Ishinomaki City is located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, where the Kuroshio and Oyashio currents meet. The city's economy mainly relies on fishing and agriculture. It boasts abundant marine resources, and its fresh seafood is renowned throughout Japan. However, Ishinomaki City suffered devastating losses during the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, marking a significant turning point in its history. According to statistics, the total number of deaths in Japan due to the 311 earthquake was 15,899, with Miyagi Prefecture alone accounting for 9,512 deaths. In Ishinomaki City, 3,187 people lost their lives, the highest in Japan, and 415 people are still missing or unaccounted for.
On the day of the earthquake, about 50,000 to 100,000 people evacuated, but not all evacuees managed to escape safely. Many residents, rushing to higher ground, drove their cars up the mountains, causing traffic congestion. Within minutes, the tsunami swept away vehicles and their occupants, claiming many lives.
The first part of this video showcases a walking tour of Ishinomaki City. As the hometown of famous Japanese manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori, Ishinomaki features numerous statues of characters from his works, such as "Kamen Rider," "Cyborg 009," and "Android Kikaider." Walking along the long embankment, starting at 01:06:30, we arrive at the Ishinomaki Minamihama Tsunami Recovery Memorial Park. This area, once a densely populated residential district, was submerged by the tsunami, causing the old community to disappear. It has now been converted into a memorial park with the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Memorial Museum, which regularly holds exhibitions and discussions.
Nearby, about 500 meters from the sea, stands the remains of Kadowaki Elementary School. During the disaster, the tsunami submerged an entire floor, and a fire ignited by heaters from nearby houses swept through the school, resulting in student deaths. The entire structure of Kadowaki Elementary School has been preserved, and the gymnasium on the right has been transformed into an earthquake memorial hall.
The Ishinomori Manga Museum is another landmark in Ishinomaki City. The museum houses many works and statues of manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori and documents the museum's recovery process after the tsunami.
We pray for the repose of those who perished and wish for the continued recovery of Ishinomaki City.
00:00:00 Highlight
00:00:20 Ishinomaki Station
00:03:39 Ishinomaki Cityscapes (Shotaro Ishinomori's Work Pilgrimage)
00:44:50 Ishinomori Manga Museum
00:48:25 Embankment
01:09:17 Ishinomaki Minamihama Tsunami Recovery Memorial Park
01:23:33 Kadowaki Elementary School Remains
01:30:55 Ishinomori Manga Museum