POST-DISASTER CITY RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS AND FISHING VILLAGES TRANSFORMATION: OVER TSUNAMI DISASTER HERITAGES

Abstract

The objective of this study is to clarify significance and the value of the disaster remains for suffering residents from social structure. I adopt Yoshikawa’s notion (2007) of post-disaster phases which is based on the analysis by Barton (1969); emergency phase →temporary phase →recovery and reconstruction phase →prevention phase. The study was conducted at AK district in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture. The data collection methods used were ethnography primarily participation observation and interviews. Participation observation was performed at the district meetings, board member meetings of various resident organizations, and community events held in the district. Interview sessions were conducted to obtain detailed responses from interviewees. The target were 50 people from the community including residents and residents directly affected by tsunami. The interview sessions were held from January 2014 to December 2017. In addition, I collected and referenced materials provided by the town council, documents on regional history, and fishery-related materials. After the disaster of 3.11, opposing opinions regarding tsunami remains became evident between community-based organizations, one of which is the management body of the community historically and the other is a newly emerged group after the disaster through a new leadership. Of these, community-based organization which is a newly emerged group insisted requiem. However, the women’s association was made the purpose which uses the disaster remains as tourist attractions and produced the employment, not requiem. Through this opposition, the unique structure of the fishing village in AK district was revealed.