From August 5 to 12, 2022, a field survey on maritime society after the Great East Japan Earthquake was conducted in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. Prof. Nagatsu Kazufumi (Representative of Toyo University Site), and Dr. Nakano Makibi (Core Researcher, National Institutes for the Humanities, Toyo University) participated in the survey.
The Minato Festival, which was revived for the first time in two years this year, was crowded with Indonesian technical intern trainees who engaged in the seafood processing industry, Indonesian fishermen, and Indonesians living in other Tohoku areas.
We interviewed Indonesian technical intern trainees working at seafood processing companies in Kesennuma City about their work, daily life, and hometown. Sambal ikan (fish sambal), which is made from various kinds of inexpensive fish available in Kesennuma, is one of the homemade sauces by those who live together.

Sambal ikan, handmade by technical intern trainees
(Photo by Nakano Makibi, August 7th, 2022)

In Maehama, Motoyoshi-cho, Kesennuma, we interviewed to a former tuna fisherman about his voyage, port of call, and Kesennuma at that time.
The area around the port of Kesennuma at that time was crowded with tuna fishermen on their way back.
Oya Beach, which is also a roadside station in Motoyoshi-cho, was planned to construct a huge seawall after the Great East Japan Earthquake. However, residents of Oya held a series of resident-led study sessions and exchanged opinions, and after building a consensus, the construction plan was changed, and the present beautiful coast was successfully restored.
Mr. Miura Tomoyuki, Secretary General of the Oya Satoumi Planning Investigate Commission, and a member of the Kesennuma City Council, explained us at Oya Beach and Maehama Fishing Port Beach.

The current Oya Beach, restored with the memories of its residents
(photo by Nakano Makibi, August 8th, 2022)

(Written by Nakano Makibi)

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