9/24/2011 Small Businesses in Disaster Areas Pin Hopes on "Social Fund"

Source: Japan 7 Days
Date: Saturday September 24, 2011
by: Minori Takao


A new business model called the "social fund" is giving hope to businesses in the areas afflicted by the March earthquake and tsunami. The approach allows anyone who wants to help a organization revive itself get the process going by contributing funds. As little as 10,000 yen ($130) is acceptable.

More than 40,000 small and midsize firms in the three hardest-hit prefectures are thought to have suffered damage. Many of them have been unable to take out new bank loans because of existing debts for previous purchases. The "social fund" could be their last resort.

9/10/2011 (Video) Reconstruction Challenges Six Months after the Great East Japan Earthquake

Source: NHK World: Japan 7 Days
Date: 9/10/2011
by: Minori Takao


Six months have passed since the earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc on northeastern Japan. This week's Japan 7 Days examines the current situation, the progress to date, and the challenges for reconstruction.

Physical Infrastructure
Minamisanriku, in Miyagi Prefecture, is one of the hardest-hit communities. Newscaster Minori Takao went back to the town for the first time since May to assess the progress in reconstruction of infrastructure and removal of rubble. She also reports on how a temporary shopping street is restoring some sense of normalcy to residents' daily lives.

Social Infrastructure
All of Minamisanriku's evacuation centers were closed by the end of August, once people were relocated to temporary housing. While they have a roof over their head, they lack the community ties that had been established in their old neighborhoods. The town has started sending personnel around to make sure residents don't fall into isolation. Temporary home dwellers have also taken steps of their own, including setting up a "salon" to foster communication.

Business and Industry
Fishing used to be a lucrative occupation in the Omoe district of the city of Miyako. Some fishermen earned more than $130,000 dollars annually. The tsunami, however, washed away most of the area's 800 fishing vessels. A lack of financial aid from the government made things worse. The local fishermen's association started collaborative projects to help, but income has fallen dramatically. The fishermen, however, are not giving up.

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Updates on Reactors 1-4 and impediments to resolving the crisis.

Persons Displaced by the Fukushima Meltdown
All 11,000 residents of the town where four of the six Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant reactors are located don't know whether they will be able to return. Some are coming to terms with the necessity of restarting their lives in different places.