Hope survives chaos
The natural disaster in Japan thisMarch claimed thousands of lives. Heritage was hit hard –yet, asAyaka Takaki reports, sheer chance and some good planning lessened the impact
A
t 2.46pm local time on Friday 11 March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck the eastern coast of Tohoku region in Japan. At a magnitude of 9.0, it was the fifth largest earthquake ever recorded in
the world. It generated a series of destructive tsunami waves, reaching between 10m to 20m (32-65ft) high in many coastal areas. Some 670km (420 miles) of coastlinewas affected, ranging from modern heavy manufacturing sites to traditional, small fishing villages and towns. The earthquake caused significant damage to
cultural properties in the region. The eastern coastal region of Tohoku was particularly famous for its well-preserved traditional fishermen’s villages, set in a rugged, scenic coastal landscape. Historic buildings in the area weremostly of timber-framed construction and many of themwere washed away in areas badly affected by tsunami waves. The area is also a popular tourist destination. Along with traditional coastal towns and villages, there are a number of historic buildings dating from 16th, 17th and 18th centuries –
A traditional-style building somehow survives amid the devastation at Rikuzentakata city. The tsunami destroyed more than 80 per cent of the city’s 8,000 houses, most of whichwere of traditional construction and several very old
shrines and temples associated with various families of powerful Shogunwarlords of the time. The temples and shrines host traditional indigenous festivals which are very popular amongst locals and tourists. The area is also known for its harsh climate in winter. It always attracted artists and poets, and many Japanese people thought of the areawith a great deal of warmth. InMiyako City, Iwate Prefecture, a 40.5m (133ft)
tsunamiwavewas recorded. It swallowed the coastal towns, its infrastructure and people in one devastating moment. By July, the national police reported that 15,520 peoplewere confirmed dead and 7,173 still missing throughout the region. They also confirmed that 105,996 buildings had been totally destroyed and 573,911 buildings damaged. In addition, the combination of themajor earthquake and tsunami caused failure at Fukushima No 1Nuclear Plant, resulting in the explosion of the plant, releasing radioactive iodine into the air.
On 14 June Japan’s national Agency for Cultural
Affairs (ACA) reported that 568 nationally listed cultural and natural properties had been affected by theGreat East Japan Earthquake. Five buildings of National Treasure class (equivalent to grade I listed buildings in England) were reported as damaged. Therewere of course many other traditional buildings affected that were not listed, including numerous wooden-framed houses more than 100 years old. However, on assessing the information gathered on
the ground, damage to National Treasure-class buildings has been found to be largely repairable – fortunate considering the sheer magnitude of the earthquake. At the time ofwriting, information on damage to the remainder of the listed buildings is still being assessed. Naturally, the causes of damage to historic
buildings were divided into two groups: earthquake and tsunami. Strong tremors caused the collapse of walls of the late-17th-century Kuri (Kitchen) building and connecting corridor at Zuiganji Temple (aNational Treasure) in Miyagi Prefecture. The Zuiganji Temple is one of the most famous Rinzai Zen Buddhist temples
Cornerstone, Vol 32, No 3 2011 65
ALY SONG/REUTERS
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