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Disaster Poetry from Ōfunato

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2025

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Abstract

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The city of Ōfunato is located in northeastern Japan, in the southeastern portion of Iwate Prefecture. It lies on the Sanriku coast and is a fine example of a ria coastline with several prongs of mountainous ridges that extend outward into the sea. The coast is home to Iwate's largest port, and houses several well-developed industries, including industries related to fishing, marine products processing, and cement production.

The impact of the 3.11 triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power meltdown is told here in visual images and the poetry by Arai Takako.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2017

References

Notes

1 NOTES: This is a revised version of an essay that first appeared as Arai Takako, “Ōfunato nōto,” Mi'Te: Shi to hihyō, Vol. 134 (Spring 2016). Ōfunato-shi, Higai jōkyō nado, See here (accessed 28 Dec 2016).

2 Keisatsu-chō, Heisei 23-nen (2011-nen) Tōhoku chihō Taiheiyōchū jishin no higai jōkyō to keisatsu sochi, See here (accessed 28 Dec 2016).

3 Ōfunato-shi, Higashi Nihon Dai Shinsai ni yoru higai jōkyō nado ni tsuite (Heisei 28-nen 9-gatsu 30-nichi genzai), See here (accessed 28 Dec 2016).

4 Ibid.

5 Iwate-ken Fukkō-kyoku Seikatsu Saiken-ka, Ōkyū kasetsu jūtaku (kensetsu bun) kyōyo oyobi nyūkyo jōkyō (Heisei 28-nen 11-gatsu 30-nichi genzai), See here (accessed 28 Dec 2016).

6 Ōfunato Shi no Kai, ed. 3.11 no shijin-tachi: Kokoro no kiseki (Ōfunato-shi: E-Pix Shuppan, 2012). Readers interested in ordering a copy should contact the publisher at TEL 0192-26-3334.

7 Sanriku o Yomō Jikkō Iinkai, ed. Tachiagaru Sanriku e no ōenka (Ōfunato-shi: Sanriku o Yomō Jikkō Iinkai, 2014).

8 Kita no bungaku, vol. 66 (May 2013). This journal is published by the Iwate Nippōsha, the publisher of the Iwate Daily News (Iwate Nippō).

9 Nihon Esseisuto Kurabu, ed., Nekutai to Edomae: 7-nenhan besuto essei shū (Tokyo: Bungei Shunju, 2007).

10 In the city of Rikuzentakata, located next to Ōfunato, there is a mountain called Tamayama Kinzan, where gold ore was first discovered in ancient times. As a result, the surname “Kinno” (meaning “gold fields”) is common in the region.

11 Kinno Takako, Yamabuki (Ōfunato-shi: Iwate Kaihatsu Sangyō Kabushikigaisha, 2015).