.
Based in: Nagoya
Active in: Tohoku
Dedicated effort to establish a trust fund for the expressed and specific intent to provide support to those affected by the tragic events on March 11th 2011 in Tohoku. By joining key leaders from Academic, Business and the Community at large: We propose to take all steps required - together - in order to get the best resources possible in place to enable their goals for the long-term challenges ahead. The need for domestic and international exchanges is clear. There has been significant good-will from global communities for Japan and there is much work needs to be done in the coming years, we will provide a platform to enable colaboration. The lessons learned in Japan from this disaster must be identified and shared for the benefit future calamities, here and abroad, with the spirit and purpose of this island nation. Wasurenai - We Will Never Forget.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
WAWA Project is a social, creative platform for opportunity which is managed by the artist-run non-profit organization commandN, with the cooperation of 3331 Arts Chiyoda. The aim of WAWA is to connecting people in the different disaster-hit areas of Tohoku, who are initiating rehabilitation activities on the ground with those people who wish to support such local regeneration activities. WAWA Project engages closely with activists in the affected communities, is maintaining a physical base for their activities in Tokyo, while transmitting information about their endeavors through online and offline publications.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
The devastation brought to northern Japan by the Great Tohoku Earthquake on March 11 left a startling number of individuals without homes and in need of support. While many have expressed interest in offering relief to those affected and contributing toward the rebuilding process of Japan, effectively connecting donors to those in need presents a tremendous challenge. Wecarejapan.org is a website designed to face this challenge, facilitating the flow of information between people requesting aid and those offering donations.
Based in: Tokyo
Active in: Tohoku
A community is expressing its opposition against forced relocation and uses yellow handkerchiefs as symbol of hope to be granted a voice in the planning process.
Based in: Arahama, Sendai
Active in: Arahama, Sendai
The ZENKON Bath project of Architect Tadashi Saito of Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture and skilled volunteers is sending baths from Kagawa to areas in Tohoku damaged by the earthquake and tsunami. The bath is built using conventional wooden post-and-beam construction. Since building the first ZENKON bath in Sanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture on April 5, twelve have been built through June 13. Blueprints are open source. (日本語 only)
Based in: Kagawa
Active in: Tohoku
Group of former Ex-Pats to Japan mainly from Germany that set up aid projects together with a local partner organization in Sendai. In a first wave we provided goods, such as heaters or fridges, to old people's homes and child care facilities around Sendai to facilitate their lifes. In a second step we now started a scholarship program for future nurses in the Sendai region.
Based in: Stuttgart, Germany
Active in: Sendai area