It is more than three and a half years since the Tohoku region was ravaged by that horrendous earthquake and tsunami. Intensive measures continue to be put into force to help people there overcome the tragedy that left Japanese society with its greatest ordeal since the end of World War II. It looks, however, that people outside the region are becoming less concerned with the ongoing reconstruction work. In fact, we can barely see the full vigor with which the whole nation worked in support of the afflicted people immediately after the disaster. Any overt consideration for them such as the mood of voluntary restraint that prevailed across the nation soon afterwards may not be needed now. However, the nation should at least keep worried eyes on what is being done and what is going to be done in the years ahead to make the life in Tohoku better and easier.

時が経つのは早いもので、日本を襲った東日本大震災から3年半となった。戦後最大の試練を日本社会に与えたこの震災悲劇を乗り越えようと、現地では今も復興に向けた様々な施策が講じられている。だが、被災地域外の人々の復興への関心が徐々に遠のき、震災当初のように国を挙げて支援に取り組む姿勢が見られないのが現状ではないだろうか。震災当時の自粛ムードのように極端な被災地への配慮は今必要ないが、少なくとも被災地復興に国民全体が関心を持ち続けることは必要だろう。

Hakumon Herald reporters visited Miyagi Prefecture in the summer and had a series of interviews with various persons there to learn how everything was destroyed by the killer quake and tsunami in 2011 and see what local people have been doing in an effort to tide over their hardship. The persons they talked to were diversified, ranging from those from the Ishinomaki fishery harbor and the Ishinomaki municipal office to those from the Sendai brewery of Kirin Co., the Kumakkonouen organic farm and the Omagarihama Shishimai (lion dance) Preservation Association. They tried to shed light on aspects of the prolonged reconstruction process rarely covered by the media, such as the difficulties the people are experiencing in relocating to upland areas and the harsh situation tormenting the local fishermen and farmers, in an attempt to call back the waning public concern about Tohoku.

白門ヘラルドは、今夏、宮城県の被災地に記者送り、震災当時の状況や現在の復興の様子を当事者にインタビューするなど、「被災地の今」を取材した。取材先は石巻漁港と石巻市役所に始まり、キリンビール仙台工場、「くまっ子農園」、大曲浜獅子舞保存会など多方面におよんだ。メディアなどであまり伝えらていない震災当時の生々しい状況や、進まぬ高台移転の問題、被災地漁港や農場の過酷な状況をお伝えすることで、日々薄れゆく被災地復興への関心を呼び戻すことに努

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