festivals ・お祭り

The goal of these episodes is to highlight that Tohoku Tomo spirit, that connection and bond people experience when visiting, living, or working in the area and to raise interest/excitement about the festival offers. We want people to remember the disaster, but we also want to promote the attractions and allure of the culture. Because the interviewees are foreign, we believe this will allow western audiences to better connect with these unique and meaningful festivals within Tohoku culture.

これらのエピソードは人との絆を深めること、またお祭りに関する興味・関心を高めることを目的としています。震災を風化させないためにも文化の面から東北の魅力を発信しています。海外の人に東北の魅力を伝えるには、文化の魅力を伝えることが重要であり、国外からの視点で迫ることで、より効果があると考えています。

awabiraki Matsuri・川開き祭り

Steve Corbett, a former JET Program participant used to live and work in Ishinomaki, Miyagi, one of the harder hit cities that suffered great loss. He was present for the disaster and the experience changed his life forever. Every year since completing his tenure as a teacher in 2012, Steve has returned to his "adopted hometown" to experience the Kawabiraki Matsuri. He speaks to his connection with Ishinomaki and how important the festival is to him and the community.

元 JETプログラム参加者のスティーブ・コルベットさんは大きな被害を受けた都市の一つである宮城県石巻市に住み、仕事をしていました。震災経験は彼の人生に大きな影響を与えました。２０１２年に教員としての在職期間が満了しましたが、気仙沼名物の川開き祭りに参加するために毎年“第二の故郷”に戻ります。石巻に対する思いや彼と地域にとってどう川開き祭りが大切であるかを話します。

Sansa Odori・さんさ踊り

Amanda Kripps, a former JET, has made her life in Tohoku. She continues to live and work in Iwate Prefecture, recently got married, and participates in the world's largest taiko festival, the Sansa Odori. Her episode will feature a pre-festival interview in traditional garb, a scenic sit-down interview at the ruins of a castle in the capital city Morioka, and a lot of performance footage of the festival itself and her performing with her coworkers and friends.

元JETプログラム参加者のアマンダ・クリプスさんは東北での教員任期満了後も岩手県に住み、仕事を続け、最近は結婚もしました。彼女は世界最大の太鼓祭りであるさんさ踊りに参加しています。パフォーマンス映像とともにさんさ踊りについてインタビューしました。

Tanabata Festival・七夕祭り

The episode features Lies van Keer's story of discovering Tohoku through JET, deciding to get married and settle down there, and performing in Sendai's major festival called Tanabata. She previously tried out for the local festival dance team but did not make the cut. This year she was accepted and gets the chance to perform live in front of the festival audience. The episode highlights a dance practice session and interview; a pre-performance interview in the festival garb as she gets ready; footage of the performance itself; and a quick follow up after to wrap it up.

リース バン ケールさんは東北で結婚し、定住しています。インタビューでは仙台名物の七夕まつりについて話しています。リースさんは以前、地元のダンスチームに入ろうとしましたが、上手くいきませんでした。ですが、2014年には参加が認められ、七夕祭りで踊る機会を得ました。お祭り前、お祭り時、お祭り後と時間の流れに沿って、踊りの撮影とインタビューを行いました。

Young adults・若者たち

The Young Adults episode introduces you to Jin, Nanako, and Megumi, three college aged students who live in Fukushima. These young adults share their insights into how the disaster has shaped their futures and changed their perspectives. They all traveled to America on the Kakehashi Project, the largest youth exchange program in U.S.-Japan relations. While in America, they struggled with explaining the situation in Fukushima but were able to make connections and share their stories. Jin, Nanako, and Megumi all share their future aspirations and discuss activities they are doing, both of which are directly influenced by the disaster.

福島に住むジンさん、ナカコさん、メグミさんの三人の大学生を紹介します。震災がどう彼らの未来に影響を与え、価値観を変えたかを共有します。震災後、架け橋プロジェクトという国際交流プログラムで三人は渡米し、米国で福島の状況を説明し、米国の学生と交流しました。三人の未来への希望そして現在の取り組みを追います。

Local Business・地元商業

Full Sail Anchor Coffee・アンカーコーヒー/フルセイルコーヒー

Yasutada Onodera's store in Kesennuma, Miyagi was destroyed by the tsunami. It's his home-town and he wanted to rebuild. By December of 2011, he had rebuilt his shop in a temporary building. The drive to re-establish the shop is because he and many friends and neighbors lost their homes; they wanted a place to escape from everyday life where they could relax and come together as a community. He talks about the importance of local business providing that and providing for Kesennuma.

小野寺靖忠さんが宮城県気仙沼市で経営していたカフェは津波によって破壊されました。小野寺さんの友人や近隣住民も多くが家を失いました。小野寺さんは震災後も地元に残り、2011年12月には仮設店舗で営業を再開しました。仲間と一緒に集まり、リラックスできる場所が必要だったからです。コミュニティー再生の場を提供する重要性を話します。

Howdy Onoya・ハウディーおのや

Masaki Onodera runs a clothing store in Kesennuma, Miyagi and his shop was luckily saved from the force of the tsunami; the waters came to the base of his shop, but no further. The day after the disaster, he opened his shop and provided for the local community, who was desperately in need of basic clothing and supplies. He talks about how hundreds of people showed up since his store was one of the only ones open and how everyone was so orderly and considerate. He highlights that local business drives the community and keeps people living there.

宮城県気仙沼市で衣料品店を経営する小野寺雅貴さんは、震災の翌日から店を開けました。津波は軒先まで到達したものの、幸運にも大きな被害は免れました。営業している数少ないお店ということもあり、必需品を求め、何百人もの近隣住民が店を訪れました。被災直後にも関わらず、人々は秩序を保ち、互いを気遣う様子があったと話します。地元企業が地域を奮い立たせ、地元住民が地域に居住し続けることの重要性を考えます。

Wai-wai・かーちゃんふるさと農園わいわい

Coming soon.

Peach Farmer ・ししどりんご園

Nobuko is a peach and fruits farmer in rural Fukushima, running an independent farm that her grandfather started years ago. She talks about how Fukushima peaches are renowned and so delicious, but that since the nuclear disaster, things haven't been the same. The fruit is safe, certified, and still outstanding, but the local farmers suffer from the stigma. She wants to welcome visitors and share the products of Fukushima with people everywhere.

ノブコさんは福島の田舎で、桃などの果物を栽培しています。福島の桃は美味しいことで有名ですが、原発事故以来、状況が変わってしまったとのことです。認可済の安全で美味しい果物にも関わらず、地元生産者たちは風評被害で苦しんでいます。観光客に訪れてもらい、福島の生産物を世界中の人々と共有することを望んでいます。

Sake Industry ・ 醸造

Niida Honke・仁井田本家

Niida Honke introduces you to a sake brewery, the story of how their business was affected, and what things are like now. Niida-san is the 18th generation owner of this family owned brewery in Fukushima -- he is a very personable, charismatic guy who is sincere and comes across brilliantly.

酒造家である仁井田本家のエピソードでは、酒造りに震災が与えた影響や現在の様子を紹介します。仁井田さんは福島県で先祖代々続く醸造所の１８代目のオーナーであり、親しみやすく、きらきらとしたカリスマ性のある方です。

Urakasumi・浦霞

Urakasumi is one of the most prestigious Sake companies out of Miyagi Prefecture. They have been the main sake dealer for Shiogama Shrine since the latter half of the Edo Period. Their brewery was damaged during the earthquake and tsunami and they have since been an active part in their communities’ recovery.

浦霞は宮城県外でも有名な日本酒のひとつです。江戸時代後期より、しおがま神社への神酒御用酒として取り扱われてきました。酒造は地震と津波の被害により破壊されましたが、地域再生に向けて、奮闘しています。

Suisen・酔仙

Coming Soon.

The Seed of Hope in the Heart・心に希望の種を

The Seed of Hope in the Heart features Mr. Teiichi Sato, a seed shop owner in Rikuzentakata, Iwate who escaped the tsunami on 3.11, lost his seed shop, rebuilt in the face of adversity, and also wrote a book entitled, "The Seed of Hope in the Heart." We get to relive what it was like for him stop-by-stop as he escaped and get a sense of how massive the destruction was that day. He rebuilt his shop using tsunami debris, dug a well by hand, and refused to give up. He has an aura about him that is hard to describe. His voice and personality pull you into his story; when he talks, you listen. Mr. Sato is a humble man and a modern day samurai who is full of perseverance and compassion.

佐藤貞一さんの‘The Seed of Hope in the Heart’が最後のエピソードです。佐藤さんは陸前高田で種の販売店を営んでいました。震災で津波の被害に直面し、店を失いました。ですが、諦めることなく、津波で流れた瓦礫などを用い、お店の再開を実現させ、更には“The Seed of Hope in the Heart”という本を執筆しました。当時の被害の深刻さ、希望の種を持つことに大切さ、執筆に至った経緯などを紹介しています。