Vol.25004 Visiting the Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disaster Area

Morihito Takita, MD.

Chairman of Accessible Railway Medical Services Tetsuikai Medical Corporation.

Director of Navitas Clinic Tachikawa

January 8, 2025, MRIC published by Medical Governance Research Institute http://medg.jp

“Since the sewer system isn't connected yet, please wrap waste in litter or newspaper and dispose of it in a trash bag after use.”

I once participated in recovery efforts for the Great East Japan Earthquake from Texas (1). That experience flashed through my mind, leading me to join relief activities in the Noto Peninsula earthquake disaster area, now approaching its one-year anniversary. The opening statement was part of the precautions given during orientation at a special nursing home in Wajima City. I was shocked to find that even basic sanitation facilities remained unavailable, despite nearly a year having passed since the disaster.

● January 1, 2025

I visited this nursing home on the Noto Peninsula and volunteered there. Before the earthquake, about 80 residents lived here, but only about 40% have returned so far. Immediately after the disaster, this facility evacuated residents and temporarily closed. Efforts to resume services didn't progress as planned, and the restoration of infrastructure like electricity and water seemed to be put on the back burner. Furthermore, just as they were about to reopen, staff resignations began occurring in succession. Currently, they can only secure about half the necessary personnel. Because of this, the facility director confessed, “I still agonize over whether evacuating was truly the right decision.”

● Topography and Road Conditions of the Noto Peninsula

The Noto Peninsula has historically featured numerous ports but little flat land. During last September's torrential rains, temporary housing suffered flood damage, highlighting the scarcity of safe, flat areas and limiting viable residential zones.

The road to this nursing home was also treacherous, with severe road subsidence. The Nouetsu Expressway is relatively smooth up to the Anamizu area, but beyond that, the roads through the urban areas of Wajima and Suzu are full of bumps and potholes. Furthermore, when traveling deeper into the peninsula, sections requiring alternating one-way traffic due to landslide damage appear frequently. Collapsed houses lay scattered along the roadside. This scene brought back memories of the journey from Tokyo to Soma, Fukushima, two months after the Great East Japan Earthquake (1).

● Kiriko and Tales of the Sea Route

An elderly woman I met at the nursing home told me about Noto's “Kiriko.” During summer, the “Noto Kiriko Festival” is held throughout the Noto Peninsula, where giant lanterns called kiriko illuminate the towns of Noto. She said that maritime transport was once thriving there, with the movement of people and goods via sea routes being more active than overland travel. Indeed, driving along the Nouetsu Highway made me realize just how harsh overland travel must have been. According to the grandmother, the people of Noto have long cherished an open culture, warmly welcoming visitors from elsewhere and offering them lodging in their homes. Kiriko seemed to embody a part of this regional spirit, a living craft that carries that tradition forward.

Even a year later, recovery from the earthquake disaster was still in its infancy, and I got the impression that even the infrastructure essential for daily life was only halfway complete. Yet, there was a strong determination here among the people who chose to continue living locally and protect their community.

Reference 1) Morihito Takita. Visiting the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster Areas. MRIC 2011 Vol 169. http://medg.jp/mt/?p=1372; Records of Great East Japan Earthquake Recovery Support Activities Conducted While Residing in Texas (by the author)

Acknowledgments) We extend our gratitude to all the staff at the Syakaihukushihojin Wajimashihukushikai Tokubetuyougoroujinhome Atenokien (Director: Mr. Taniguchi) for their hospitality. In the Noto Peninsula area, staff from the Department of Radiation Health Management at Fukushima Medical University, led by Professor Tsubokura, were engaged in support activities over the year-end and New Year period.