After the tsunami: Japan’s fishing communities look to the future

euronews (in English)

The earthquake and tsunami of 2011 hit Japan hard. More than a decade on, Euronews travels to the country’s northeastern Tohoku region to find out how fishing communities are bouncing back.

Transcript

00:00 The great earthquake and tsunami of 2011 hit Japan hard.

00:07 More than a decade on, thanks to a steely determination, fishing communities all along

00:12 the country's north Pacific coast are bouncing back.

00:17 Welcome to this edition of Focus.

00:22 It's still morning when Masahiro helps unload the catch in the port city of Soma.

00:27 This fourth generation fisherman is proud of his fishing heritage and the fresh produce

00:32 he brings to market.

00:34 Masahiro tell me what's been caught this morning?

00:40 And in terms of the quality, how good is it?

00:52 Located in the north of Fukushima prefecture, fishing has always been Soma's lifeblood.

00:57 And after several difficult years, the sector is getting back on its feet.

01:02 That's thanks in part to the young, diverse workforce here.

01:06 Unlike other parts of Japan, the city and its fishing industry are bucking a national

01:11 demographic trend.

01:13 In addition to his business, Masahiro heads the youth wing of the port's fisheries cooperative.

01:19 At one of their meetings I speak to Itatsu, who explains to me why he's chosen to stay

01:24 in his hometown.

01:44 This food court next to Soma's harbour is typical of most Japanese coastal cities.

01:49 Full of fishy delights, it's a seafood lover's paradise.

01:58 Now we all know the Japanese adore their fish, but when you come to a place like this which

02:02 specialises in fresh local produce direct from the port, it really brings home how popular

02:08 seafood here is.

02:19 Strict monitoring of all the fish caught off Japan's northeast coast has helped restore

02:23 trust in a much-loved national product.

02:27 So what does Masahiro think of the recent decision to release treated water from the

02:31 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant?

02:55 Masahiro in terms of the future, how hopeful are you that the fishing industry here in

03:00 Soma can bounce back?

03:09 Along the coast north of Soma lie the picturesque Urato Islands.

03:16 This is the home of the famous Miyagi oyster.

03:19 When the tsunami struck here in 2011, many of the oyster beds, including those of Haruo,

03:24 were completely swept away.

03:40 And how did you rebuild?

03:42 How did you bounce back?

03:48 For France, it was the return of a favour.

04:04 When its oyster industry was wiped out, it was the seeds from here that helped turn the

04:08 tide.

04:28 Finally it's time to see what all the fuss is about.

04:44 The cultivation of oysters in the Urato Islands goes back generations.

04:49 And just like in Soma, it's thanks to the hard work of people like Haruo that Japan's

04:53 oyster industry has made a comeback.

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