No.41 Disaster Area Support Tour

(Inagi Newsletter March 15, 2015 issue)

The city has been providing support for the recovery and reconstruction of the disaster areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake since shortly after the disaster, and we intend to continue this support in the future.
By the way, while such support is important, I feel that being too formal about it may become a burden for both parties and may not last long. In order to continue long-term support in the future, wouldn't it be necessary to include elements that make the support itself enjoyable, as well as indirect support, rather than just direct assistance?
City Hall conducts various mutual aid projects for its employees. Among these initiatives, a disaster area support tour has been proposed, marking its third year this year. The purpose is to visit the disaster-affected prefectures and help increase consumption, even if just a little.

This time, the destination was Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, for a weekend overnight tour. Before the earthquake, there were tourist inns along the coastal area surrounded by scenic pine forests, but many of them were damaged by the tsunami. Our accommodation was in the city center, but we checked in at several business hotels. I heard that many construction workers are staying there, and there are few vacant rooms. From this situation, I felt that the area is still in the process of recovery.
On the first day, I was guided by volunteers from Soma City to various earthquake-related facilities in the city, and I offered flowers at the memorial. At the disaster prevention storage warehouse "Soma Hyōrōgura," Mayor Tachiya personally provided explanations despite his busy schedule. I believe it was a valuable experience for the Inagi City staff to hear directly from the mayor, who took command at the forefront of the Great Earthquake.
The next day, I competed in park golf with volunteers from Soma City. Soma City has a thermal power plant, and there is a former site of a coal ash landfill nearby. A sports facility has been developed that effectively utilizes the surface of that land, featuring 9 holes across 9 courses on a vast area that includes 6 soccer fields and 4 softball fields.
On that day, a tournament targeting the entire Tohoku region was held, bustling with gathered athletes. This sport is said to have originated in Hokkaido. It is similar to ground golf, but requires a specialized layout like a mini course on a golf course. Although it is still not well-known in the metropolitan area, it has rapidly gained popularity in recent years as a light sport that even beginners can easily engage in.
I believe that this competition can be utilized to promote citizen exchange between the two cities as part of the ongoing support.